As reported by @typewriteralley, here's Mayor Harrell's climate executive order. It's a step up from doing nothing, but there's a lot of weak sauce in it.
Gonna comment on each item in subsequent posts. Keep in mind I'm just a cranky guy on the internet. There will be more in depth commentary from people who know better.
1) is a commitment to building 3 *pilot* low-emissions neighborhoods by 2028. Specifically included is a super-block idea, which I really like.
*BUT* five years is a long time, and it's a rare infrastructure goal that gets done even close to on time.
Still, it's a start and CM Mosqueda can tie her plan to create a Capitol Hill super-block to this commitment.
2) is a commitment to have a plan next year for "green loading zones" that specifically mentions ebike deliveries.
A plan to have a plan. Wish it was stronger. Still, doing more to encourage non-car deliveries is good.
Early break in my thread to point people at @rachael 's thread. They're a lot more knowledgeable than I am.
Reading Mayor Harrell's executive order (https://harrell.seattle.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/23/2022/12/2022-07-Transportation-Executive-Order-12.7.22-FINAL-signed.pdf?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery) to address climate change with, supposedly, near-term actions we have (as was said at the press event): - Q2 2025 deliverable for a PLAN to implement a low emissions zone (the city "committed" to do this in 2017 by 2030) - Q2 2023, SDOT has to have a report with ways to promote curb side zero emissions freight - Q4 2023, another report on ways to encourage TNC (uber, lyft) to transition to zero emissions.
4) in 6 months, SDOT plans to have a plan for a "Climate Emergency Response Framework" for informing the OneSeattle plan and the transportation master plan(s).
a plan to have a plan that is a framework for evaluating other plans. Again, better than not thinking about climate (Seattle's normal MO), but it's 3 or 4 levels of meta away from *doing* anything.
5) a youth summit to talk about transport experiences for young people before the end of 2023.
Better than a summit of white-haired NIMBYs (which is every other public meeting), but this is likely to be choreographed feel-goodism.
6) they will add 20 miles of Stay Healthy streets to the BMP Implementation Plan within 6 months.
Which is weird, because that doc is supposed to be implementing the BMP. And again, it's better than demolishing that program, but basically this is a commitment to write down the status quo within 6 months.
7) in the next two years, SDOT will try out renting electric vehicles for their operations.
Again, no commitment to switch to electric vehicles. Just one to "pilot" something. Don't forget that SDOT's fleet is a small fraction of the city's transpo emissions.
8) a plan to have a plan by the end of 2023 to electrify most of Seattle's official city cars by 2030.
Again, better than just winging it. But this is still not anything yet.
9 a plan to have a plan in 9 months to "leverage new and existing workforce development programs" for transitioning to carbon-free industries.
Do our workforce redevelopment programs even work? Great if these do, but I'm skeptical it will have a major impact.
10) the next Comprehensive Plan will be more focused on climate.
Sure, but to a huge degree the city has to be dragged kicking and screaming. Option 6 is only considered because so many people (thanks @ShareTheCities! ) did a write-in. This isn't doing anything. It's just acknowledging what the community is already doing.
But kudos to Mayor Harrell and his team if they fight it less.
12) in 12 months, will focus on a second phase of existing fleet electrification efforts on programs to include women and minority owned businesses.
Spreading the largesse to such businesses is good (climate shouldn't be an excuse to airlift $$ to big white businesses), but it's pretty explicitly not increasing our climate actions.
15) The Seattle Office of Intergovernmental Affairs will lobby the legislature and the feds for new funding opportunities.
THIS IS SOMETHING THE CITY DOES *EVERY* YEAR. This is the mayor telling departments "please write up your normal tasks as climate action."
16) The city will lobby for more authority to regulate building codes so it can reduce fossil fuel use. Like 15) a promise to lobby for more authority doesn't mean we get it. And it doesn't mean we actually use it like we should.
17) SDOT and SCL will *work with* Metro to lobby the state & federal government for more funding for electrification for buses.
Promises to seek funding aren't climate action. Better than "fuck it roll coal" but it's just standard issue applying for grants. And as we've seen for RapidRide J, SDOT has a tendency to "leverage" local funds for federal dollars then not get the money and rolling back such projects having wasted years of time, money & effort.
Phil in Seattle