Liz Brater
Liz Brater served as mayor of Ann Arbor from 1991-1993, as a state representative from 1995-2000, and then as a state senator from 2003-2010. She has been a strong environmental advocate throughout her career in public office and worked closely with the Ecology Center on many issues, even working for them in the years between being a state representative and senator. Her advocacy included assisting in the efforts to establish recycling in Ann Arbor, working on the Gelman Sciences controversy, and supporting the fight against sprawl.
Interview with Liz Brater
September 26, 2019
Conducted by Katherine Hummel
Clips
3:33-5:40
Liz talks about the Environmental Bond of 1990 and how Recycle Ann Arbor was involved with improving recycling in Ann Arbor. #recycling #RecycleAnnArbor #EcologyCenter #politics
8:06-9:40
Liz discusses the Gelman Sciences controversy and how the city council of Ann Arbor fought them over the levels of dioxane with which they were contaminating ground water. #toxics #gelmansciences #dioxane
14:40-15:19
Liz talks about how her relationship with the Ecology Center, as well as the success of her advocacy work, changed as she went from mayor of Ann Arbor to a state representative. #EcologyCenter #advocacy #politics
20:00-21:25
Liz discusses how under Governor Engler Michigan's toxics clean-up standard was changed and increased the cancer risk for Michigan citizens 10x. #toxics #cleanup #Engler #GelmanSciences #politics
24:30-25:30
Liz recalls the most memorable part of her experience working with the Ecology Center being the opening of the MRF facilities and how she's dissapointed to see that it's not open anymore. #recycling #RecycleAnnArbor #EcologyCenter #MRF #change
28:20 - 29:45
Liz talks about how important the work of the Ecology Center has been for her career and that it was an invaluable source of reliable information for her as an elected official. #EcologyCenter #politics