Hillsboro Argus: Global Warming is Not a Priority

On May 15th, the Hillsboro City Council voted unanimously to work with the International Council of Local Environmental Initiatives to reduce the city's greenhouse gas emissions, and authorized Mayor Tom Hughes to sign the US Mayors Climate Protection Agreement. This was a landmark moment in the effort to make the city more sustainable. It's importance, however, was lost on the press; the city newspaper, the Hillsboro Argus, has not reported on the victory, and does not plan to do so. An Argus reporter was present at the public city council meeting at which the vote was made, but does not consider the decision to be worth writing about. This is a confirmation of a sad fact; even at this time when "green" issues are getting more attention from the public than they have for years, even in the environmentally renowned Northwest, it is hard to convince people that the health of the planet is not just a "side issue" to the mainstream news.

THIS NEEDS TO CHANGE. CLICK HERE TO PROTECT OREGON'S ENVIRONMENT

Twice in the past year, the Argus did report on the city's efforts to do something about global warming. The first article was as much a human-interest story as an environmental one, as it covered the role of a Hillsboro student in convincing the city council to look at further reducing greenhouse emissions. The second article, a 223 blurb printed five months later, briefly stated the city council's intention to vote on the resolution that ended up passing on May 15th. With a third, slightly higher-profile article reporting on the adoption of the resolution, the Argus could have done a reasonably decent job following the global warming story. But no such article is going to come out of the paper. The reporter who wrote the first two articles states that she feels she has "already covered [global warming] sufficiently." Apparently, environmental crisis is a minor concern, worthy of a short piece here and there when the paper has a shortage of good stories. This generation of Americans' response to global warming could be the defining feature of the early twenty-first century. But someone forgot to tell the Argus.

With or without a blessing from the press, we must make real environmental change. VISIT LOCAL SUSTAINABILITY'S ACTION DASHBOARD TO GET STARTED

Decision on Witham Oaks Postponed Until June 4th

On Monday, May 21st, the Corvallis City Council listened to the arguments for and against supporting the city Planning Commission's decision to grant Palisch Homes (a subsidiary of Legend Homes) permission to obliterate a native oak savanna, and replace it with 40 acres of urban sprawl. The room was packed with people opposed to the development project, many of whom testified vehemently against granting Palisch permission to build on the Witham Oaks parcel. There was only one speaker, from the Corvallis Chamber of Commerce, supportive of the Palisch project. The eloquent speeches in favor of preserving the oak savanna, however, seem to have fallen on deaf ears. By the end of the meeting, it was apparent that Palisch would probably triumph.

The final decision will be made by the City Council at their next regular meeting, on June 4th. Despite the stunning opposition to the development project marshaled by the community, the city government is likely to side with corporate power, rather than people-power. Does this mean Witham is doomed? Fortunately, no. The City Council's decision can still be appealed to the Land Use Board of Appeals. Now, more than ever, it is important to keep tabs on the progress of this effort. We must not let the development project occur; oak savanna is a threatened habitat that is declining across the country, and destruction of this ecosystem will severely impact biodiversity in the Corvallis area. Oregon Local Sustainability will be reporting on the outcome of the June 4th meeting, and on how Witham Oaks can be saved.

Hillsboro Commits to Fight Global Warming

Global warming is the most serious environmental problem of our time, but local governments can take meaningful action to stop it. On Tuesday, May 15th, the fifth largest city in Oregon resolved to take serious steps to address this issue that threatens life on the planet Earth. That night, the Hillsboro City Council voted unanimously to work with ICLEI Local Governments for Sustainability on a plan to reduce the city's emissions of carbon dioxide and other global warming pollutants. In addition, the council authorized Mayor Tom Hughes to sign the US Mayors Climate Protection Agreement, which would also commit the city to cutting its emissions. The mayor expressed his intention of signing.

This is a big step for Hillsboro. By signing onto the Mayors Climate Protection Agreement, the city will publicly state its intention to "turn down the heat." ICLEI will then help Hillsboro to measure its current emissions, devise a realistic plan for reducing those emissions, and live up to the lofty goals it has set for itself. Hillsboro will be the ninth city in Oregon to have signed onto the Mayors Agreement. Once it joins the others, five of the states six largest cities will have signed on (the only one holding out is Salem). This makes a powerful statement, which officials at higher levels of government will have to listen to. Truly, Tuesday evening was a good night for the environment.

We can make real change to create sustainable communities. Visit the OREGON LOCAL SUSTAINABILITY ACTION DASHBOARD to find out what else is going on.

Stop Urban Sprawl: Save Witham Oaks!

Urban sprawl is a bad deal for the environment. Not only has it contributed to habitat destruction all across the United States; perhaps even more importantly, sprawling suburbs encourage people to commute long distances to work, contributing heavily to global warming. The sprawling cities of the US are one of several reasons why our city emits much more carbon dioxide per capita than most of Western Europe, where living conditions are at least as good as they are in this country.

Given all this, why would a city that has allegedly made a commitment to fight global warming be making plans to replace 40 acres of a threatened habitat with a controversial development project that would contribute to urban sprawl? You might think the idea sounds unlikely, but this is just what is happening now in Corvallis. Under former mayor Helen Berg, Corvallis signed onto the US Mayors Climate Protection Agreement. The city therefore has a responsibility to work on reducing its greenhouse emissions. And yet it may be about to let the developer Palisch Homes, which has a history of creating urban sprawl, build 221 suburban houses on a large section of oak savanna in the parcel of land known as Witham Oaks.

FIND OUT HOW YOU CAN HELP SAVE WITHAM OAKS

Oak savanna is one of the most threatened native habitats in North America, having been reduced to a tiny fraction of the area it formerly covered. The ecosystem provides habitat for declining plant and animal species, and the 40 acres of vegetation slated for development in Corvallis of course remove many tons of carbon dioxide from the air each year. Yet on April 19th, the Corvallis Planning Commission voted 4-2 to approve the development project submitted by Palisch. Luckily, an appeal followed that ruling, and on May 21st the Corvallis City Council will decide whether or not to overrule the Planning Commission, at a public hearing; both in-person and written testimony will be accepted. And even if you are not a Corvallis resident, you can email the mayor and city council.

CONTACT THE CORVALLIS CITY GOVERNMENT TO VOICE YOUR CONCERNS

Note: Photos on this post come from the "Keep Witham Wild" website, http://www.keepwithamwild.net/