Time to recycle some articles that deserve our attention now as much as they did when they were
first published. First, Bruce blog rediscovered this piece in Cincinnati’s City Beat
http://www.citybeat.com/2002-11-14/news3.shtml about a 2002 Federal Reserve Bank of
Cleveland-sponsored smart growth conference
Selling the idea of curbing sprawl was an issue then as now: "If you can't put it on a
bumper sticker, you can't sell it to anybody" was a comment that solicited this
half-joking response: “Sprawl Kills.” How far off from the truth is that? Since
2002, we’ve seen reports http://www.hotelbruce.com/01_01/bruceblog_9-1.php
that residents in sprawlsville, like western Geauga County, are fatter and more
stressed because their McMansions are a long ride from nowhere.
Smarter states like Maryland are offering $3,000 to anyone who wants to buy a
home close to their work. The article does mention the first 20 EcoVillage Townhomes (at
W. 58th and Lorain) -- successful in more ways than one. Both energy efficient and hard-by
transit, the town homes (which reportedly heat and cool for $300 a year) grabbed the interest of
the private market – developers see the potential in marketing green building and energy
efficiency. So much so that Bridge Avenue Phase III at EcoVillage broke ground in June. DetroitShoreway Community Development Organization's next town home project in the EcoVillage is
at the corner of W. 58th St. and Bridge Ave. Detroit-Shoreway is touting their environmentally
friendly features, including an energy efficient design and a built-in recycling center. For more
information, call Jeff Marks at 216-961-4242.
And then Bruce blog rediscovered The Sierra Club’s report on Why Local Foods Matter
http://www.sierraclub.org/sustainable_consumption/.
Combine this short action guide with the current Natural Homes & Gardens article about the big
things we can do to improve the environment. Where and how our food is produced, and activism
are two of the four (the others were how much and what you drive and the energy efficiency of
your home). Some of the better ideas from the Sierra Club include sustainable cooking classes
(reach their heart through their stomach) and talking directly to store manager at stores that
don’t carry locally grown or organic foods.
In light of Congress passing a law this week to “raise” fuel efficiency standards (we still won’t
reach California’s standards and the Hummer is off the hook), author Howard James Kunstler
offers a scathing indictment of quixotic technological breakthroughs returning us to carefree gas
guzzling days. “Alternative technologies (is) a term that points to a more fundamental
delusion now rampant among the public, namely the mistaken belief that technology and
energy are the same thing, that they are interchangeable, that you can substitute one for
the other. Out of oil? Get new technology.” Basically, Kunstler supports the argument that if
peak oil has already occurred and we haven’t done anything to change our consumption, we’re
pretty much screwed.
“Mitigation inherently cannot avert massive shortages unless it is initiated well in advance of
peaking,” according to the Association for the Study of Peak Oil. ASPO cites a 2005 US
Department of Energy study of Impacts, Mitigation and Risk Management that looks at new
technology’s contribution to mitigation scenarios. New energy production would need to start 20
years in advance of peak oil in order to avoid a “worldwide liquid fuels shortfall,” according the
study. A 15-year head start of peak oil means we might be able to absorb a hit of about 25 million
barrels a day. Right now, America consumes one-quarter of the world's daily production of 84
million barrels of oil. More than half of our share is burned in cars and trucks. The study also
found that replacing half of the US vehicle fleet with more efficient vehicles would take 15 years.
This is classic Kunstler, author of Geography of Nowhere, an essential history of how America
got into our sprawl predicament. He bemoans: “Our economy now amounts to little more than
running 200 million motor vehicles around the suburban metroplexes in the service of ever more
slapped-together McHousing developments, big box stores, and fried chicken huts. That's our
economy. That's all we do anymore.”
Read Kunstler’s Clusterfuck Nation article http://kunstler.com/mags_diary14.html
How lame is it that Governor Taft’s golf freebies are overshadowing one of the biggest
environmental stories of the decade. Taft was in town this week -- fighting for his political life in
the wake of his conviction for big corporate CEOs picking up his golf tab – to discuss the efforts
of the Great Lakes Regional Restoration Plan http://www.restorethelakes.org, a $20 billion
international proposal to clean up the Great Lakes.
Here’s an idea: Instead of exacting a pound of flesh, House Minority Committee, put Taft’s feet
the flame on a progressive agenda. Champion a big public health campaign and economic
development policy. Hammer Taft to take a lead in passing a Great Lakes clean up plan, a state
historic tax credit http://www.heritageohio.org , and a green energy development fund (or
increase the state’s Energy Efficiency Loan program) by tying it to the guv’s multi-billion
highway building plan.
