So what do independently owned food carts and generic multinational chain restaurants have in common? They are both forms of “fast food.” After placing an order your meal is served within minutes. One offers a great degree of culinary variety, “sidewalk spunk,” potentially healthy dishes, circulates money through the local economy more efficiently, and provides management and staff more tangible pathways to career advancement in the food industry.

The other is tightly managed and unimaginative, creates cultural dead zones in urban environments, causes diabetes, inflates the corporate consolidation of agribusiness, and promotes working environments that position employees to be a drain on social systems. I’ll let you guess which is which. Why would you want to scarf down this while you could savor that?

L: Burger King on PictureMyFood.com, R: Pop-Up Spokane

Distasteful as it may be, traditional fast food is not the only food cart-killing culprit in Spokane. Excessive regulation seems to be an issue as well.

To get a year long permit to operate on the street you have to go to the environmental health office and fill out the paperwork, bring approved plans by an engineer regarding your cart, get it approved, and pay the fee. Total turnaround time of about three weeks. Compared to other counties, Spokane is very expensive. A temporary permit that costs $15 in  Colville costs $130 here. To sell meat is four hundred eighty something. Prices double if you don’t get it in two weeks early.

-Local Food Vendor

It seems as if Spokane is determined to cram its entire food cart scene into one week of maniacal caloric consumption: Pig Out in the Park. What exactly is standing in our way of having a more sustained sidewalk presence?

The biggest factor is that the county requires vendors to have a state certified truck or trailer to operate with a mobile food permit.  Bathroom access is another hurdle along with the need to use a commercial kitchen other than the truck or trailer to prepare and store the food. The reality is that none of these necessarily rule out a larger street food scene in this town which leads me to believe that Spokane just lacks the people motivated enough to get it done.

The entire food scene is marked by one hard to ignore fact: we have a small percentage of chef-owned restaurants. Innovation and advancement of food culture in a community tends to be driven by people who have motivations other than just making money. Jeremy Hansen has been able to grab the city’s attention because he has not played to the middle.

The trend that will make the greatest impact on this community will be when more cooks get the entrepreneurial bug. Food carts are a less expensive way of getting this done but with an unproven marketplace, some worry whether they can cover the cost of a certified truck or trailer. The good thing is that change is happening, albeit at a slower pace than some of us might like.

-Chef David Blaine

Why should we care about the lack of food carts in Spokane? Because they indicate a kind of social environment that speaks volumes about our region’s chosen lifestyle and culture. Portland has almost 400 food carts, compared to less than a dozen around here. The Portland food carts are so vibrant they have garnered national attention. This is a tangible homing beacon to creative class types all across the world. This is not just about making people who already live in Spokane happier, it is about being competitive in a global marketplace. Note to any antsy vendors in the 503: Spokane is ready to embrace your business. Now pack up and move on over, we are ready for you! Or better yet, young local entrepreneurs, here is your chance!

• SpoCOOL covers Tacos del Sol.
• Taste of the Town on Jon Howard’s hot dogs.
• SpoCOOL on Pop-Up.
• Luke’s “Mobile Feasts” article, coincidentally written while I was away. The fact that multiple people are thinking about this all at once is just more proof that Spokane’s mass consciousness is shifting.
• Nifty Inlander food cart locator tool.
• Maybe the City could rip off this packet.
• “Food carts take the curse off Portland’s parking lots.”

There are a handful of folks who cast off their blinds long ago, and they are all running around the room ragged tapping people on the shoulders to ask, “Wouldn’t you be willing to untie this knot?” One is asking you to sign a petition. Another is imploring you to send them a postcard. Yet another is inviting you to a party, or to mentor, or to gather, or to vote.

You know that cheesy bonding ritual called the “trust fall”? When I ask people to dive into the unknown with me, too often the blindfold is so tight they just can’t take the leap. “There aren’t enough people like that around here” they say, “at least I haven’t met them.” When I assert that indeed they ARE out there, (in droves!) the suspicion is so thick I could saw a knife through it.

It is time for our creative class scene to pull itself together and get serious about revolutionizing our city. We are capable of a much higher degree of coordination. We need to take a chance, collaborate, and MAKE it happen.  We need to get an ad-hoc “Sounding Committee” together to have a real discussion about what we want to have happen in this town. It is in our hands and nobody else is going to do it for us. This needs to be like Wonderground on steroids.

We will have representatives from each of the grassroots groups out there trying to get things off the ground. People from Terrain, Riverspeak, Lilac Mob, Shrinking Violets, SSYP, Spokane MarCom, Emerging Professionals, the Entrepreneurs Group, the Young Architects, the Emerging Green Builders. The list goes on and on and on. Spokane has it all and it is long since time we put the pieces together. It is on us to create the identity that will carry this city into the future. That is, the future we want it to be in right now.

What is in store for this effort? The first push would involve some pulse taking. We’d host a large-scale gathering of creative people all across the city in different disciplines. This is called a charrette, and it would be awesome. There would be taskforces formed around the issues identified in the charette(s). One could be around the issue of incubating and supporting small, local creative class businesses. Another could be around the issue of all-ages and local live music. They would succeed because they would be operating under the same holistic umbrella. There would be synergistic critical mass that would mutually reinforce the momentum of each effort. And not before long, people would feel like “Holy Moses! We can actually win when we are working together!” AND IT’S FUN.

