Global Warming Today: Eco Chic Out Of Control

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.

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3 Responses to “Global Warming Today: Eco Chic Out Of Control”

  1. John Ryan says:

    This fear mongering of hybrids makes almost as much sense as your post about the “danger” of mercury in CFL bulbs. A CFL contains 1/5 the mercury found in a watch battery. http://www.eartheasy.com/live_energyeff_lighting.htm
    Teach about 500, 000 Prius models have been sold in the USA. Please tell us how many instances of death by electrocution have occurred ?
    Following the links back to the original story in the Denver News I also found that obviously the writer new nothing about electricity and Klein the mechanic if he knew didn’t say. He says that 330v can kill you even 50 0r 100 volts can kill you. As anyone who has worked around electricity knows its not the volts that kill you it is the amperage. 12v can kill with enough amps.

  2. Stacy says:

    John, I think the bigger issue for me is the number of friends I have who are police officers and firemen. It is yet another hazard that they must deal with. I’m not saying, Teach is not saying, that hybrids are bad. What it is, is pointing out a risk that our civil servants need to be made aware of and trained for.

  3. Stacy is right, John, I am definately not saying that hybrids are bad. Personally, I would like to see more of them, and like to see it where they get the maintence and up keep costs down, as well as overall energy costs. I disagree heavily with conservatives regarding CAFE standards. I think we should have them, I think vehicles should get better milage, and it should be mandated. That’s a long story in and of itself.

    I just found the electrical thing silly, but, I also worry for the people who interact with these vehicles.

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