Check out this excerpt from Emily Lockshine’s letter in this week’s Cool Cleveland on “Why the
Cleveland School Levy Failed”:
Education is key. That is the resounding message we’ve heard over and over and over again
through town hall meetings, poverty task forces and the like. If education truly is key, then
elected officials at the state level need to make education a priority. Not sub-bar, bare bones
education, but quality education. What can be expected from the largest poverty-stricken city in
America? Should it be expected and accepted that we will have the weakest, least effective school
district in the nation? Why should the taxpayers continue to accept base educational standards for
the poorest district in the nation? Our children are starting out life at a disadvantage. Let us not
compound the challenges against these children.
On April 3rd, Bruce blog reported
http://www.hotelbruce.com/01_02/bruceblog_4_3_05.php on a legal
challenge brewing between environmentalists and First Energy over
a proposed hydro-electric powerhouse on a dammed up stretch of
the lower Cuyahoga River. At a recent public hearing, Summit
MetroPark came out against the proposed hydro plant at Gorge
Park. In its statement, the park railed against the loss of 4acres of mature forest, a loss that the developers deemed
‘insignificant’. The park joined Friends of the Cuyahoga, which
opposes building on the dam on the basis that it adds more
sediment and affects aquatic life downstream.
“The hearings were very successful, and very powerful. Many
local, state, and federal agencies spoke out against this
proposal, as did numerous conservation minded NGO's, and many
concerned citizens and park patrons,” Mike Johnson, head of
Natural Resource Management at the Metro Parks wrote in a
statement.
Metro Parks is now preparing a study request document, and is
encouraging a letter writing campaign to Federal Energy
Regulatory Commission. Additional information about the project,
and contact information for Ohio and Federal legislators can be
found here http://www.summitmetroparks.org
Wayne National Forest: Court Upholds Timber Sales and Threatens
Endangered Species
On July 19, the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of
Ohio
ruled that although proposed logging in the Wayne National Forest
by the
Forest Service may harm federally endangered and protected
Indiana
bats, the project may proceed because the logging will not
jeopardize
the survival of the species as a whole. Such a ruling implies
that there
is no problem with killing individual bats and destroying their
habitat,
as long as it doesn't kill them all. This ruling is a slap in the
face
to everyone who cares about protecting wildlife in Ohio and, in
our
opinion, misses the entire premise behind the Endangered Species
Act.
The lawsuit, filed by the BFC and Heartwood in 2004, is one of
two
lawsuits filed against the U.S Forest Service and Fish and
Wildlife
Service in which the BFC is a co-plaintiff. The case involved
three
timber sales in the Ironton Unit of the Wayne National Forest
(Bluegrass
Ridge, Markin Fork and President's Day) and an amendment to the
Wayne
forest management plan involving threatened and endangered
species. This
case was filed to prevent more undesignated but critical Indiana
bat
habitat from being destroyed through logging and other management
actions of the Forest Service.
We argued our case before the federal Southern District Court on
July 12
in Cincinnati, and believe we had a strong case, particularly
involving
our claims under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). We
expected the judge to take several months to respond and make a
ruling.
To our surprise, she took just over one week and ruled against
the BFC
and Heartwood on every single count.
The Forest Service has wasted no time in restarting logging plans
after
the ruling. Currently there are several prescribed burn plans in
the
Ironton forest area where the Indiana bat has been documented, a
6000-acre logging and burning project called the Buckhorn
Restoration
project, and several smaller timber sales all moving ahead. All
of these
projects will directly impact Indiana bat habitat in the Wayne.
We plan
to appeal the Buckhorn Restoration project decision later this
month.
The second lawsuit was filed on May 9, 2005 by eight eastern
forest
protection groups to protect the Indiana bat and its habitat
throughout
the eastern National Forest system. A hearing date has not yet
been set.
Calendar
City Xpressionz, the 4th annual graffiti art fest in Ohio City is amping up this year with hip hop
headliner Philly’s Grand Agent, a new MC battle joining the poppers and breakers in the bboy/girl battle, and big murals created on the spot by local and national aerosal artists. Saturday
10 a.m.- 7 p.m. Market Square (across from the West Side Market). For info.
http://www.clevelandpublicart.org
Harvest Fest – Slavic Village is the place to get your pierogi and kielbasa on this weekend.
Outside of the West Side Market, you won’t find a better selection of Eastern European butchers
and markets in the city. Work it off dancing the polka or riding Lolly the Trolley for tours of the
neighborhood. On Fleet Avenue (Exit 159B off I-77 in Cleveland). Saturday and Sunday.