Then the moment would be ripe to launch a grassroots capital campaign. Screw magic money from the Federal government. This would be born by the blood, sweat and tears of everyday Spokanites longing for a better way. The vision would be to fund a backbone that holds all these groups together. Not in lock-step, but in partnership and constructive conversation. A core of resources that would be dedicated to catapulting this collective agenda forward. Yes, there would be staff. And eventually, a public headquarters. The Mayor is already on board, and just about every other booster out there would be too.

The thing that really gets my garbage goat is that I’ve been thinking about this concept for quite a while, and then I wake up one morning to a Facebook invite from some random, painfully hip Portlander inviting me to pretty much the exact same thing. At some point enough is enough. You can only kick a Hillyard dog so many times before it gets up and beats the bejeezus out of you. I am sick and tired of Portland being *the* hub for this kind of innovation. We are going to create our OWN hub. And no, WE WON’T be moving there, thank you very much!

I would like to see Mary Verner’s face on a poster like this. I would like to see partnerships between venues and advertising firms and education lobbyists. Let’s create our own condensed version of the following, with more of an economic development/quality of life/creative industry spin.

• The Right Brain Initiative
• Creative Advocacy Network
• Work for Art
• Regional Arts & Culture Council

I was disheartened to learn of the Mayoral smackdown that occurred within the last decade when certain commissioners were too outspoken on the issue of gay rights.

I was discouraged upon volunteering for the commission to observe that meeting after meeting went around in circles despite the best efforts of participants to be useful and move through the agenda.

I was disillusioned when a review task force took several months to decide that the commission did not in fact have the authority to issue $25 fines for human rights abuses within the city limits.

Design by Bobby Breidholt

In the end with most things being deferred to the State Human Rights Commission, and with the Spokane Regional Taskforce on Human Relations picking up the torch on education and awareness, I had to ask “What is the point?”

Hopefully some bright young 16-18-year-olds can figure it out. It is a significant development that their involvement is now slated to occupy 33% of all the seats on the commission. While I understand the Spokane Regional Youth Department is currently geared to serve mostly students up to 18 years of age, I must say that 16, 17 and 18-year-olds only are a pretty narrow segment of the potential young population available to serve in this capacity.

I dare say that college students may have unique perspective that could add value due to the nature of the curriculum they may be immersing themselves in, and 20-somethings in the workforce probably have some relevant insights as junior employees in various work environments around town, and as people who predominantly rent as opposed to own.

While I fully support the intentional inclusion of “youth voice” I hope that doesn’t become tantamount to high school voice. It is going to take commissioners with gumption and resolve to help the Spokane HRC rediscover its stride. That kind of talent is attracted to impactful decision making authority. If the commission continues to decide not to decide, well the the young blood strategy may not have the desired effect.

Those interested in applying may obtain further information and an application by contacting the Spokane Regional Youth Department, 625-6440 or by visiting www.chaseyouth.org. Applications are due by 5 p.m. on Monday, April 5, 2010.

]]> http://spovangelist.com/hrc-jonesing-for-young-blood/feed/ 3 http://spovangelist.com/haters/ http://spovangelist.com/haters/#comments Fri, 29 Jan 2010 22:51:54 +0000 The Spovangelist http://spovangelist.com/?p=1504 What, pray tell, have I done to warrant this?

While it might be considered flattering to receive such scrutiny from our friends in the valley, what is the point of such a petty accusation? To get me to write more frequently on an ongoing basis?

If there is one thing SVI thrives on it is controversy. Their link feed on Facebook is riddled with condemning headlines delivered in an egregiously political tone. Some of my favorite SVI re-posts are the story about massage parlors getting busted in Boise, and tips on how to tell if your teen is a tagger.

All the sordid, sometimes silly details remind me of what we called the “CSO Blotter” in my college newspaper (CSO being short for Community Safety Officer). Bizarre tidbits about stolen shopping carts and freakish campus interlocutors sent a clear message to students: Don’t let this stuff include you!

SVI performs the same public service with unforgiving zeal. Through the lens of the Insider, an outsider might get the impression that the Inland Northwest is one big “I Am Legend” meth-induced zombie wasteland where people are left to fend for themselves in a vicious atmosphere of total chaos. Rapes, murders, pile-ups on the freeway, the message of this forum is that you’d better watch out or you’ll get what is coming to you.

It could be entertaining if it weren’t for the blatant racism.

When are the politicians going to FINALLY stop with this muslim butt kissing contest and PROTECT our country? -SVI, 1/7/10

If the right to vote was so important to minority groups then they should use that right as motivation to stay out of prison! -SVI 1/5/10

This is exactly the kind of rhetoric we don’t need in the Inland Northwest. It is offensive and unacceptable. I only point it out here because people should be aware that racism is still a big problem in our community.

I can’t help but wonder what the opposite of SVI might read like. Called the Downtown Spokane Outsider, it might report on random acts of kindness, have some interesting conspiracy theory about Republican obstructionism to health care reform, and feature an animated banner of Glenn Beck eating off the heads of small animals. I don’t know, I can’t even pretend to think this way.

