If you want something done, do it yourself.
No matter its origin, this is a quintessentially American philosophy – perhaps the quintessential American philosophy. Since its inception as a nation, the citizens of the United States and, often, our hemispheric neighbors, have (practical exceptions, proving the rule, notwithstanding) voluntarily, enthusiastically, and sometimes violently taken it upon themselves to remake their environment, recreate their communities, and govern their own destinies in the name of self-reliance, individual freedom, and progress. Localism trounced federalism in the early years of the 19th century, and the two impulses compete for the American political mind.
I’ll say this much: There’s no point in waiting for Washington D.C. like some kind of vassalage when you could behave instead like a democratic city-state and just do it yourself.
There’s no doubt that Long Beach needs an infrastructure improvement, and I believe Bob Foster’s assertion that this bond is the way to do it. I must say I’m also very relieved to hear the Mayor talk about sustainability, though I wish he didn’t wait until he’d been asked, and I wonder if my definition of the word isn’t a different shade of green.
I was impressed by Al Gore last week, which is unusual, believe me. Calling for a carbon free electrical grid in ten years was bold and intelligent – if twenty years tardy. Nixon and Carter promised energy independence in the 20th century; Reagan proffered patience. Clinton did very little on the issue; need I mention the buffoon-in-chief on this matter? American government has been behind the ecological curve since the 50’s, and Gore is just barely catching up, which puts him head and shoulders above his beltway colleagues. But I suppose instead of saying “it’s about damn time,” I ought just be grateful and support the cause.
Ten years? Maybe not. But it’s a nice goal to shoot for. Always ask for more than what you want, expect, need, right? Besides, if the military wanted something in ten years, they’d get it in eight, right? And if this was going to be highly profitable, instead of just expensive, you can bet the capitalists would be lined up with Gore. So maybe it’s ambitious, maybe it’s extreme. But why not try? If not ten, then twenty, or fifty, but as fast as we can, right?
Long Beach could be the greenest city on Earth if it wanted to be, but it’s got to become a priority, not an afterthought. Vague assurances aren’t good enough; something should be written into this bond explicitly, and city councilors need to go on record in support of carbon neutral city buildings, a certain percentage of solar generation, the most advanced water treatment, and so forth. I’m no environmental engineer, but I’m pretty sure a few live in Long Beach.
This half a billion dollar bond, I’m sure, is just a start for a city this size. But in 2008, there’s no reason sustainability can’t be the rallying cry and civic zeitgeist for Long Beach. Imagine free electricity for the city’s poorest – and the rest of us. Imagine clean air every day of summer. Imagine more parking, because public transit and bicycling is more feasible than driving. Imagine Long Beach as an international ecotourist destination – the first sustainable city of the 21st century.
This country has always been about vision and the pioneering spirit – California, perhaps, most of all. On Tuesday at City Hall, I hope readers will take the time to address the council on the bond issue and remind them of this opportunity to assure that Long Beach is still here in the 22nd century, and thriving.