Long Branch urged to combat global warming LONG BRANCH - A city resident and Sierra Club member has asked Long Branch to join towns across the nation in becoming one of the environmental group's "Cool Cities." At the City Council's Feb. 27 workshop meeting, Faith Teitelbaum presented the Cool Cities program to the council as a measure aimed at curbing global warming. "We are trying to get every mayor in New Jersey and across the county [to become involved in the initiative]," Teitelbaum said. "It has the city promise to try to lower carbon dioxide admission by 20 percent," she explained, adding, "Which is hard to do." Cool Cities across America are taking decisive action to reduce heat-trapping emissions, lower energy bills, save taxpayer dollars and protect the environment, according to Teitelbaum. More than 200 mayors representing 42 million Americans in 38 states have signed the U.S. Mayors Climate Protection Agreement to reduce global warming carbon dioxide in their cities to seven percent of 1990 levels by 2012, according to a Sierra Club flyer. At the meeting, Teitelbaum said there are several ways a city can reduce its carbon monoxide emissions, including eliminating fluorescent light bulbs in traffic signals. Another measure, she said, is for the city to buy green, or hybrid, cars the next time it buys a city operated vehicle. According to the flyer, cities nationwide are investing in clean and renewable power like solar and wind energy to lower global warming emissions and to create a reliable source of safe, homegrown electricity. With Long Branch's location on the oceanfront, Teitelbaum said there is a lot of opportunity for the city to use solar power. The Sierra Club is hosting a meeting in May for all mayors in Monmouth County to discuss the Cool Cities program. For more information on Cool cities, visit www. sierraclub.org/coolcities or www.coolnewjersey.org.