Questions About Portland & MultCo Climate Action Plan

October 29, 2009

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After spending alot of time on the freedom sucking Climate Action Plan 2009 on the show yesterday, I thought I’d better write down a few questions I had about the adopted plan.
I will send these questions to each and every elected official who had his/her hand on this report. Please suggest other questions you’d like me to include. You can leave the questions in the comments section or email me at victoria@victoriataft.com.

Where is it written in either the city or county charter that it’s local government’s job to dictate:

  • What we eat?
  • If we walk or ride a bike?
  • How we choose to maintain our homes?
  • Drive to work?

Please cite specific areas of the charters.

Please put in order of importance:

  • Fighting man made global warming.
  • Individual Liberty.

If it’s shown that CO2 does not cause temperature increases will you cease this plan?

What is the ideal climate?

  • Please state climactic conditions, ideal temperatures in every Portland/MultCo microclimate.
  • Please explain how those microclimates have changed in the past 30 years.

You say in your goals for Buildings and Energy that you want to ensure that new buildings and major remodels can adapt to the changing climate.

  • In what way is the climate changing drastically from the way it is now?
  • When will that/these change/s occur?
  • On what science (specific citations) do you base your assumptions?

How will the government measure the per person carbon emissions?

You say you wish to “motivate” people to “change their behavior in ways that reduce carbon emissions.” You will do this by “establish[ing]…metrics by neighborhood [to] measure…household energy use, vehicle miles traveled, walkability and bicycle commute rates.

  • Will this be voluntary?
  • Will neighbors be required to report on non-compliant neighbors?

Since the purpose of this plan is to limit carbon emissions and carbon runs life forms and productivity:

  • How will you accommodate the growth in the number of people without increasing their CO2 emissions?
  • How many jobs will this region forgo to accommodate the government’s plan to reduce CO2?
  • How will the shortfall of tax receipts be made up?

Under this plan the government will “recognize trees, shrubs, vegetation and natural landscapes as assets of the City and County infrastructure” and “maximize…preservation of …large trees…and ensure expansion of the urban forest…”

  • Are all trees the government’s property?
  • Considering the area is home to thousands of acres of forested parkland, why is expanding the ‘urban forest’ important?
  • Will the regions property owners retain all constitutionally protected property rights? If not, why not.
  • Are trees more important than individual liberties?

The government plan says it wishes citizens to eat less carbon intensive foods.

  • What if citizens can’t afford those foods?
  • Will the city feed those people?
  • How will the government pay for feeding its citizens?
  • Will you allow new development to include a sizable back yard to accommodate the government goal of growing our own food?
  • If this is a requirement eventually, will the government provide weed abatement, fertilizer and staff to accomplish said goals?

You say “vibrant” neighborhoods are ones in which “90% of Portland residents and 80% of MultCo residents can easily walk or bicycle to meet all basic daily life.”

  • Why is it important to government if a person walks or rides a bike?
  • Is it the government’s job to know? If so, why?
  • Does “freedom” factor into your definition of “vibrant?”
  • What is the definition of freedom to the working groups and elected officials who came up with this plan?
  • Did you consider economic freedom in your assessments?

You identify restaurants, pubs, drug stores, convenience stores and laundromats as those businesses which contribute to a vibrant neighborhood.

  • Will the government use its permitting process to give advantage to approved businesses?
  • Considering the government claims to know the weather in the future, does the government also forecast the future innovations of businesses likely to be created and make accommodations for those in “vibrant” neighborhoods?

How much will this plan cost?

  • How will government pay for this?
  • Will you force people to pay a portion of their incomes to implement your plan?
  • How much would each citizen have to pay to implement the government’s plan?
  • How many hours per week of work do you think the average citizen should work to pay off the government’s plan?
  • What is the government prepared to do to reduce citizens’ garbage waste?

Since your plan says garbage pick up will occur every two weeks,

  • what is your plan for vector control?
  • What is the carbon footprint of a rat? Two rats? Thousands?
  • Will the government expand its citizen complaint department to accommodate the increased level of neighbor v neighbor squabbles that would inevitably arise out of this goal?”
Tell ’em where you saw it. Http://www.victoriataft.com