B-Side Liquor Lounge, 2785 Euclid Heights Blvd in Cleveland Heights is expanding. Starting
this Friday, the club -- which hosts DJs spinning everything from old school hip hop to house – is
opening an outdoor patio in the back (off the alley where the old Fandango used to be). Finally,
an outdoor entertainment spot for Coventry.
Big Valley Race (and open ride) – Once a year, fat tire enthusiasts get their crack at the
Cuyahoga Valley National Park as the Boy Scouts at Camp Manatoc open up 600 acres of singletrack mountain bike (and hiking) trails. On Saturday, pay $5 and ride from 11-4 (or until you
drop). If you’re new to the sport, the Cleveland Area Mountain Bike Association (CAMBA) will
give demonstrations at 12:30. And on Sunday, sign up for the Big Valley mountain bike race.
CitiRama 2005 - Experience the revitalization of one of Cleveland's
most storied neighborhoods - this year's Citirama is focused in
Glenville. Tour 11 show homes just built between E.100th & E. 101
and Superior featuring the latest in urban design. September 10
from 10 a.m.– 6 p.m. For more information
http://www.hbacleveland.com
Jazz at Rockefeller Greenhouse – Happening at the same time and
minute north of the CitiRama 2005 is the 3rd annual JAZZ at the
Rockefeller Greenhouse. The free concert on 9/10 from 1-3:30 pm, features the Bobby
Selvaggio Quartet. Tour this stunning 100-year old greenhouse and its gardens and dig
the sounds at an outdoor concert by a local jazz great. Lolly The Trolley tours of the
Cleveland Cultural Gardens also available. All free and open to the public.
CLEVELAND PUBLIC ART and greater Cleveland SCION dealerships
present
City Xpressionz, Cleveland's 4th annual Aerosol and Urban Art
Festival.
When:
Saturday, August 27th
10:00 am -7:00 pm
RAIN OR SHINE
Where:
Market Square Park
Located at the Intersection of
West 25th
Street and Lorain Avenue in Ohio City
What:
and MCs
9 hours of art, music, b-boys/b-girls,
Details:
+
The Bronx's COPE 2, Puerto Rico's ZORI 4, and Manhattan's
QUEEN ANDREA
will be onsite doing live demonstrations and painting a wrapped
Scion xB.
+
Philadelphia's GRAND AGENT will be headlining a full day of
hip-hop,
hosted by Cleveland's own IYAN ANOMOLIE.
+
For $15 in advance ($20 day of event) graffiti writers have
the chance
to win $200 for best lettering and $200 for best character work.
Winners
will also have the opportunity to be selected to paint a wall of
a private
business in the city of Cleveland. The competition will be
judged by COPE
2, ZORI 4, and QUEEN ANDREA. Registration begins at 10:00am and
goes until
canvasses sell out. There will not be paint for sale onsite.
Writers need
to bring their own paint, caps, and respirators.
+
B-boy/B-girl two-person teams battle for a $150 prize.
Registration fee
is $5/team. Teams must be onsite/registered at 4:30pm. Battle
begins at
5:00 pm.
+
MCs battle for a cash prize. There is no cost to
participate, but all
MCs must register. MCs must be onsite/registered by 1:30pm.
Battle begins
at 2:00 pm.
+
Kids spray chalk demonstration will take place from 10:00 am
- noon.
+
FREE to watch
To learn more about the event, register as a participant, or get
parking and
RTA information,
visit www.clevelandpublicart.org
<http://www.clevelandpublicart.org/> , call
216/621.5330 or email graffiti@clevelandpublicart.org.
City Xpressionz is made possible through contributions from
Cleveland-area
Scion dealerships, the Neighborhood Connections program of The
Cleveland
Foundation, Ohio City Near West, Starbucks, The Exhibit Builders,
Inc.,
Beautiful/Decay Magazine, and Ohio City businesses. Cleveland
Public Art is
supported by The Cleveland Foundation, The George Gund
Foundation, the Ohio
Arts Council, and the Cleveland Foundation for Architecture.
Visit
www.clevelandpublicart.org <http://www.clevelandpublicart.org/>
for more
information about Cleveland Public Art.
Contact: HBA Cleveland <mailto:>
Contact phone: 216-447-8701
Date: 09/10/2005
Time: 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Event type: Urban Redevelopment
Location: Glenville
Description:
Experience the revitalization of Cleveland's Neighborhoods - this
year's
Citirama is focused in Glenville. Tour 11 show homes just built
between E.100th & E. 101 and Superior) featuring the latest in
urban design. For more information www.hbacleveland.com