Candidate for
City Council Member; City of Santa Barbara

We need to place environmental issues at the center of our decision-making. Our air is substandard, leading to heart and lung disease. Our world is heating up and it is time we act as if we recognize this fact. Our city government ought to work to improve air quality, water quality and energy efficiency. A few examples of some simple steps we can take:
1. ENFORCE the ban on gasoline-powered leaf blowers. These are a public nuisance due to their noise, and also the source of up to 5% of particulate matter in the air. Their motors spray unburned fuel into the air - 1 hour of use releases the hydrocarbons that would come from driving a car over 7000 MILES! There is no excuse for not enforcing this ban. The city should also stop using any gasoline-powered lawn tools on its own properties. These are all highly polluting, noisy, and eminently replaceable, with manual or electric tools.
2. Stop using toxic pesticides on public parks.
3. Promote bicycle use. City parking enforcement and, at times, more police, could get out of their cars and onto bicycles. Facilitate bicycle parking in new construction.
4. Stop air conditioning city buildings - which is a massive use of energy & generally unnecessary in temperate Santa Barbara.
5. Promote solar power - don't allow it to be restricted due to aesthetic criticism.