Where is the leadership on environmental issues?
Gainesville City Commissioners like to think of themselves as “environmentally progressive” (i.e.: signed the Kyoto Protocol, initiated a free Bicycle lending service that resulted in most of the bicycles being stolen, and dedicating large amounts of our transportation budget to RTS). However, one of the responsibilities of leadership is to dig a little deeper and consider every ramification of decisions imposed on the public.
Responsible management is so much more than creating public policy that throws tax revenues at experimental ideas. Wise stewardship of the environment should also concern itself with the impact on people, one of earth’s most valuable resources.
Widening sidewalks is a nice gesture, but removing lanes from Main Street and University Avenue will create many problems and safety issues. Decreasing traffic flow and reinforcing the use of public transportation seem like good ideas, except where are the options for drivers who need to get to work using these major arteries? The commissioners’ plans neglect to compensate for displaced traffic that results from lowering road capacity. The result: greater traffic congestion with longer commute times and higher carbon emissions. Drivers cutting through residential areas will create safety issues for children walking and riding bicycles to school.
Last year, Gainesville Regional Utilities’ profits were down as residents consumed less power. Rather than tightening up on their own wasteful practices commissioners compensated by voting in a rate increase to balance the city budget. I propose that Gainesville residents should be rewarded for conserving energy and our leaders need to search for alternate means to balance the city budget.
A legitimate environmental issue is the Koppers Superfund site which has been largely ignored by our Commissioners for decades. Citizen outrage has reached an all time high. Even though all of our Commissioners have held office for years they recently have decided to express “frustration” with how long the clean up process is taking.
Where is the leadership on environmental issues?
Robert Krames
Gainesville
