According to Gronewold (2008), the task of transforming Newark NJ was difficult and almost impossible since the area had brownfields and blight which has a detrimental effect on plants, animals, and buildings. Making the city green was demanding and time-consuming. The initiative aimed at providing a sustainable environment for the people of Newark. Warren (2018), states that the air quality in the area was dirty due to high levels of air pollution. The pollution posed some hazardous side effects to the inhabitants of the area such as increased levels of respiratory diseases. Contrary to Gronewold belief that change was nearly impossible, Mayor Cory Booker believed that creating green cities was achievable and would lead to the creation of more jobs, a positive change in the economy and most importantly to creation of a safe space which would not only be beneficial to the current generation but to the future one. He believed in sustainability and had a conviction that this was an initiative that would be taken up by other cities as well.

Achieving the aims of the initiative required the government had set up various principles which could be applied during the policy development and implementation of the initiative. The essential principle states that the government should lead from the front. It is natural for people to adapt to something new from seeing what their superiors are doing. For instance, if they involved themselves in cutting down trees, it is only possible for the citizens to get involved in deforestation. However, if they uphold the spirit of afforestation, then that is the same thing that the citizens are likely to do. Secondly, the need for environmental justice in which it insists that everybody is entitled to living in a healthy environment hence change should focus on every community in the municipality. However, it is essential to address the areas that are profoundly stricken then move to the less affected. Thirdly, the usage of local resources should be made a priority when implementing the initiative which will impact positively on the local economic status.

The green cities initiatives aimed at the refurbishment of the already existing buildings and the creation of green public parks. Additionally, it aimed at ensuring that gardening was sustainable and plants got protected from blight, and the establishment of sustainable farms, CDM Smith (2015). Tree planting was one of the aims of implementing the green initiative. Trees are an essential aspect of the environments and have numerous advantages. Trees provide a beautiful and serene setting which is necessary for public parks where people go to relax and unwind. Also, trees absorb stormwater thus reducing soil erosion and flooding thus ensuring sustainable farms. Additionally, they provide habitats and food for wildlife. The city had to identify and carry out an analysis whose aims was identifying the areas in which trees are scarce thus creating an effective method during the planting in which no area will be left unplanted or overplanted. Moreover, the city would generate a spirit to create more trees and introduce ways in which they will be managed and create job opportunities for the locals to take part in the tree planting activities.

The project on the refurbishment of buildings was believed to bring and ignite more job opportunities. Gronewold (2008) states that people would be trained to gain electrical and construction skills. It would translate to improved standards of living for the citizens. Refurbished buildings attract more investors which results in increased business opportunities thus bringing more revenue to the government due to increased taxes. Examples of projects that could lead in ensuring the achievement of green space include; replacement of concrete on traffic triangles with plants and soil, the creation of strips of planted grass on pavements and sidewalks, expansion of green space through curb bump-outs, and installing water retentive plants.

Green Stormwater infrastructure is one of the methods that the city used to attain change. According to City of Newark (2013), the implementation of the GSI has a couple of advantages to the city which include; better quality of water, good air quality from trees, reduced levels of greenhouse effects thus little or no global warming. In addition to absorbing stormwater, the GSI is effective in slowing the rate of discharge in sewers and into the ground. Also, there are reduced construction costs as compared to the other forms of constructions, increased urban greenways, availability of green jobs and high economic levels. Additional to installing the green stormwater infrastructure to reduce flooding in Newark, it was essential for the city authorities to introduce plants that absorb the stormwater and enhance landscaping. In Newark, the green infrastructure policies and projects had a responsibility in assisting the city clean up brownfields thus reducing toxins in the soils which resulted to good farms and reduction of harmful substances that would cause water pollution. Apart from implementing the GSI in the project, it was essential for the city to collaborate with organizations that support environmental change and has similar aims as them of turning green. GSI captures, filters, absorbs and helps in recycling and reusing the stormwater.

The initiative aimed at ensuring green gardens and sustainable farms in the area.

Green gardens and sustainable farms have both economic and health advantages. Economically, more produce gets sold either internally or externally which brings more income to the locals and the government and when government revenue increases, there is the possibility of more development taking part. Additionally, the revenue aids in funding the green initiative especially in installing green infrastructure. Its impacts on health are huge since access to healthy foods translates to healthy citizens.

According to the City of Newark (2013), the lack of affordable healthy foods increased the chances of acquiring diseases which have a detrimental effect on life and affects the citizens working and learning capabilities. The initiative aimed at ensuring that it promotes local food growers, ensure natural resources are protected mainly by insisting on the dangers of using inorganic chemicals on farming and provide employment on the food industry thus increasing their standards of living. Additionally, it aimed at reducing the chances of acquiring obesity, diabetes, and hypertension and a couple of other diseases caused by unhealthy feeding styles. Furthermore, it provided a learning platform to the residents including children in schools and students in higher institutions of learning on how sustainable foods are grown and their overall advantages to their bodies. To achieve the objectives in this element, actions such as the establishment of a food policy council, introduction of urban farming on vacant public land, offering support to the farmers and increasing literacy to all are quite essential.

The success of the project is not something that could happen overnight but through a gradual process that will yield fruits in the future. The fruits could either be economical, environmental and socio-economic such as boosting health for the citizens. However, as Gronewold (2008) states, the initiative was dependent on some factors which had to be incorporated. They included departments relying on each other because the city council cannot affect the change on its own in which the departments would focus on air quality, sustainable economic development, stormwater, and ensuring healthy foods. Additionally, having presentations on sustainability to board members and councils which would aid in creating awareness of why a better and healthy environment is crucial for the residents of Newark. Additionally, the city council had to establish and maintain good partnerships with institutions in Newark especially universities which could come up with sustainable ways to ensure a green environment and economy. Moreover, they needed to involve the residents, community development groups in decision making and in allowing them to share views on what they think about the green initiative.

Selection of the Green Initiative

The increase in production levels in the world has harmed the environment. The production oriented economies have introduced dangerous inorganic substances, thus posing a severe health issue on the lives of people and putting natural resources at risk. The choice of the picked subject is based on creating an environmental awareness on the advantages of having a sustainable green environment. Sustainability does not only have positive effects on the world today but will provide a safe environment for the generations to come. I agree with the initiative on the fact that a green environment is an economic boost element since it increases marketability by attracting investors, provide job opportunities to the locals, and insist on utilizing their resources instead of outsourcing them, thus saving on costs. Additionally, it has immense advantages on the health of individuals both children and adults. It is essential for every state to adopt the Newark green initiative and start a journey in changing the outlooks of their town to make them more beautiful and scenic.

Trees are an essential part of promoting a sustainable environment; hence everyone should take it up as a responsibility to see that trees are protected and not deforested. Additionally, planting more trees is a very noble act whether through re-afforestation or reforestation. The learning of this subject matter has provided me with a clear and more profound knowledge of the dangers of too much stormwater and what a threat it poses on the environment and even physical buildings. Additionally, the green initiative has provided me with insight that it does not only focus on the environment but also on the structures as well. Better and beautiful housing and buildings provide some serenity to its residents and encourage more investments since everybody enjoys working in a conducive presentable building.

Works Cited

CDM Smith. Newark Greenstreets Initiative. Government Report. Newark, 2015. Document.

City of Newark. Sustainability Action PLan. Newark: Office of Sustainability, 2013. Book.

Gronewold, Nathanial. Green Cities. 16 September 2008. Website. 10 March 2019.

Warren, Michael Sol. Not just Jersey City and Newark: All of N.J. suffers from dirty air. News Report. New Jersey: NJ Advance Media, 2018. Document.