To get back to a safe climate we must remove GHG from the atmosphere. Herb explores how we can get started.

Even if we miraculously get to a 100% clean energy economy tomorrow (no more burning of fossil fuels and releasing GHGs in the atmosphere), we will still have a "blanket" of GHG resulting in an unsafe climate. This means we could breach irreversible tipping points resulting in climate Armageddon for the human race and other species. We must reverse warming in the short term to avoid crossing these tipping points and reverse the points that have already been crossed.

Critical Elements for GHG Removal:

• we need to start GHG removal AS SOON AS POSSIBLE and evaluate the results
• government support/policies (multiple governments should provide incentives to remove GHG from the atmosphere)
• GHG removal is in a field-testing phase; we must do intensive and urgent research to scale these solutions
• there are natural and mechanized solution

For more info on restoring a safe climate: http://healthyplanetaction.org

• how specific recommendations from the Montgomery County climate working groups were not included in the County's climate action plan,
• how the brain trust of many civic climate leaders in the working groups was disbanded,
• the dire state of the climate crisis,
• how leadership (Montgomery County, Maryland, and beyond) is failing to lead on this most important issue
• and methods for addressing the climate crisis

• Climate Working Group Recommendations: https://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/green/climate/climate-workgroup-recommendations.html

#ClimateCrisis

#ClimateSolutions

#ClimateEmergency

To prevent climate Armageddon we need to cool the planet as soon as possible (in addition to eliminating GHG emissions and drawing down carbon dioxide (CO2)). 

Simmens walks us through the horrific threat of climate chaos - potentially much sooner and terrifying than many realize, explains why emissions are important, but can't help with shorter term cooling which is critical to prevent runaway global heating feedback loops from taking place.

He introduces his climate triad: global cooling, emissions reductions and CO2 removal and also discusses how even the most realistic of climate activists have a viscerally negative reaction to exploring global cooling.

In this episode of View from the Civic Fed, Jerry Garson, committee chair of the Montgomery County Civic Federation Inc's transportation committee shares his expertise on the matter.

Be prepared to worry. Then take action.

Montgomery County, Maryland climate activists Jody Peltason (Takoma Park Mobilization - Environmental Committee / MD Leads on Climate), Herb Simmens (Climate Mobilization MoCo / Author of "A Climate Vocabulary of the Future" and Jim Driscoll (Climate Mobilization MoCo) share the horrific nature of the climate emergency and why (and how) we must act urgently to save the planet for our children, grandchildren and ourselves.

October 2018 - In this first episode of 'View from the Civic Fed', Kristy Daphnis, committee member of the Pedestrian Bicycle and Traffic Safety Advisory Committee in Montgomery County, discusses Vision Zero, how to make streets safer for bicyclists, pedestrians and drivers, and organizing civic associations around this effort.

Veronica Wright, member of the Alcohol and Drug Abuse Council in Montgomery County, Maryland, discusses the case for decriminalizing and legalizing drugs including:

1. Costs / Benefits
2. Involvement organizing a forum on decriminalization
3. Next steps (pilot study on legalization)

Hear Bill's Views Regarding:

AGRICULTURAL RESERVE

• Environmental / Preservation of Green Space
• Ensure Reserve Remains a Reserve
• Should Other Businesses Be Able to Operate in the Ag Reserve?
• Staple agriculture is dominant; But a locavore movement is growing
• On Zoning to Build a Residence
• Designation of Rural / Rustic Roads (Some farmers would like to expand to accommodate farm equipment more easily)

TRANSFERABLE DEVELOPMENT RIGHTS

• TDRs - a way to compensate upcountry land owners for lost land value since they can’t develop

BIO

• From Louisiana
• Law School
• Worked at DC Law Firm (Doing Federal Regulatory Work)
• Worked at Senate Energy Committee
• Entrepreneur - Electricity Space
• Partner at Law Firm - Electricity Work / Wind & Solar Work

FINANCING OF CAMPAIGN

• Not restricting any sources of funds
• Approximately four developer contributions from 700 contributions
• Since contributions are from individuals, all contributions should be accepted
• A lot of contributions from environmental groups

