Comments on: Council Gives Sustainability “The Stamp” http://spovangelist.com/council-gives-sustainability-the-stamp/ You are not alone. Tue, 15 May 2012 00:26:03 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Spokane’s Self-Esteem Strategy http://spovangelist.com/council-gives-sustainability-the-stamp/comment-page-1/#comment-19192 Spokane’s Self-Esteem Strategy Thu, 28 Apr 2011 06:14:08 +0000 http://spovangelist.com/?p=166#comment-19192 [...] then I remember those other times when concerned citizens came together to support important sustainability issues at City Hall. Neighbors spoke, planted gardens came, together for sanity and insanity and cleaned up our own [...] [...] then I remember those other times when concerned citizens came together to support important sustainability issues at City Hall. Neighbors spoke, planted gardens came, together for sanity and insanity and cleaned up our own [...]

]]> By: Chicken Sh@#: The Party! http://spovangelist.com/council-gives-sustainability-the-stamp/comment-page-1/#comment-9895 Chicken Sh@#: The Party! Thu, 28 Jan 2010 07:39:59 +0000 http://spovangelist.com/?p=166#comment-9895 [...] the city requires compost separation to achieve their goal of zero wast by 2020. In Spokane, we can’t even embrace a framework to help set goals for the future. Hopefully that will have changed with the local elections, but I [...] [...] the city requires compost separation to achieve their goal of zero wast by 2020. In Spokane, we can’t even embrace a framework to help set goals for the future. Hopefully that will have changed with the local elections, but I [...]

