For Immediate Release
August 21, 2025
Contact: Michelle Peal
C: (908) 313-4178
Environmental Leaders Gather for Last Stop on “Enviro Fix in ‘26” Tour to Highlight Stakes in Gubernatorial Election
Trenton, NJ - With the 2025 gubernatorial election already taking shape, environmental advocates came together today at the Social Profit Center, 1N. Johnston Street, Hamilton, NJ, to demand bold environmental leadership from the state’s next governor. Organized by the New Jersey LCV Education Fund in partnership with Isles Inc., the event marked the third stop in a statewide public education campaign titled “Enviro Fix in ’26.”
“Through our Enviro Fix in ’26 campaign, we’re lifting up the innovative, local solutions that communities like Trenton are already leading on,” said Luke Pavlov, Campaigns Manager at New Jersey LCV. “From healthier homes to clean transportation, green jobs, and resilient cities, the path forward is clear. What we need now is bold leadership from our next governor to scale up these solutions statewide and ensure every New Jerseyan can benefit from a cleaner, healthier future.”
In attendance were community leaders and supporters including Congressman Herb Conaway, MD, 3rd congressional district, Dan Benson, County Executive, Mercer County, Tiffany Falcone, Community Liaison, New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, and Regine Delcy, Principal Planner, Mercer County Planning Department.
Participants heard about how Isles is helping Trenton tackle pressing environmental challenges through innovative, local solutions, including the following:
- Healthy Homes: Weatherization upgrades, the whole-house approach, and lead remediation.
- Clean & Cool Cities: Green and cool roofs, rooftop solar, and tree canopy expansion with the East Trenton Collaborative to combat the urban heat island effect.
- Clean Transportation: Microtransit and electric vehicle expansion, including the GOTrenton! microtransit program.
- Green Jobs & Local Food: Solar workforce training, the Climate Corps, and urban agriculture initiatives.
"This gubernatorial election represents a critical moment for environmental leadership in New Jersey. Through programs like our Community Corps and GoTrenton! microtransit initiative, we've demonstrated that innovative environmental solutions can deliver immediate benefits to residents while building long-term resilience. We're excited to share these proven models with policymakers and show how the next administration can prioritize both climate action and community wellbeing across the state." Laura Fenster Rothschild, COO, Isles Inc.
"Our garden network and green roof initiatives represent more than just environmental improvements—they're building community resilience from the ground up. When families can grow their own fresh produce and connect with neighbors through urban agriculture, we're addressing food security while creating cooler, healthier neighborhoods. These programs show how local food systems can strengthen communities and combat climate change simultaneously." Otha Caldwell, Director of Food and Gardens, Isles Inc.
"When I walk into a home and see a family struggling with high energy bills or worried about their children's health because of lead paint, I know our work can change their lives. Every weatherization project, every lead remediation, every energy efficiency upgrade we complete means a family can breathe easier—literally and financially. It's about giving people the safe, comfortable homes they deserve while building stronger, healthier communities." Lee Henry, Weatherization Field Technician, Isles Inc.
Participants also had the opportunity to use GOTrenton transportation to visit the Tucker Street location where Isles conducts programs in environmental training and urban agriculture. Isles primary garden as well as Isles Youth Institute is also housed at this location.
At the center of the Enviro Fix in “26 campaign is the 121-page “Enviro Fix in "26” policy guide, developed by a coalition of 25 organizations from across the environmental, public health, and social justice sectors. The agenda outlines actionable priorities for the next administration, including:
- Transitioning to 100% clean electricity
- Protecting clean drinking water and open space
- Creating good-paying union jobs in clean energy
- Lowering energy costs for working families
- Building community resilience to flooding and extreme heat
- Advancing environmental justice for historically overburdened communities
The guide is not just a vision—it’s a call to action for candidates and voters alike.
Partner organizations behind the guide span a wide range of perspectives—from conservation to health, environmental justice to economic policy and include: NJ Audubon, Newark Science and Sustainability, Latino Action Network, NJ Chapter of the American College of Physicians, Rethink Energy NJ, Rewild, MNM Consulting, NJPEEC, NJ Policy Perspective, Duke Farms, Great Swamp Watershed Association, Isles, Tri-State Transportation Campaign, Water Spirit, ANJEC, NJ Future, NJ Sustainable Business Council, NJ Conservation Foundation, Pinelands Preservation Alliance, Rebuild By Design, Regional Plan Association, The Watershed Institute, American Littoral Society, and New Jersey Highlands Coalition.
New Jersey LCV and its partners plan to engage candidates directly and elevate these issues across media and public forums to ensure that environmental solutions are a key part of the debate.
To download the “Enviro Fix in ‘26” policy guide or learn more about upcoming events, visit www.njlcvef.org/envirofix26 or contact luke.pavlov@njlcv.org.
About New Jersey LCV Education Fund:
The New Jersey League of Conservation Voters Education Fund is a nonpartisan organization that works to protect our environment by educating, engaging, and mobilizing people across the state to become more civically involved in environmental decision-making.