[Mpls] Council committee passes anti-idling ordinance

[Gary Hoover]

RPGoldman scribed, in part:
>>>>>
> Is this really what the ordinance says?  To me the "outside of an
> insulated building" reads more like "you can't do this if you're doing
> it outside a building that could do the refrigeration without idling."
<<<<<

This city ordinance makes sense to me.  It seems energywise and eco-wise to 
limit idling as much as possible.

I guess that the ordinance is worded to get folks to off-load deliveries of 
perishables so that trucks do not need to idle.

I've loaded/unloaded a few trucks in my day.  Some businesses are already 
set up to do this.  Labor Unions might want to set up a pool of pros for 
other businesses to schedule for this kind of work if need be.

Sustainable business patterns make sense in the long run.  This ordinance 
encourages that.  Local government plays a big role in shaping the 
infrastructure and patterns of our city life, with livability, urban 
ecology, and even energy concerns in mind.

With this in mind, I went to the city of Chicago website and linked to a 
speech by Mayor Daly of Chicago to the American Institute of Architects 
about "The Chicago Standard."  Here is an excerpt:
>>>>>
The Chicago Standard is an important part of our effort to make Chicago the 
most environmentally friendly city in the United States.
Since I became mayor, we've planted 400,000 trees. We've torn out the 
asphalt parking lots around our schools and created 100 campus parks. We've 
built 68 miles of landscaped medians on major streets.  These projects are 
not only environmentally sound; they generally save money and they improve 
the quality of life in our neighborhoods.

And, best of all, when the buildings and public areas of our city are 
attractive and well maintained, it encourages people to improve their own 
homes and buildings - to plant flowers, pick up litter and encourage their 
neighbors to do the same.  The bottom line is pride. When people are proud 
of their neighborhoods, and proud of their city, all sorts of good things 
will take place.  A city is much more than just a collection of 
buildings......

<<<<<

Sure, it is Mayoral rhetoric, but Chicago is creating a strong environmental 
standard in order to strengthen the city.  I believe we must do the same.

I couldn't find the quote, but Mayor Daly's attitude has been "It is a 
privilege to live and work in Chicago.  If you want to live and work here, 
we expect you to meet the most stringent environmental standards."  I 
believe that this strengthens the city over the long run, it does not make 
it less business-friendly, less labor-friendly, or less resident-friendly. 
To the contrary, this attitude makes a city more attractive.

-- pedaling for peace and ecojustice from Lynhurst -- Gary Hoover