The swanky new parking comes with a price tag to match. At the peak of the Lion King frenzy, the lot appeared to be only 2/3 full at a going rate of $10 per spot. A blurb in the DSP’s Street Talk newsletter pointed me towards the master plan that was written for the Public Facilities District expansion.

Parking with Style
The new lot features sheltered, automated parking pay stations, new classic style light poles with wrought iron details on Main, 115 new trees, and solar powered lighting. Not bad for a parking lot!

While nobody can deny that the new lot is a vast improvement on the asphalt desert that preceded it, I have to wonder if this move effectively delays breaking ground on a planned multi-level structure. The Vision 20/20 plan fails to explain the rationale behind the timing of the current upgrade, stating only that the new lot will be around for about 10 years before Phase Two.

Downtown with a portion of current surface parking highlighted.

It was painfully ironic how Vision 20/20 carries on about the cultural and authentic place-seeking inclinations of Gen Y (see pages 24-25) only to result in the wrecking ball for one of their favorite local venues. They note a perceived disconnect between the convention center and the emerging East End, and then eliminate the nearest feature of that sought-after urban fabric.

In good faith I assume there are solid answers to all of these questions, and the plan suggests several exciting elements that will greatly enhance the downtown landscape if they are pursued. But what should the role of the public be in such a planning process? I was surprised to see that citizens were not listed as stakeholders, and only one public input meeting was cited in the report. The results of that meeting were not outlined, and so after 97 pages it is unclear how the proposal incorporates the perspective of local consumers.

We should use the assets we have, such as our visually appealing and unique historic buildings, to invest in permanent businesses and living spaces. Unnecessary parking lots flatline the heartbeat of downtown, no matter how they are used, and send the wrong message about the vision and direction we want for our city.

-Crystal Gartner

The first step is to go here:

http://www.spokanecity.org/services/citycable5/streamingmedia/

And select the July 13th proceedings. Please note that you have to allow the Council meeting video to load completely in order to access the fast forward/rewind feature.

The following is not meant to be an accurate reflection of the given testimony. All spellings are approximate and subject to correction. These notes are provided free of charge as a convenience to everyone. Enjoy!

PRO 90-106 Brad Reed
Just watch it for yourself.
CON 106-107 Michael Cathcart
talking points: conflates CELDF & Envision Spokane, lawsuits will cost tax payer, logrolling
CON 107-109 Joanne McCann
deceptive means not valid, radically change, unfunded mandates, extraordinary case, “protect all of us”
PRO 109-111 Kai Hushke
has been confirmed to not be legally invalid, a key piece of democracy
PRO 111-125 Breean Beggs
right to ballot access for initiatives, we are a charter city, invalidity can only be charged for formatting, don’t end the public discourse, ballot title must match content, Crime Victims Bill of Rights is a good example, can argue that issue later, consultation or not City Council would ultimately have to make the same decision, more than preponderance of case law on rational unity, helps to enforce the Comp. Plan, law is all about interpretation – there is no black or white, this would set a framework for decision making, saves money because challenges only come up after passage instead of for every proposal, gets issues out on the table
PRO 125-126 Patty Gates
“citizens have right to directly legislate” honor the process
CON 126-128 Kim Garsseau
carpetbaggers, sinister, vague, insults constitution and bill of rights, gives power to unelected people without a financial stake, quote: “give Americans small doses of socialism until they find communism” Khrushchev 1959
CON 128-132 Blair Strom
“deficient on its face” (no explanation given) asked everyone to stand in audience, ideology is cleverly unifying, “menu initiative, nothing like this has come before the courts before”
CON 132-135 John Ahern
“fact: generated out of state” takes power away from city council to neighborhoods, anti-business, will drive people to Idaho, lawsuits are costly, will cost taxpayers, take away from police and fire “prevailing wages are Seattle wages”
CON 136-138 CJ Meyer
businesses can easily move to Oregon and Montana
PRO 138-140 Terri Sloyer
the petition originated entirely within Spokane, over double sigs required wanted to see the public debate
PRO 140-141 Jim Sheehan
democracy is squishy, don’t thwart the will of the people
PRO 141-143 Kathy Miotke
neighborhood rep, merits of legitimizing the comp plan will be debated later, will support neighborhood plans, ensuring people have equal and early representation at the table, democracy in action
PRO 143-145 Brooke Matson
alternative high school teacher, witnesses the impacts of faulty systems, teaches government by the people and for the people, high school kids are skeptical of democracy, please do not stand in the way of democracy

