Hey, don’t blame me, I’m not the one who originally said it. In fact, it was a San Francisco liberal eco supporter (not that there is anything wrong with being an eco supporter. I consider myself one.)
In his quest to make San Francisco the greenest city in the nation, Mayor Gavin Newsom recently created a $160,000-a-year job for a senior aide and gave him the ambitious-sounding title of director of climate protection initiatives.
One might expect someone with such an exalted handle to solve global warming and save the rain forest all in a day’s work.
But the new climate protection initiatives director is just the latest person to join the city payroll in the name of tackling global climate woes, raising questions about whether environmentalism is becoming the latest excuse for a bloating government payroll.
“Although it sounds very well intentioned, and perhaps even necessary, I’m concerned this is a case where eco-chic has gone out of control,” said Supervisor Ross Mirkarimi, the only Green Party member on the Board of Supervisors.
Perhaps the good intention is there, but, sounds more like a pork barrel cronyistic position, especially considering
“I’m not entirely sure what the director of climate protection initiatives’ job is, specifically, but I’m also not clear on what the global plan is for the city that justifies that many jobs on climate change,” said Mirkarimi, who recently introduced his own climate control legislation that would require the city to take on a more unified effort in dealing with climate change initiatives rather than having each department work independently as many currently do.
And those jobs?
…San Francisco has an Energy and Climate Program team of eight people in the Department of the Environment, who combined earn more than $800,000 a year in salary and benefits,…
Consider, this almost a hatchet job on the mayors policies and spending. The article discusses the bloated payroll, and problems with getting money to needed services. And it is in the San Francisco Chronicle, not exactly a bastion of conservatism.
And, speaking of eco-chic, how’d you like to be electrocuted by your Prius? (h/t Stacy)
They are quiet. They save energy. But hybrids may also hold a hidden danger if they are involved in a serious accident.
“The car was totaled,” said former Prius owner, Rusty Wehner. “We got spun around 270 degrees.”
Wehner learned from a mechanic after the accident that totaled his Prius that there was a risk of electrocution.
I know, I know, that is not supposed to be funny, but, I about died laughing when I read that story.
Trackposted to Outside the Beltway, Rosemary’s Thoughts, The Random Yak, Right Truth, The World According to Carl, The Pink Flamingo, Leaning Straight Up, and , thanks to Linkfest Haven Deluxe.