CLIMATE

• We are seeing the results of climate change
• A test of the species
• Requires collective action we’ve never seen in human civilization
• Localities / States need to move since federal government is scaling back
• A carbon tax is most efficient way to get the effects we need (needs to happen at the federal level)

COUNTY CLIMATE EMERGENCY RESOLUTION

• Supports a climate mobilization emergency office
• Need programs for retrofitting buildings
• Individuals need to step up

ELECTRICITY SYSTEM

• Need storage in the system to accommodate solar / wind

ADDRESSING THE SCHOOL BUS FLEET EMISSIONS

DICKERSON INCINERATOR / POWER PLANT

• Close the Incinerator
• More neutral on power plant (Burning gas, not coal)

THE CHALLENGE OF GETTING TO Zero WASTE

PRIORITIES:

• Jobs
• Transportation
• Schools

JOBS ARE TRANSCENDENTLY IMPORTANT

• Aging population
• Needy population is growing
• Structural Imbalance
• Only way to keep helping residents in need is to grow revenues (new jobs / business)
• Property taxes are too high
• Need to market the county
• Be welcoming to business
• Streamline regulatory processes
• • Need lots of small changes to change business environment
• Need to attract younger population
• Play to strengths: sciences - biotech, NIST, NIH
• Support universities and vocational tech careers

GOOD JOBS FIRST OUTLOOK ON TAX SUBSIDIES FOR CORPORATIONS

• Better to focus on small / medium businesses, not the big corporate whale

CULTURE OF EVIDENCE / CLIMATE OF CIVILITY

ACHIEVEMENT GAP

• Fix is to have universal pre-care

BIO

• Grew up / educated in Montgomery County
• Worked for State Comptroller / Scrutinized Contracts
• Advised on State Pension System
• On Board for Maryland College Savings System

ON STATE OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY / STRUCTURAL ECONOMIC ISSUES

• Revenues growing more slowly despite increased taxes
• Federal Government Not Growing As Before
• Workforce is Aging
• Earners to Non-Earners is Out of Whack
• Only way out: lift up wages / create jobs
• 40% of Children Eligible for Free and Reduced Meals
• More people are leaving office space than are entering office space

NEED A HIGHER TAX BASE (It has been shrinking)

• County has been raising taxes to compensate for this

HOW DO WE GROWN THE ECONOMY?

• Education - people want to live where good schools are
• Transportation
• Economic Development (can’t do the above without growing the tax base)

BUDGET PROCESS NEEDS IMPROVEMENT

• Optimized for innovation / adaptation
• Must use revenue for what it was earmarked

EDUCATION

• Discrepancy in Results
• Overcrowding Issues
• Many Schools are Attractive / Others Aren’t - Mismatch in Attraction to Families
• Highest costs of child care in the US
• DC has more accessible child care
• Too focused on college readiness / need career readiness as well

ON FINANCING THE CAMPAIGN

• On doing traditional campaign financing (not taking public financing)
• On D1 Neighbors Report regarding donations
• Addressing D1 Neighbors Report Showing Large Corporate / Real Estate Donations

ON THE THESIS THAT INFRASTRUCTURE HASN’T KEPT UP WITH DEVELOPMENT

BUDGET PROCESS

• Change budget reconciliation process
• 1 year budget doesn’t work
• Use a value proposition to make sure that investments are yielding results
• Evaluate impact on budget related to small business / non-profits

COUNTY SHOULD GET OUT OF THE ALCOHOL BUSINESS

• Holding back economic development / revenue
• Spending on alcohol is 41% below state average
• Wholesale service for restaurants is a disaster
• Restaurants in MoCo Can’t Complete Due to Lack of Alcohol Services
• Must take care of workers in alcohol business to transition to something else

MODERNIZE / IMPROVE GOVERNMENT

• Make permit obtainment easier
• Make it easier to interact with government

COUNTY COUNCIL’s MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES

• Oversight
• Pass a Budget

SHOULD THE COUNTY LOWER THE RESERVE FUND PERCENTAGE

ON DEMOCRATIZING MUNICIPAL BONDS