Yesterday I asked Slog readers to copy me on e-mails sent to our port commissioners about their decision to host Shell’s Arctic drilling rigs in Seattle. Soon, my inbox started filling up with some good old-fashioned civic rage and some very well-written arguments. Read some of the best ones below:
Brian declares war:
I am sending this again, to make sure you didn’t miss it (apparently you guys have different email addresses, depending on where they are posted.
This is my personal declaration of political war on y’all.
I can not believe that you guys approved this…. Or should I merely say “Decided to not block it”. You are all on my personal political shit-list (except for maybe Commissioner Albro for his token resistance).
You had to have known that this would be an unpopular opinion with your constituents, which is why I am guessing you did this as quietly as possible. I remember thinking to myself when I first heard of the deal that there was no way it would be approved, if exposed to a legitimate open democratic process. Thanks to The Stranger yesterday, we now have a more complete picture.
You guys fly under the radar politically for the most part. The average voter doesn’t know what the heck you guys even do, unless one of your junkets is exposed.
Well, it will be my personal mission over the next couple election cycles to let *my* precinct and 43rd district Dem voters know exactly why Shell Oil is parking their earth ruining fleet in our Sound. I generally only do individual candidate write-ups for my precinct walk-arounds for contested Judicial races, since those are generally seen as the most critical-yet-under-covered races. Well the Port Commission has just made that list. My script will be brief, and read:
As Port Commissioner, Stephanie Bowman welcomed the Shell Oil Arctic drilling fleet to Seattle.
As Port Commissioner, Bill Bryant welcomed the Shell Oil Arctic drilling fleet to Seattle.
As Port Commissioner, Courtney Gregoire welcomed the Shell Oil Arctic drilling fleet to Seattle.
As Port Commissioner, John Creighton welcomed the Shell Oil Arctic drilling fleet to Seattle.
And of course:
As Port Commissioner, Tom Albro barely objected to Shell Oil parking their Arctic Drilling fleet in Seattle.
You should all be ashamed of yourselves for not representing your constituents.
—Brian Gix
Eldan says what went down is a travesty of democracy:
Dear Commissioner Bryant,
I urge you to please reconsider your support for Port of Seattle facilities being used to support Shell’s Arctic oil exploration.
The science is settled, and clearly, unambiguously shows that to avoid a civilisation-threatening climate catastrophe we have to leave much of our known fossil fuel reserves in the ground. I won’t belabour this point, because if I understand your position right it doesn’t even involve arguing with these facts.
Your argument seems to be that granting this lease makes no difference to anything but the local economy. Simply put, this is a preposterous claim. If I have misunderstood your position, then please explain it better – as part of your electorate I deserve to understand. If it were irrelevant, then why would Shell care? At the very least, they must have determined that using Seattle as a base would be cheaper or in some way more convenient than alternatives – given that the project for which this is more convenient is one that will contribute to catastrophic climate change. If denying this lease makes oil from the Arctic a cent more expensive, even marginally increasing the chance that some will be left unexploited, that is enough that we have a duty to do it. And this is not the whole story – the gravity of extracting Arctic oil is such that every port must have solidarity in opposing it. The stakes are so historically high that we must all put up a united front for it.
Not only am I personally convinced that drilling in the Arctic is a terrible mistake, I am also utterly dismayed in the way you and the Commission as a whole have handled the issue. If it really is a good idea, you owe it to us, your electorate, to explain and justify that, not to take a hasty decision with no room for stakeholder input. This is a travesty of democracy, and I expect better of elected officials.
Eldan Goldenberg
Forrest is worried about the world in which his kids grow up:
Dear Commissioner Gregoire,
I am writing to ask that you reconsider the lease of Terminal 5 to Foss Maritime for Shell’s Arctic rigs.
As a father, I must think of the world I’ll pass on to my son. I’d like to see my grandchildren live in a world where climate change doesn’t cause major strife. I’d rather be careful in my choices now, than have my kids be disappointed in them later.
Please extend the public comment period, and listen.
Note that I’m not against all shipping or drilling, but if we’re to approve a contract, I’d like to have some assurance that they’ll operate in a clean and lawful fashion. I hope you share my concerns in this matter.
Thank you,
Forrest Baum
Megan is sick of the “environment vs. jobs” argument:
Dear Mr. Bryant,
I am reaching out to you as a concerned citizen about your recent support of a lease for Shell drilling rigs at the port of Seattle.
There is no need to make the tired jobs-vs.-environment argument. If we consider the long-term consequences of environmental protection, it is clear that the costs of arctic drilling and continued degradation of our global environment will harm all workers, even those who gained in the short-term through these jobs.
We have the opportunity as a community to decide what sort of economic activities we will support, and to show the world that we will no longer stand for destruction of the environment. As you are a pro-environmentalist, I feel no need to tell you the harm that arctic drilling will cause. I feel confident that you understand the role that Seattle would be playing if we are complicit with this drilling. As an elected representative, I urge you to consider what the community of Seattle desires— “a sustainable world”.
Sincerely,
Megan Morris
Michael says change has to start somewhere—why not Seattle?
Bill,
First, I do appreciate your civic service and the sacrifice it entails—you have my gratitude.
However, I am writing to declare my strong opposition to your decision to host Shell’s drilling rigs over the winter. I find the decision antithetical to the port’s desire to represent “where a sustainable world is headed.”
I must point out that the process by which you came to this decision directly contrasts with your stated values of conducting business with the highest ethical standards, honoring your commitment to the community, and acting as responsible stewards of the environment.
We should not pursue short term gain for the city that endangers our ecosystems, disproportionately harms the poor, and threatens life on this planet as a result. The cost-benefit analysis doesn’t hold up. While it may be political symbolism at first, long term change is the aggregate of thousands of ostensibly symbolic decisions, and it has to start somewhere—why not Seattle?
And, while I disagree with the commissioners’ decision on this issue, I do appreciate your willingness to serve in a tough role.
Best,
Michael Kaemingk
Remember, you can reach our port commissioners at albro.t@portseattle.org, gregoire.c@portseattle.org, creighton.j@portseattle.org, bryant.b@portseattle.org, and bowman.s@portseattle.org. Here’s why you should give a fuck.
Maybe consider copying Secretary of the Interior (and native Seattleite!) Sally Jewell, too: feedback@ios.doi.gov
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