Loo Wit Group February 2024 Newsletter

Loo Wit Rumblings

February 2024 Newsletter

_____________________________________________________________________

News

_____________________________________________________________________

Loo Wit Hosting Freight-Rail Dependent Use Town Halls
by Mark Leed, Loo Wit Chair

Loo Wit Group is holding a series of forums/town halls about Clark County's plans to implement Freight-Rail Dependent Use (FDRU) along the Chelatchie Prairie Railroad. This proposal is controversial, and if it moves ahead, farmland and residential neighborhoods in the rail corridor could be replaced by heavy industry. Downsides include noise and air pollution, diesel emissions, traffic safety issues near homes and schools, and further loss of the county's already-shrinking agricultural lands.

The first forum on Feb. 10 at Brush Prairie's Country Manor Mobile Village attracted a packed house. Some residents who live only 20 feet from the railroad tracks have expressed concerns over how their quality of life would be impacted by loads of gravel or hazardous materials rolling past their homes and community several times a day.

The next forum will be held at the Battle Ground city council chambers, at 2 p.m. on Feb. 24, and a third at 2 p.m. on March 2 at Country Manor Mobile Village. Meetings feature a guest speaker and are free and open to the public. Sierra Club encourages you to use your voice and be heard. We seek to educate and encourage as many residents as possible to voice their opposition to the County Council on this short-sighted proposal. Stay tuned for more forums to be added.

Defend Climate Commitment Act
by Don & Alona Steinke, Loo Wit Advisory Council

A top priority for the Washington Chapter Sierra Club in 2024 is to defend the Climate Commitment Act.

Initiative 2117 will be on the ballot for the Nov. 5 election. It seeks to repeal the Climate Commitment Act. If you would like a "No on 2117" yard sign or more information, contact Don Steinke, crVancouverUSA@gmail.com . This Act provides funding for the Complete Streets program (see separate story).  More info also available at: http://www.climate.wa.gov.

Volunteers Sought for Endorsements
Richard Koller, Political Chair

Loo Wit's political committee will be endorsing candidates for county council and Clark Public Utilities positions in the six southwest Washington counties covered by Loo Wit Group. Meetings will be held in March or April to prepare for endorsement interviews. Loo Wit members who would like to join the political committee and be involved are asked to contact Richard Kolber: richardkolber@hotmail.com.

Economics Lost Sight of Goal
By Monica Zazueta, Loo Wit ExCom

An ancient Greek, Xenophon, came up with the term economics to describe the practice of household management as an art. He distinguished it from "chrematistics" the art of acquiring wealth. 

James Steuart, a Scottish lawyer, proposed the concept of "political economy" 2,000 years later in 1767, defining it as the science of domestic policy in free nations. Steuart spelled out its purpose to be "securing subsistence for all inhabitants, to obviate every circumstance which may render it precarious, to provide everything necessary for supplying the wants of society . . ."  In 1777, Adam Smith also focused on the economy, and followed Steuart's lead in considering a political economy to be a goal-oriented science. This articulated a goal for economic thought but was an approach that would not last. Learn more in Kate Raworth's book, "Doughnut Economics: 7 ways to Think Like a 21st Century Economist."

Be an Advocate for Complete Streets

Complete Streets is a policy that accommodates people who walk, bike, roll and take transit, as well as those who drive cars. Issues can include cracked sidewalks, missing bike lanes and dangerous intersections along walking and biking routes.

Often, we're told by officials that there aren't enough resources (meaning money) to fix these issues. However, right now communities in Washington state can access part of $50 million in new funding to build Complete Streets. What can you do?

First, email your elected officials so they'll know the WA State Transportation Improvement Board will issue grants several times this year, starting in March. Then, if your community hasn't adopted a Complete Streets ordinance, contact your county/city councils to ask that they get one in place to access these funds. Note that the Complete Streets program is supported with funding from the Climate Commitment Act, which Initiative 2117 seeks to repeal.

Hiking, Cycling, Kayaking Returning
By Lehman Holder, Loo Wit Outings Chair

If you're anxious for warmer weather to spend more time outside, you don't have long to wait. 

Snow and ice curtailed Loo Wit outings in January, but March is nearly here, and hiking outings will be posted on our Meetup page (see info below). Cycling and sea kayak outings (locally) will be back in late April or early May. If you've never paddled a sea kayak, we'll again be offering a beginner/novice instructional outing for newbies.

Loo Wit also currently has additional outing leaders who are working on certification, and hiking outings may be added in Oregon. We encourage you to join an outing. It's easy to sign up -- go to:  https://www.meetup.com/portland-vancouver-sierra-club-outings-events/ to see outing postings and details.

Executive Committee Roster for 2023

 Links   •  Newsletters  •  About Us  •  History