PRO 145-147 Amy McCaffree
use critical thinking skills, definition of fallacy
PRO 147 Sarah Conover
critical public debate
CON 148 Josh Kerns
roads are most important, this will tie money in the courts
CON 149-151 Christopher Bass
Benjamin Franklin: we are a republic not a democracy, State laws are different from City, brilliant idea, 9000 sigs are required, not 5000, would take away corporate rights
CON 151-154-168 Steve Eugster
two memos, three types of pre-election review, WA doesn’t have substantive challenge, WA does have procedural review, initiative gives legal standing to ecosystems, Spokane citizens don’t have authority to do that, title is too general, logrolling, incidental subdivisions have to relate to main topic and each other, Public Disclosure Act, Roberts Rules of Order, the title includes more than one subject, “facially defective” Philadelphia 2: State citizens cannot legislate national policy, amendments have to include what is going out and in, City and State laws are pretty much the same for contesting initiatives before elections
CON/PRO 180-184 Kate McCaslin
“The Lawyers Permanent and Full Employment Act” business will have to face lawsuits, cost thousands of jobs, send to voters to reject, may not qualify
CON 184-187 Gloria Clarke
“veiled threat” Envision Spokane is threatening Forest and Farmland Conservancy will take over counties to prevent urban sprawl, farm VS soil rights? people VS native plants? group went down to Ecuador, has plans to expand “sustainability thing”
CON 187-190 Hal Ellis
not a single issue, charter is not the place to do these things, River Park Square litigation was expensive
PRO 191-192 Bernadette Powers
I’m a Spokane carpetbagger since 1968, Jefferson: “people are ultimate repository of decision making power”
CON/PRO 195 Bill Hislip
Chair, Association of Builders and Contractors, major significant questions, loss of jobs and business, removes city authority, changes state law regarding corporations, send to the auditor if you have to
CON 195 Brenda Corbitt
right is right and wrong is wrong, vote your heart

CON 196-198 Brenda Stamper
“we go by the rule of law” you as people can represent the rest of the people, don’t be bullied
CON 198 Dane McLaughlin?
nebulous nature of bill of rights denies rights of corporations, gives people and neighborhoods the right to defend their rights, what about spraying the lawn? what is an ecosystem, Marxist philosophy, drafted by CELDF, constitutional republic, democracy results in tyranny of majority, equivalent of negotiating with Hitler
PRO 203 Mike Rowles
let the voters make their choice
CON 204 Matthew Wade
neighborhood association would have had ability to intervene in a development project, “highly volatile”
PRO 205-206 Lori Aluna
have not petitioned anywhere outside the city limits, crystal ball comparison
CON 206-209 Gretchen McDevitt
written incorrectly, should have gone to city legal department, “fatally flawed” my husband is a lawyer, request declaratory judgment, or postpone decision
PRO 209 Richard Evans
people will eventually come to understand it after reading instead of going off assumptions, BTW: prevailing wage set county by county
PRO 211-213 Tom Powers
represents JOBS, litigation is costly in many terms
CON 213-215 Matt Monroe
step in career for proponents, “scary documentary” these people need to be stopped
PRO 216 Dave Bilsland
5,000 best friends
PRO 218 Patrick Davidson
Latah Creek – a check on the City Council when they go against the planning commission, would take 51% of registered voters to take action about the quality of the neighborhood, it is a slight shift in power, but people are overblowing the impact
PRO 219-221 Mariah McKay
a documentary is being produced because this is truly novel strategy for grassroots organizing, legitimate unanswered questions, even if fails first time around the approach is valid
PRO 222-223 Jim Green
worked with community groups, town hall meetings all over the city
CON 223 Edie Striecher
1200 members of Homebuilders Assoc. National Legal Staff says in violation of single subject
CON 224 Cindy Zapotocky
these people are saying that CO2 is a pollutant, you’ll have to breach dams

CON/PRO 226-228 Richard Rush
the Comprehensive Plan has not been abided by, opposes government by initiative because it is unwieldy and incoherent, 695 is making City go bankrupt
CON 229- Al French
took oath to obey law, ballot language does not reflect the nature of the initiative, city charter hasn’t been challenged and therefore courts don’t have ruling, it is time to explore initiative law, ensure no frauds are perpetrated, every $ trades off with safety, declaratory judgment, democracy doesn’t mean initiative to violate law, I’m not ready for community rights
CON 235-239 Nancy McLaughlin
don’t agree with this at all, “misconscrew” feeling manipulated, “just can’t go there” the new normal means we can’t take risks
CON/PRO 239-241 Mike Allen
won’t void a law thats not law, this gets away from value of self-reliance, survey says safety is king, tactical move not to work with city attorney
CON/PRO 241-255 Steve Corker
disappointed in opposition demonizing Envision Spokane, asking if right of health care should be equal to education, they found opportunity at local level to test, proponents seem to demonize contractors and developers as not sensitive to environmental rights, this is a more humanistic approach towards government, local level has limited tax authority and therefore should have limited responsibilities, bothered by too many “shalls” and not enough “mays” we’ve done Project Access, created 350 affordable homes, the issue that is being advanced can’t be defined, list of needs exceeds resources, tradeoffs will have to be made, property rights challenges, “what Envision did back east” (???) neighborhoods aren’t sure where they want to go, not afraid of going to vote, has faith in people of Spokane to become involved, not ready locally or nationally for what Envision is talking about
CON/PRO 255-260 Bob Apple
“there is going to be a battle” major flaws, ultimate trust in voters, method doesn’t say “maybe” don’t want to impede with declaratory judgment, “I don’t like it”
CON/PRO 260-264 Joe Shogan
“I sense a lot of fear” democracy is just the way we operate, not considering substance, right of initiative is to be held above all, Crime Victims Bill of Rights example, can’t be afraid of majority rule, voters will say no

And don’t forget the constant jumping between issues of collective importance, such as traditional and cultural events, to mind-numbing clerical tasks, rather defensively put forth in this case by Councilmember French. While the first hour of routine agenda set the stage for misnomers yet to come, nothing could have prepared us for the slew of muddled arguments that followed.

