EIGHT GREEN ISSUES
EIGHT GREEN ISSUES REQUIRING ONE-CITY ACTION
Submitted for Discussion at Mayor Gray’s February 11, 2012 One-City Summit
by Gene Solon (gsolon@verizon.net)
Do smarter, more coordinated development and transportation planning! Strengthen and enforce engine idling regulations for buses, boats and other vehicles -- and do everything else necessary to dramatically increase the number of “code green” Air Quality Index days in our nation’s capital! Our health is at stake!
Upgrade D.C.’s current vehicle fuel consumption and emissions regulations so that they match or exceed all California state regulations, including its state government fleet requirements – and including its recently passed regulations that increase the sale and use of electric and hybrid vehicles!
Mount a government effort to test for – and eradicate – indoor air pollution in all D.C. residences and all other buildings in our city!
Strengthen and enforce rules for the containment of noise, fumes, dust and silt at demolition and construction sites, and for the elimination of soil and water contamination there!
Upgrade the development permit process by further streamlining and centralization, by improving multi-agency coordination, by raising the level of staff expertise, and by making websites more user-friendly!
Strengthen requirements for submission of full-fledged Environmental Impact Statements for all but the smallest development and redevelopment projects, and require expert evaluation of the Environmental Impact Statement early -- before any commission or agency approves any part of development and redevelopment proposals!
Enforce Anacostia Watershed Initiative policy! Preserve current residents’ views of our rivers and prevent waterside traffic congestion and pollution by limiting building heights at waterside development projects!
Create green jobs in our capital city, train D.C. residents for those jobs, and place them in those jobs!