Seattle City Council has endured a lot of criticism as of late, mostly deserved. That’s because this group of progressives have implemented a score of new dysfunctional programs, while failing to achieve the aims of those programs. Think homelessness. Think addiction. Think retail/property crime. Think random violence. All while failing to follow the lead of senior state-level democrats, to codify state drug laws that would be a great first step to addressing a lot of these problems.
But this week, Seattle City Council, has something wayyyy more important to address. According to our city council, the problem is global warming, and we’ve got another dysfunctional fix! Tuesday, Seattle city council passed an ordinance to pay private companies to lease space to install 10-20 public EV charging stations.
I’m not saying people shouldn’t be able to charge their cars, but what problem is this solving? And only 10-20 stations (which by Seattle standards means we build less, and they aren’t used)? Are people really not buying EVs because of a lack of charging capability in an urban area? Is that why the planet is warming? A lack of 10-20 charging stations, each a stone’s throw from 20 regular power outlets? It’s not like they’re filling up with gas - they can charge at home. Hell, the buildings I’ve worked in downtown already have EV spots in their garages. Have for more than a decade. I don’t buy a need at all for this. But that urban land is sure going to be expensive for the city to lease. And I haven’t yet really touched on the high income demographic of people who buy EVs who this will actually serve.
The costs will be worth it though, because Seattle city council members will be able to tell their voters they acted to stop climate change, which is really all Seattle council is ever about. Posturing. It’s all for show.
This year, let’s elect some better council members in Seattle. Andrew Lewis in district 7 (downtown) is one of only three council members who think their work deserves reelection, and actually ran again. Let’s start by replacing Andrew Lewis with Bob Kettle.