This Council meeting gave new meaning to the phrase “Green Mondays”.  The “ships passing in the dark” were so abundant it is difficult to decide where to begin. Hopefully some of this malaise will be cleared up (or at least vindicated) by City Cable re-runs and/or professional coverage by Jonathan Brunt. Wait, nevermind that. This is what ad driven word limits and fact reporting get you in terms of in-depth analysis.

It all began with an irate woman that was presumably a member of the taskforce. She rushed through many of the basic points in favor of the plan and gave a few precursory rebuts to the opposition. Her anger was palpable. 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 only to have it effectively brushed aside? Then there was a man who’s frustration was so great he was reduced to sarcasm, which didn’t end up adding much to his message. While we agree with the advocacy of these speakers, the opening tenor was anything but upbeat.

Arguments for the opposition kicked off with John Ahern jumping the gun on a tactic to nullify any commitment to the plan by suggesting that it be merely “received and considered” by the Council. For the sake of conversation, lets dub this side-stepping acceptance strategy the “Copy Received” approach. After being reminded that no such motion was on the table, John’s remaining comments were, shall we say, memorably unmemorable.

Next came a rather unhappy looking Cindy Zapotocky, Chair of the Spokane County GOP, to toe the party line. All the predictable platitudes were there, “all regulations are bad” (nevermind that the plan isn’t a regulation) “government is too big” (nevermind that the plan doesn’t expand government) and “this is too expensive” (nevermind the rigorous cost benefit analysis guidelines set forth in the plan and the absence of any mandates for spending). There was little to no explanation of how any of the objections actually related to the proposal at hand. Then things got weird as she started intimating “outside control” and made clear the party’s opposition to the Endangered Species Act. Yes, that’s right, somehow the local Republican’s distaste for biodiversity was deemed relevant to the discussion at hand.

Councilmember Allen jumped in to propose the amendment that effectively makes “acceptance” mean “Copy Received”. He took pains to explain that certain recommendations would be thrown out altogether (on what criteria we don’t know) while others would be taken “back to the beginning” for further deliberation and “feasibility analysis” (i.e. endless talk with no walk until the public burns out in complete exasperation). How will Mike live down “my job is not to be progressive, but to be prudent”? This false opposition between prudence and progress will not be forgotten in the upcoming election. Mr. Allen told us that Terrain would flop without a “formal business plan”. While we appreciate the advice, some things do better outside the assessment box.

The rest of the proponents took pot shots here and there, but at this point it seemed all minds were cemented in uncertainty. Testifiers on both sides gave the “I’ve been here before so I’ll keep it short” excuse for lackluster explanation.  If it weren’t for three minutes of refreshing clarity and direction from Mayor Mary Verner, we probably would have stormed out of the room as one woman did muttering “waste of time” after Mr. Henry took the stand to ramble about Tesla.

Nancy was visibly disturbed in reciting statements from scientists disputing global warming. She acknowledged that she was out of her element repeatedly, which only begged the question of how 4 or 5 jumbled quotes served the question at hand. What does it take, 40-50 jumbled quotes from equally qualified scientists who support models of human linked global warming? Then she pulled a gender card on an expert who was a pioneering woman in her field.

Laudable? Yes. Relevant? No.

About the only thing we pulled out of taskmaster Shogan’s comments was the shame of turning sustainability into a partisan issue. Or is it? For the high profile representation on behalf of local Republicans, local Dems were curiously absent. No party memos or calls to action were issued, no weighing in on the local news. Was this because they took the high road, refusing to dignify their (presumed) opponents position, or were they remiss in not using party guns to fight party guns in the political process? We hope some other local writer will comment on the question. One thing was clear, however, party driven tension was running thick in the air. Poor Joe even confused the “I support a Sustainable Spokane” stickers that several audience members were wearing for some kind of political campaign. Spokane Green Party back from the dead? We’ll never know.

Then there was Bob with his profuse apologies and ultimate deciding factor: “I’m very sorry, it is just too divisive and that is the way I see it.” Plus some incoherence about how sustainability may be a state and federal responsibility. We’ll have to watch the re-runs to try and make sense out of that.

Save Councilmembers Corker and Rush, plenty of lip service was paid to the exhaustive efforts of countless citizen volunteers who worked to create the plan so it could be IMPLEMENTED. It was ironic that the meeting began with mention of the 9 vacancies on the Human Rights Commission, a city-citizen collaboration that took about six months to decide that it did not, in fact, have the authority to issue $25 fines for human rights abuses in the City of Spokane. This lack of political will to take action will have a dire chilling effect on public involvement in local government, which is really too bad because that ultimately manages to make a bad problem worse.

Courtesy of BoneStamp

Had I not taken the time to actually read the text of the Sustainability Action Plan I would be thoroughly confused as to its recommendations given the discussion at City Hall. What a demoralizing experience. There were sparse examples given to shed light on how the Sustainability Plan would move forward without the economic doomsday threatened by Republicans. If Portland, Seattle and Vancouver can adopt sustainable measures without coming to a screeching halt, then why can’t Spokane live up to the “Near Nature, Near Perfect” boasting and approve a commitment to act?

