April 1, 12:40 PM 2
Michael Challenges Nickels’ Record on the Environment
Greg Nickels’ record on the environment does not square with the grand promises that he has made, and Michael has called Nickels’ bluff. Michael, at his campaign announcement last week, said, “[W]hen you commit to the Kyoto Protocol and go around the country and sign up hundreds of other mayors, it’s really important that you actually meet the Kyoto Protocol.” Paul Schell, not Greg Nickels, is the mayor who devised most of the programs to make City Light carbon neutral.
What has Nickels done? Yes, he has done little things, like sponsoring legislation to make taxis “green.” But he has not shown leadership on the tougher choices or planned for Seattle’s future. Nickels supported the ballot measure in 2007 that would have levied billions of dollars in new taxes to build 182 miles of new highways. For the $4.2 billion, 1.7-mile-long waterfront tunnel, Nickels committed Seattle citizens and City Light customers to paying $930 million (PDF) of the total cost, and agreed to the $2.8 billion in state funding — much of which will come from state taxes levied on Seattle citizens. As climate advocate Doug Howell has said, “[Nickels?] advocacy for the SR 99 tunnel is inconsistent with reducing vehicle miles traveled and associated greenhouse gas emissions.”
It gets worse. Michael offered three other examples of where Nickels’ environmental record falls short:
- opposition to the green spaces and parks levy,
- inaction on pending damage to the Arboretum, and
- the city paving over a wetland in South Seattle.
What are Nickels’ priorities?
Nickels, in a speech last week, claimed that his environmental record was “perhaps unrivaled among mayors,” and insisted that he “look[ed] forward to talking about my record.” In fact, Nickels campaign spokesperson Sandeep Kaushik told Publicola that Nickels would debate his environmental record. Michael embraced this idea, writing to Sandeep:
Sandeep, Saw your comment on Publicola, and I think a mayoral candidate debate on the environment is a great idea.
I am available the evenings of April 7th, April 13th, April 16th, April 17th, and April 21st (which is also the day before earth day). Alternatively, we could have a debate during the lunch hour if that?s more convenient for Mayor Nickels.
Regards,
Michael
The Nickels camp did not respond.
Media Coverage
See more media coverage here:
http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2009/03/26/mcginn-nickels-campaigns-trade-jabs-on-mayors-enviro-record
http://publicola.net/?p=3983
http://publicola.net/?p=4010
http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2009/03/27/mcginn-praised-nickels-enviro-record-before-he-challenged-it
Press Release
Here is the McGinn for Mayor campaign’s press release about Nickels’ record:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 26, 2009
Seattle — Mayor Nickels told a news conference yesterday that his environmental record was “perhaps unrivaled among mayors.” The McGinn campaign agrees, and today released five recent examples of Nickels’ “unrivaled” environmental record.
NICKELS RECORD: Falling Short on Global Warming
Mayor Nickels received national attention for traveling the country and urging hundreds of other cities to meet the Kyoto protocol target for reduced carbon emissions.
Seattle’s carbon footprint has been reduced, thanks largely to measures launched by then Mayor Paul Schell to make City Light carbon neutral. But transportation emissions continue to grow, and are projected to keep the city from meeting even the modest Kyoto target in 2012, let alone the much more stringent reductions needed to address global warming.
“While the city has done a good job on recycling and energy, Nickels has not sufficiently addressed transportation,” said climate advocate Doug Howell. “Meanwhile his advocacy for the SR 99 tunnel is inconsistent with reducing vehicle miles traveled and associated greenhouse gas emissions.”
NICKELS RECORD: Opposed Parks and Green Spaces Levy
Mayor Nickels opposed the 2008 Parks and Green Space Levy, even though it renewed the existing parks levy at a lower rate. As Councilmember Tom Rasmussen noted, “It is surprising that the mayor won’t support things that are so important to our neighborhoods.”
“We had to fight city hall just to get unsafe playground equipment replaced,” said sports field advocate Morgan Ahouse. “Fortunately, Michael McGinn was there to rally support for parks and sports fields.”
Michael McGinn led the successful campaign for the 2008 Parks and Green Spaces Levy.
NICKELS RECORD: Supports More Highways
In 2007, Mayor Nickels supported the Roads and Transit ballot measure, which would have built 182 miles of new highways. Heavily loaded with suburban and exurban highway expansion, the plan raised concerns about increased sprawl, development of sensitive areas, air pollution, and carbon emissions.
“I can?t think of a single highway proposal that this mayor has ever opposed,” said environmental activist Kevin Fullerton.
McGinn was a leader in the successful campaign against the Roads and Transit measure.
NICKELS RECORD: Passionate Tunnel Advocacy; Silent on Arboretum
Mayor Nickels has been a highly visible supporter of a tunnel downtown to replace the viaduct, but he’s been virtually invisible on a threat to one of our city’s treasures: the impact of SR 520 replacement on the University of Washington Arboretum.
“The Mayor has been missing in action on 520, and the threat it poses to the arboretum,? said Cheryl dos Remedios, an artist and citizen activist.
NICKELS RECORD: Damage to Lost Fork/Durham Creek
After illegally paving over a wetland feeding Lost Fork/Durham Creek in south Seattle, the Nickels administration was ordered by the US Army Corps of Engineers to do $4 million in restoration work. But rather than repair the local damage, Nickels spent this money elsewhere in the city.
In 2007, the City Council appropriated $400,000 to repair the damage, starting with a $50,000 feasibility study. But instead of even studying restoration work to the creek, for 18 months Nickels did nothing.
Finally, two weeks ago Nickels killed the restoration project outright, with Deputy Mayor Tim Ceis saying the greenbelt has “minimal environmental benefits” and again the funds would be diverted for other purposes (this time not even environmental).
“Decades of work by community volunteers restored this creek before the city paved over the headwaters,” said B. J. Cummings, environmental leader. “The mayor’s refusal to repair the damage and take responsibility has undermined the city’s commitment to urban streams.”
As Councilmember Richard Conlin said in 2007 after the Mayor promised to restore the damaged wetlands, “The City must walk its environmental talk when it comes to our wetlands, creeks, and streams.”
This week, the mayor’s spokesperson responded to criticism about his boss’s environmental record by boasting “The mayor would play second fiddle to no one.” “The mayor’s spokesperson is right,” McGinn quipped.
“The mayor deserves the first chair when it comes to fiddling.”
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Absolutely disgusting that you would attempt to keep someone on your staff who lied about his credentials, and pay him $100,000. You should be ashamed of yourself Mayor McGinn. Do the honorable thing and resign!