[Vision2020] Don't keep on truckin'

[Moscow Cares]

Courtesy of today's (September 29, 2017) Moscow-Pullman Daily News with thanks to Nils Peterson.

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Letter: Don't keep on truckin'

"Y'all are the ones going to drive over it," was Moscow City Councilor Walter Steed's response to a candidate forum question connecting climate change and a Third Street vehicular bridge. His answer was accompanied by laughter that may have said, "Of course, we will continue Business As Usual, the alternative is unthinkable."

The alternative is to live within walking distance of work, shopping and play.

I'm guilty of greenwashing Business as Usual. I drive an electric car powered by solar panels. I rationalize it because it's a mile from my house to my office and a mile from there to Third and Main streets, where I go frequently for much of my work. To really walk the smaller footprint talk, my home and office should each be a short stroll from Main.

We live in the house built by the Skattaboes in 1914. They lived here in the summer. In the winter, they moved "into town" where they lived above the store, which is now Bloom restaurant. They had it figured out, work on the farm sunup to sundown in the summer, with little or no need to travel. In the winter, they lived within walking distance of school, work and the social life of Moscow.

My answer to the forum question is, we have three options for responding to climate change: mitigate now, adapt to effects soon or suffer later. A century of cheap energy has created a built environment and social arrangement that has us so trapped in the logic of cheap fossil fuel that we mistake mitigation (ending BAU) with suffering.

The bridge money would be better spent on bold mitigation efforts. Convert Third from Washington to Mountain View into a transit/bike/pedestrian mall with frequent shuttle busses looping to campus and a transfer point for Pullman.

Nils Peterson, Moscow

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Reminder:  The Moscow League of Women Voters is sponsoring a candidates (mayor and city council) forum on October 4th (Wednesday) at 7 pm at the 1912 Community Center.

Seeya there, Moscow, because . . .

"Moscow Cares" (the most fun you can have with your pants on)
http://www.MoscowCares.com
  
Tom Hansen
Moscow, Idaho

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