Despite everything, the work of the Sustainability Taskforce volunteers is still valuable and deserves to be celebrated. Join your fellow residents for the Galactic Green Drinks fundraiser tonight at One World Cafe from 5-9 at 1804 E. Sprague. In the long run the sustainability movement is growing in Spokane and will suceed regardless of when City government is finally able to get on board.

The Spokane Sustainability Action Plan (SAP) is just such an effort. It is the first attempt by a U.S. City to undergo a comprehensive public planning process that addresses the challenges of peak oil and climate change simultaneously. That’s right folks, we are a trend-setting city in something other than hosting history’s smallest World’s Fair!

What follows is my appeal to the Spokane City Council to approve the recommendations of the Mayor’s Taskforce.

This letter is written in direct response to a ten point criticism circulated in a Spokane GOP party memo. Local Republican talking points are included verbatim in bold below.

________________________________________________________

Locking our city into a huge process of “sustainability mandates” from the State Dept. of Ecology is a mistake. See Cap and Trade legislation pending and the awful Senate Bill 5735, the Cap and Tax bill which passed Wednesday.  We want to keep our local government flexible and local!

1.) In no way do the sustainability recommendations “lock in” local government. Strategies and guiding principles are by definition flexible (this is pointed out in the plan) and open to interpretation and change based on new information as it becomes available. The members of the Taskforce anticipated this criticism when they explained: “This Action Plan … is not a bundle of regulations and mandates. The Plan is a portfolio of principles, strategies, and recommendations.” Furthermore, guiding principle #3 says to “Lead with incentives and education before mandates.” Because of this it is *inappropriate* for the GOP to sing the ‘big bad government’ song in opposition to this plan.

It will cost taxpayers BIG TAX DOLLARS to retrofit governments office buildings to make them more energy efficient when the return on investment will be dubious. Corruption and cost over runs will, as usual, be rampant. Our region has the cheapest, most plentiful and least polluting energy in the world…hydropower!  We sell to the entire western U.S. and east to Chicago, then up into Canada and down in to Mexico. BEST PLAN?? Expanding the dam system electrical output which would be easier and very beneficial to our region.

2.) The Sustainability Action Plan specifically includes guidance to adopt only those energy efficiency measures that have desirable and demonstrable cost-benefit outcomes. Asserting that “big tax dollars” will be marshaled to some inefficient end is *simple paranoia*. Plans to improve the economic vitality of our City now and into the future should NOT be abandoned due to wrongs in the past that make certain Republicans feel that all local government is “rampantly corrupt.”

The suggestion that hydropower be pursued as an alternative to the Sustainability Action Plan does not make sense and does not hold up. The plan puts in place a strategy to determine the best approach to advancing local clean energy alternatives. Clearly this will involve more than just hydropower. Furthermore, Strategy #5 to “Conserve water everywhere” was included in part to protect our capacity to tap into hydropower sustainably. Hydropower is no silver bullet, what is needed is the comprehensive framework provided by the plan.

It will cost us businesses in our region when they are forced to “retrofit” their own buildings to make them more energy efficient. (Savings will be small compared to costs of renovations.) Is bankrupting one half of all local businesses and the resultant job losses really worth it?

3.) I have scoured the Sustainability Action Plan looking for any hint calling to “force businesses to retrofit their buildings.” The fact of the matter is that NO SUCH SUGGESTION EXISTS. The opposite is portrayed in explaining how the City will be a model for the surrounding community, and how green collar jobs could be created through strategic partnerships. Private sector businesses can choose to adopt or reject green practices as they see fit. Claiming that half of all Spokane business will automatically go “bankrupt” is nothing less than *counterproductive misinformation*. Please keep in mind that much of the opposition you may have encountered is based on an incorrect understanding of what the plan actually entails.

Changing over to electric cars and buses could be very expensive. Is it worth it? Is it needed? Will this really make the environment in Spokane cleaner? Our city is already purchasing ten new electric buses to do a “trial run”. Do our city officials really need the State Dept. of Ecology to tell us when to do this and how to do it?

4.) Valid questions about the best approach for achieving a leaner City fleet will be answered by “Developing and implementing a plan to increase the City’s use of electric vehicles.” Given the detailed strategies for efficient and effective planing set forth by the SAP, as well as innovations in measuring financial performance and total cost-savings, you can be confident that changing over to electric cars and buses will be well justified before it actually occurs.

Do citizens really want all government to function primarily around environmental concerns? Do we want BIG GOVERNMENT watching us to make sure we comply?

5.) Again, playing the “big bad government” card is silly in regards to the Action Plan as already explained. Questions about citizen desire have clearly been answered:

“The Task Force received more than 800 unique contributions to its base of information in the form of Work Group recommendations, citizen comments, citizen and staff complaints about current City practices and policies, and general suggestions.”

“Each contribution was inventoried, addressed and prioritized during the nearly year-long planning process.”

“A well-communicated public outreach plan produced significant citizen input that guided the overall direction of the final recommendations. The process yielded one simple message, accepted by members of every constituency the Task Force encountered during its work: Strive for good stewardship and efficiency in all things.”

FOX Business news announced on Tuesday…..Spain, one of the :”green showcase” countries, has now put out a study of some of their innovations. Among other surprises, for every green job produced, the cost was 2 traditional, “fossil fuel” based jobs.

