This will send a statement to the oil companies they will never forget, if by "forget" we mean "notice". It's nice for a city to consider nice policies proposed by the nice mayor who's up for election soon.
The underfunded Seattle retirement fund? In debt by $1.1 Billion? That one? They better invest right because no way taxpayers will bail their asses out.... unless they replenish their coffees from Seattle's bum fund.
Disinvestment is how public sentiment turned against South Africa in the late 80's. And --while that by itself was by no means the entire reason apartheid fell-- the resulting flight of capital did help put extra pressures on the government to finally make its reforms in 1990.
But, if you are going to push a non-coal low-GHG lifestyle, you have to reexamine major decisions you made during good times.
Like the tunnel, which just doesn't wash with lower capacity of half the vehicles (given $10 each way tolls and exempted billionaire's non-profit limos etc) at twice the carbon price of either a rebuilt viaduct or a surface highway that has twice the capacity and LOWER tolls.
The revolt of taxpayers is coming, and it's brewing in Seattle now as people see the rich get special subsidies while we pay higher taxes that do the opposite (carbon) of our values.
@8: No. If you're ever going to effect any sort of climate change, first you have to start laying a foundation for winning the battles ahead, instead of trying to re-litigate long ago lost battles from a previous war.
In other words: Get over it, Will. That energy's better used in a fight that's not already a voted-on, settled & completely lost cause.
Kill the Tunnel and people might believe you on this.
However, it's an interesting symbolic approach.
But, if you are going to push a non-coal low-GHG lifestyle, you have to reexamine major decisions you made during good times.
Like the tunnel, which just doesn't wash with lower capacity of half the vehicles (given $10 each way tolls and exempted billionaire's non-profit limos etc) at twice the carbon price of either a rebuilt viaduct or a surface highway that has twice the capacity and LOWER tolls.
The revolt of taxpayers is coming, and it's brewing in Seattle now as people see the rich get special subsidies while we pay higher taxes that do the opposite (carbon) of our values.
In other words: Get over it, Will. That energy's better used in a fight that's not already a voted-on, settled & completely lost cause.