]]> By: Youth Sustainability Council http://spovangelist.com/council-gives-sustainability-the-stamp/comment-page-1/#comment-5709 Youth Sustainability Council Fri, 24 Jul 2009 00:24:44 +0000 http://spovangelist.com/?p=166#comment-5709 We are members of the Youth Sustainability Council writing you to address the recent controversy surrounding the Sustainability Action Plan. As a group, we strive to increase localism, strengthen bonds in the community, and make Spokane an environmentally and economically sustainable city. We know that Mayor Verner emphasized to the city council the importance of passing the plan in order to ensure a good future for Spokane youth (future Spokane workers, voters, and taxpayers) and that said, we feel it is essential for the youth of Spokane to reiterate that we feel passionately about the issues that the Sustainability Action Plan addresses. Implementation of the plan would send a message to young people that Spokane is looking towards the future and would encourage us to settle here and contribute to the vibrancy of the community. One of the main goals of the Plan is to make Spokane more resilient in the face of situations such as the current economic crisis. We believe this is crucial, because as the competition for the world's energy resources becomes more fierce, it is important that cities identify ways to harvest energy from local sources and conserve it so that their reliance on foreign powers decreases. In the event of a large-scale crisis, being able to generate our own energy will enable Spokane to continue to thrive even as other cities are forced to ration resources and impose restrictions on their residents. Since Spokane does not lie on top of vast reserves of oil, it is crucial that Spokane look to the sources of energy that are plentiful here, such as hydropower, wind, and solar energy. The Sustainability Action Plan emphasizes investigating alternative energy sources, such as these, and their future integration into more of Spokane's systems. These sources of energy not only produce less carbon emissions when used, they make Spokane more self-sufficient. Also, this is a potentially huge source of new jobs for the region. There is currently only one company that manufactures photovoltaic solar panels in Washington state, and they are located in Arlington, on the west side of the state. This situation illustrates the potential for new industries and businesses in the region. If the Sustainability Action Plan is implemented, it would create high demand for products such as solar panels and services including installation of new energy systems, which would draw new businesses to the area and open up numerous new "green-collar" jobs. The Plan also emphasizes something else that's important to the Youth Sustainability Council: supporting local businesses by looking to them first when making purchases for the city. Such a policy would stimulate the local economy by returning taxpayer dollars directly to the community and would encourage new businesses to start up in Spokane. In addition, the effects of this policy would couple with Spokane's increased energy independence to enhance the city's self-sufficiency. The potential for economic growth under the Plan is immense. We believe that increasing Spokane's resiliency and sustainability as a community is of paramount importance. But there are other, smaller scale improvements suggested within the Plan that we feel would dramatically improve the city as well. For instance, the Plan suggests expanding bike routes with a focus on making them more accessible and safe, and reevaluating the routes of city vehicles in order to make them more efficient. This would reduce road traffic and cost of road maintenance. Such changes would save the city money and reduce the carbon emissions caused by vehicles on the road. The Plan also calls for city investigations into opportunities for saving water. The results could be used to streamline water systems in Spokane, making them more efficient, and reducing waste and cost. The ideas in the plan are of utmost importance not only because they would increase efforts toward environmental sustainability but also because they would help Spokane function more efficiently as a city and thrive as a community. We are writing now to let you know that we, along with many area youth, are invested in our city and concerned about its direction; we believe the Sustainability Action Plan is a collection of entirely feasible steps toward a bright future for Spokane. Our primary hope is that members of City Council and the community alike begin to set partisan politics aside and recognize that Spokane youth believe that this plan is relevant and a worthwhile investment of our time and finances. We are members of the Youth Sustainability Council writing you to address the recent controversy surrounding the Sustainability Action Plan. As a group, we strive to increase localism, strengthen bonds in the community, and make Spokane an environmentally and economically sustainable city.
We know that Mayor Verner emphasized to the city council the importance of passing the plan in order to ensure a good future for Spokane youth (future Spokane workers, voters, and taxpayers) and that said, we feel it is essential for the youth of Spokane to reiterate that we feel passionately about the issues that the Sustainability Action Plan addresses. Implementation of the plan would send a message to young people that Spokane is looking towards the future and would encourage us to settle here and contribute to the vibrancy of the community.
One of the main goals of the Plan is to make Spokane more resilient in the face of situations such as the current economic crisis. We believe this is crucial, because as the competition for the world’s energy resources becomes more fierce, it is important that cities identify ways to harvest energy from local sources and conserve it so that their reliance on foreign powers decreases. In the event of a large-scale crisis, being able to generate our own energy will enable Spokane to continue to thrive even as other cities are forced to ration resources and impose restrictions on their residents.
Since Spokane does not lie on top of vast reserves of oil, it is crucial that Spokane look to the sources of energy that are plentiful here, such as hydropower, wind, and solar energy. The Sustainability Action Plan emphasizes investigating alternative energy sources, such as these, and their future integration into more of Spokane’s systems. These sources of energy not only produce less carbon emissions when used, they make Spokane more self-sufficient. Also, this is a potentially huge source of new jobs for the region. There is currently only one company that manufactures photovoltaic solar panels in Washington state, and they are located in Arlington, on the west side of the state. This situation illustrates the potential for new industries and businesses in the region. If the Sustainability Action Plan is implemented, it would create high demand for products such as solar panels and services including installation of new energy systems, which would draw new businesses to the area and open up numerous new “green-collar” jobs.
The Plan also emphasizes something else that’s important to the Youth Sustainability Council: supporting local businesses by looking to them first when making purchases for the city. Such a policy would stimulate the local economy by returning taxpayer dollars directly to the community and would encourage new businesses to start up in Spokane. In addition, the effects of this policy would couple with Spokane’s increased energy independence to enhance the city’s self-sufficiency. The potential for economic growth under the Plan is immense.
We believe that increasing Spokane’s resiliency and sustainability as a community is of paramount importance. But there are other, smaller scale improvements suggested within the Plan that we feel would dramatically improve the city as well. For instance, the Plan suggests expanding bike routes with a focus on making them more accessible and safe, and reevaluating the routes of city vehicles in order to make them more efficient. This would reduce road traffic and cost of road maintenance. Such changes would save the city money and reduce the carbon emissions caused by vehicles on the road. The Plan also calls for city investigations into opportunities for saving water. The results could be used to streamline water systems in Spokane, making them more efficient, and reducing waste and cost.
The ideas in the plan are of utmost importance not only because they would increase efforts toward environmental sustainability but also because they would help Spokane function more efficiently as a city and thrive as a community. We are writing now to let you know that we, along with many area youth, are invested in our city and concerned about its direction; we believe the Sustainability Action Plan is a collection of entirely feasible steps toward a bright future for Spokane. Our primary hope is that members of City Council and the community alike begin to set partisan politics aside and recognize that Spokane youth believe that this plan is relevant and a worthwhile investment of our time and finances.

]]> By: Kitty Klitzke http://spovangelist.com/council-gives-sustainability-the-stamp/comment-page-1/#comment-3243 Kitty Klitzke Mon, 18 May 2009 20:46:30 +0000 http://spovangelist.com/?p=166#comment-3243 Thanks Mariah for your excellent coverage of this issue. Had I not been out of the country I am sure I would have agreed with your assessment. Thanks Mariah for your excellent coverage of this issue. Had I not been out of the country I am sure I would have agreed with your assessment.

]]> By: Lego http://spovangelist.com/council-gives-sustainability-the-stamp/comment-page-1/#comment-3011 Lego Wed, 13 May 2009 15:13:01 +0000 http://spovangelist.com/?p=166#comment-3011 Not really surprising given the Republican push back. Seems politically safe to "accept" the plan but gut it in a roundabout way. Not really surprising given the Republican push back. Seems politically safe to “accept” the plan but gut it in a roundabout way.