6.) Drawing a 1:2 trade-off between “green” jobs and “fossil fuel” jobs is *over-simplified* at best. Sometimes emerging green industries do not directly impact traditional markets, and many studies demonstrate that “Green Collar” jobs are of a higher quality and greater growth potential than so-called “non-green” jobs. The many research sources drawn upon by the Sustainability Taskforce are clearly more credible than an off-handed broadcast by FOX Business News.

The Mayor’s sustainability study was based on UN and their surrogate ICLEI studies that based their science on “global warming” scientific models that are now showing signs of being faulty. The earth may be cooling, not warming. The science is still in flux. We need to wait and not make dire changes to our government structures based on fads or junk science.

7.) As a trained scientist I find the unsupported claim that global warming is a “fad” or “junk” science *downright embarrassing*. The people and the City of Spokane simply can not afford to be on the wrong side of science and the wrong side of history with regards to this important issue. According to Princeton researchers, by the time I am 73 the global average temperature will have climbed by 9 degrees Fahrenheit – and that is assuming that the the current rate of carbon emissions stays constant (this conservative estimate does not include projections for the growing demands of the developing world). Even if you consider yourself a “hardened skeptic” when it comes to global warming, please watch this video that logically argues the only responsible decision is for a proactive response.

One big premise upon which this report was based is that we are running out of oil….and that our dependence on foreign oil is a huge problem. Is it? How much oil is possible to drill in the U.S. and offshore? In the next ten years, will technologies improve to make safe nuclear power more attractive and plentiful?  Are wind and solar panel energy dependable and constant? Are they sufficient to give our people and industries in the U.S. enough energy to still be a super power, or will we become a broken, corrupt, poverty-stricken socialist country like Brazil and Indonesia, where these plan models were created by the UN agencies? (Our Mayor signed an international agreement to implement international standards in Spokane.)

8.) The impacts of peak oil are not a matter of “if” they are only a matter of “when”. Many experts concur that we will never produce as much oil in a month as we did in July of last year. Even in the most optimistic nuclear power scenarios (nevermind toxic outputs and security concerns), the pervasive use of fossil fuels in all aspects of material production and transportation can not be ignored. Legitimate questions about wind and solar energy will be given a framework for consideration under the Sustainability Action Plan.

Suggestions that going green somehow risks “a broken, corrupt, poverty-stricken socialist country like Brazil and Indonesia, where these plan models were created by UN agencies” not only sounds *alarmist*, it smacks of *xenophobia*and a dogged unwillingness to even consider global best practices.

Avista has been an enthusiastic participant in the Mayor’s Sustainabililty Task Force process….why?

9.) Avista has been actively involved in developing the SAP because:

“Our history of responsible stewardship reflects the spirit of the region. You and others like you — who care about things like conservation, recycling and the natural beauty around us — embody that very spirit. We do it because it is the right thing to do, because it’s what you expect of us, and because, honestly, the next century depends on it.”

If you look at the “fiscal note” attached to the state cap and trade bill, you will see that expenditures will involve hiring new government officials who will build a whole new series of government agencies to monitor “sustainability.” Thus, government at the state as well as our local level  will expand, and expand, and EXPAND! This will cost taxpayers more money. Do citizens really want more government that will be more intrusive?

10.) The proposed Washington State Climate Action Plan is in no way linked to the Spokane Sustainability Action Plan. The local plan does not call for a carbon exchange market. Opposition to one plan should not be confused with or transferred to the other.

________________________________________________________

In closing I would like to make one last plea for the adoption of this plan that has nothing to do with environmental concerns. It has everything to do with the impact on COMMUNITY TRUST AND FAITH IN PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT that will be had by your decision.

The introduction to the Sustainability Action Plan states:

“This initiative included dozens of meetings and many individual hours invested by the Task Force, meeting four hours every three weeks since April 2008. Such community participation shows that Spokane is a valued home, well worth the time and energy invested to ensure its future as a livable city.”

If in the face of public testimony you refuse to adopt this plan,you will effectively be issuing a vote of “no confidence” in the value of public participation in local government. As a local community activist and former City volunteer, I can’t caution you enough against sending such a devastating message to the broader Spokane community.

As you probably would agree, an effective City depends on the active involvement of all its citizens.  This  ensures accountability, innovation, responsiveness and collective capacity. While I myself am an avid sustainability advocate, I choose not to participate in the Mayor’s Taskforce precisely because I feared that the resulting plan would not be incorporated into City operations. Instead I chose to invest my limited time and energy doing independent organizing work that focused on relationship building among my immediate neighbors and peers. I was concerned that the Taskforce would consume an enormous amount of time attention and energy, only to ultimately burn out and embitter local sustainability proponents.

I want to believe in our ability to work together to achieve regional resiliency and well-being. In order to bring my disenfranchised young friends into this process with integrity, I need to believe that our vision will be taken seriously, and that our efforts will not be tabled or ignored. Please help me rekindle my confidence in local government as a viable means by which to achieve positive change. Please approve the Sustainability Action Plan.

Sincerely,

The Spovangelist

“His legacy is going to be a surface parking lot,” said Halvorson, President of the Spokane Preservation Advocates. “Wendell Reugh has been making money off of real estate investments in Spokane for 20 years. He’s going to end up taking his money, moving to California and leaving a hole in the center of downtown Spokane.”

