Creating a resilient city
Last month City Council received an update on the City’s Climate Action and Resiliency Plan (CARP) that was adopted in 2019 to help residents, local businesses, and the City reduce greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs). This is especially important for Alameda because GHGs contribute to global warming and sea level rise, an existential threat to our island community.
First, the good news: We have made impressive progress! The updated GHG Inventory for 2022 (the latest year data is available), conducted by the City to monitor progress on achieving CARP goals, showed community-wide emissions have decreased 29% from 2005 levels, despite population growth and job increases. These decreased emissions resulted largely from Alameda Municipal Power (AMP’s) transition to a 100 percent clean, green portfolio. Additionally, transportation emissions fell 25% since 2005, due to cleaner vehicles and a 6% reduction in vehicle miles traveled (VMT). Your actions are making a difference.
Now, the caveat: We need to reduce community emissions even more. We can do that, and the City will help. For example, if you’ve considered buying or leasing an electric vehicle (EV) but were concerned about the availability of EV chargers, the City will soon begin adding EV chargers at City-owned public parking lots. These include Harbor Bay Park and Ride, Bohol Circle Immigrant Park, Central Ave Lot C behind Tucker’s, and Mastick Senior Center. We’re also replacing four existing EV chargers at Civic Center Garage, and installing EV chargers in multi-family and mixed-use neighborhoods across the island, and adjacent to Alameda Housing Authority and Alameda Unified School District (AUSD) properties.
As additional funding becomes available, up to 40 additional curbside chargers will be deployed and EV chargers will be added at these public parking lots: Estuary Park Phase II, City Hall West, Harbor Bay Park and Ride, Bay Farm Island Library, Washington Park, West End Lot W (Farmer’s Market location), and Jean Sweeney Park.
You can reduce your VMT by trading the occasional car trip for public transit, walking or biking. Maybe it will become a healthy habit. In September, I was invited to speak at the Youthpower Climate Action Panel (more about that below) where I encouraged the young people to lobby their high school and middle school peers NOT to get driven to school. This simple shift will reduce GHGs resulting from idling cars.
I was inspired by the Youthpower members, high school and middle school students who reported on their ambitious and successful campaign to persuade local grocers to replace old refrigeration units with ones that don’t contain Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) – synthetic chemicals that are far more damaging to the environment than carbon dioxide (CO2). Please support these local businesses: The Marketplace on Park Street, Jazeera Market on Webster Street, and Trader Joe’s at Southshore Center. And thank you, Youthpower! Our future is in good hands.
Another way to help decrease community emissions is by reducing what you send to the landfill. Public Works Coordinator Liz Acord shares this information:
“All Alameda residents, including multi-family tenants, can schedule an annual bulky collection with Alameda County Industries (ACI). This service has no additional cost and allows for collection of up to three cubic yards of materials for disposal and reuse, including large bulky items and reusable items such as household furniture and clothing. To schedule your bulky collection, call ACI at 510-483-1400. Learn more at: https://alamedacountyindustries.com/alameda/cleanup/.”
Additionally, Ridwell is a subscription service that collects hard-to-recycle items that ACI does not accept. Ridwell users receive cloth bags for specific categories of items and a metal collection box for a porch pickup every two weeks. Items collected include multi-layer plastic (food storage bags, pet food bags, frozen food bags, candy wrappers), plastic film (dry cleaning bags, plastic produce bags, bubble wrap), reusable and non-reusable clothes, shoes, linens and towels, light bulbs, and more! Things that would otherwise end up in the landfill are diverted to companies that reuse or recycle them. For more information visit ridwell.com.
And, if you’re wondering what to do with those campaign yard signs on metal frames, Ridwell is offering free election sign pickup for Alameda residents – up to three signs per household – even if you’re not a subscriber. To schedule a pickup, and keep your signs out of the landfill, visit https://get.ridwell.com/alameda-yardsigns.
A community Thanksgiving
Rev. Stephen McHale of Christ Episcopal Church (CEC) says, “If you’re hungry for a meal, for community, and for the joy of being together with good food, join us!” A free Alameda Community Thanksgiving Meal will be held in the CEC Parish Hall, 1700 Santa Clara Avenue on Thursday, November 28. Doors open at 11 am and meals will be served until the food runs out, usually around 2:00 pm.
If you’d like to volunteer or assist with cooking, please visit: volunteer options. To make a financial contribution, please visit: https://christchurchalameda.org/
Help create a resilient island, and planet. Give thanks and give of yourself. Be Alameda Strong.
Marilyn Ezzy Ashcraft is the Mayor of the City of Alameda. Reach her at [email protected].
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