]]> By: Chairman of the Peoples State of Spotucky http://spovangelist.com/council-gives-sustainability-the-stamp/comment-page-1/#comment-3007 Chairman of the Peoples State of Spotucky Wed, 13 May 2009 13:01:31 +0000 http://spovangelist.com/?p=166#comment-3007 Imagine if the business community in general and say, the automatic dishwasher detergent industry specifically put together some proposal based on a pie in the sky idea like "citizen involvement". And then just for good measure threw in some fancy rhetoric like taking action now will be better for everyone in the long run. Green Nazi's (not my term) would demand our local government do something to prevent it. However, in both cases, that is not what a representative republican government is supposed to do. That would be mob rule, with politicians bowing to whoever shouts the loudest. Is the sustainability task force trying to get something on the ballot? Imagine if the business community in general and say, the automatic dishwasher detergent industry specifically put together some proposal based on a pie in the sky idea like “citizen involvement”. And then just for good measure threw in some fancy rhetoric like taking action now will be better for everyone in the long run. Green Nazi’s (not my term) would demand our local government do something to prevent it. However, in both cases, that is not what a representative republican government is supposed to do. That would be mob rule, with politicians bowing to whoever shouts the loudest.

Is the sustainability task force trying to get something on the ballot?

]]> By: Contrarian http://spovangelist.com/council-gives-sustainability-the-stamp/comment-page-1/#comment-2988 Contrarian Wed, 13 May 2009 04:56:01 +0000 http://spovangelist.com/?p=166#comment-2988 "Imagine how you would feel after taking extraordinary amounts of your limited free time to produce a clear and concise working document through a laborious public consensus building process . . ." Aw, let's be real here. There is and was no "public consensus building process." Or if there was, it failed miserably. You can rest assured that 90% of Spokane's eligible voters never heard of the SAP, and 90% those who had would be unable to cite a single provision from it. So-called "citizen participation" mechanisms are never more than window dressing to lend an air of legitimacy to some advocacy group's self-serving agenda. The advocates know full well that 90% of the "public" for whom they presume to speak will never be involved. I agree that the Council's "approval" is highly ambiguous (some member should simply have moved to table it indefinitely on the grounds that the subject matter was not within the purview of city government). Does the SAP now represent City policy or not? If any implementing regulations are ever enacted, that question --- Council intent --- could loom large in legal challenges. “Imagine how you would feel after taking extraordinary amounts of your limited free time to produce a clear and concise working document through a laborious public consensus building process . . .”

Aw, let’s be real here. There is and was no “public consensus building process.” Or if there was, it failed miserably. You can rest assured that 90% of Spokane’s eligible voters never heard of the SAP, and 90% those who had would be unable to cite a single provision from it.

So-called “citizen participation” mechanisms are never more than window dressing to lend an air of legitimacy to some advocacy group’s self-serving agenda. The advocates know full well that 90% of the “public” for whom they presume to speak will never be involved.

I agree that the Council’s “approval” is highly ambiguous (some member should simply have moved to table it indefinitely on the grounds that the subject matter was not within the purview of city government). Does the SAP now represent City policy or not? If any implementing regulations are ever enacted, that question — Council intent — could loom large in legal challenges.

]]> By: Bart Mihailovich http://spovangelist.com/council-gives-sustainability-the-stamp/comment-page-1/#comment-2986 Bart Mihailovich Wed, 13 May 2009 04:30:02 +0000 http://spovangelist.com/?p=166#comment-2986 Great post!! I hope everyone realizes how in tune to "The Plan" you are. You've been a courageous advocate from the onset and we're all better for that. Bottom line - you're my favorite fellow "green nazi" Great post!! I hope everyone realizes how in tune to “The Plan” you are. You’ve been a courageous advocate from the onset and we’re all better for that.
Bottom line – you’re my favorite fellow “green nazi”

]]> By: The Spovangelist http://spovangelist.com/council-gives-sustainability-the-stamp/comment-page-1/#comment-2969 The Spovangelist Tue, 12 May 2009 21:29:12 +0000 http://spovangelist.com/?p=166#comment-2969 An excellent report on the nuts and bolts of city sustainability planning. Truly a useful resource in addressing latent uncertainty. http://www.livingcities.org/GreenCitiesReport.pdf An excellent report on the nuts and bolts of city sustainability planning. Truly a useful resource in addressing latent uncertainty.

http://www.livingcities.org/GreenCitiesReport.pdf

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