Another much loved concrete property pimp is Seattle-based Joe Diamond.

But until we revolutionize our transit system and development landscape to rid ourselves of the scourge in favor of high density mixed-use green buildings, here are some thoughts for repurposing in the meantime:

1. flea market
2. go karts
3. ice skating rink
4. Hoopfest courts
5. car wash
6. slip ‘n slides
7. tent city
8. rave
9. C.H.V.N.K. jousting
10. lemonade stand
11. beer bike relays
12. hoola hoop contests
13. farmer’s market
14. public lecture
15. puppet show
16. raised bed community garden
17. four square tournament
18. summer fashion show
19. carnivals
20. cartwheels
21. pogo stick
22. outdoor concert
23. playground
24. pancake stand
25. festival
26. bouncy castle
27. park(ing) day art installations
28. egg toss
29. rocket launching pad
30. fireworks
31. displaying the AIDS quilt
32. bake sales
33. animal adoption event
34. inflating/landing hot air balloons
35. egg toss competition
36. chalk art
37. clothing exchange
38. the hokey pokey
39. food carts
40. red rover, red rover
41. mass picnics
42. blood donation center
43. petting zoo
44. hopscotch
45. cardboard haunted houses
46. flower stand
47. cooking demonstrations
48. kiddie pools
49. juggling tournament
50. skate park
51. archaeological dig
52. demolition derby
53. Christmas tree corrals
54. outdoor movies
55. green houses
56. swing sets
57. dumpster trash analysis
58. stencil art
59. book exchange
60. pumpkin carving contest
61. auction
62. composting facility
63. recycling center
64. public debates
65. spitting contests
66. graduation ceremonies
67. jump rope
68. bartering bazaar
69. human chess
70. bicycle repair tents
71. flying kites
72. ski swap
73. Pod storage units
74. bean shelling
75. labyrinth
76. line/square/contra dancing
77. voter registration
78. aquaculture
79. flash mobs
80. outdoor church services
81. weight loss challenge course
82. birthday party
83. pep rallies
84. murals
85. tai chi
86. roller skating
87. birdhouse making workshop
88. hay bale maze
89. graduation ceremony
90. patio
91. urban meditation
92. igloo construction
93. museum
94. cross-country skiing
95. comedy
96. rain water collection
97. massage circle
98. bonfire
99. sand box
100. book exchange
101. chain mall boycotts

What Spokane doesn’t have is an urban living co-op, that is at least not yet… Consider the story of Apex in Seattle:

In 1981, a group of broke, but highly motivated residents (many of them artists) banded together to seek an affordable solution to the rising cost of living in Belltown, one of Downtown Seattle’s most colorful neighborhoods. Bearing the torch of affordable housing, they began consulting with Belltown business owners and the end result was that Jim Egbert, owner of snazzy home furnishing store Egbert’s, agreed to sell two floors of the building above his shop to the future Apexers.

The 1909 Apex hotel had been vacant for a few years and needed extensive renovation. Buoyed by loans from the National Consumer Co-op Bank (a Jimmy Carter legacy set up to compensate for lender reluctance to finance co-ops) as well as the City of Seattle and some private parties, the Apex Belltown Cooperative was born.

Note the high cost condominium tower that is being built right next door. Now let’s do a little visioning exercise to rewrite this story in terms of Spokane:

In 2010, a group of broke, but highly motivated residents (many of them creatives) banded together to seek an affordable solution to the rising cost of living in the East End, one of Downtown Spokane’s most colorful neighborhoods. Bearing the torch of affordable housing, they began consulting with East End business owners and the end result was that Mr. or Mrs. XYZ, owner of a snazzy building housing the Globe bar and grill, agreed to sell two floors of the building above the restaurant to the future Janet dwellers.

The Janet hotel had been vacant for many years and needed renovation. Buoyed by loans from the National Consumer Coop Bank (a Jimmy Carter legacy set up to compensate for lender reluctance to finance coops) as well as the City of Spokane and some private parties, the Janet East End Cooperative was born.

Notice how little tweaking is required to make this a plausible scenario? And might I add that Spokane is WAY more photogenic than Seattle in Google Street View?

If designed correctly, this kind of living center could become ground zero for the “renaissance revolution” we’ve been dying to see here in Spokane. I could carry on for days about how this project would fill a variety of gaping holes that exist in our local sociocultural landscape. Talent would move back here just to be a part of the Janet. It would be a brick and mortar brain trust homing beacon. I would cut off my right arm to live there (OK, so that is a bit of an exaggeration).

This would be a great leap towards SUSTAINABLE economic development in the region. A plan that takes into account the type of environment entrepreneurs and innovators want to exist in and around. Although the financing may not be available for a few years, we shouldn’t let that stop us from starting to dream and scheme now. People always talk about how Spokane is just like how Seattle was back in the day. Well the clock is ticking and we shouldn’t let this precious window of opportunity to develop affordable housing pass us by. Just think of the vital link this corridor provides between downtown and the emerging University District. With everything else going on around the block it is just a hands down win-win-win situation.

So what do you say? Would you live there? How would you structure it? What should be the criteria for acceptance? How should the community be governed? Let us know. Let this post be a prophecy of rad apartment availability yet to come.

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