The old Green conundrum

A majority of council members — Esmeralda Soria, Miguel Arias, Luis Chavez and Nelson Esparza — opposed the plan, saying they wanted a larger share of the money to go to south Fresno and sidewalks near schools.Garry Bredefeld and Steve Brandau on Tuesday accused the council majority of waging “class warfare,” saying north Fresno also needs money for road repairs.Brand’s spending plan for the $12.1 million split the money between seven districts so each district received between $1-2 million. The most expensive paving project was Nees Avenue in northeast Fresno’s District 6, but Districts 5, 1 and 3 were slated to receive the most money.Signed into law by then-Gov. Jerry Brown in 2017, SB 1 is geared toward using billions of dollars in higher fuel taxes and vehicle fees to help cover the state’s transportation needs for the next decade.

Now, equilibrium says this one has a simple result, cars miles generate the taxes, the money was intended to make car miles and should thus be spent where it is taxed.  The Green position would be, does the life cycle cost of repairs in CO2 exceed the CO2 saved from smoother roads? And that answer will still be in the noise.

Why sidewalks?

I am as hispanic as those city council people, and we walk the hot friggen sidewalk. We have a classic, provable case for co2 damages.

The tort judge would say sidewalk users suffer harm from co2 pollution, in any event.  The measurable amount of damage in south Fresno?  Hotter days on the sidewalk, a big one. Sidewalk users likely have a week more misery than pre-industrial, at the least.

So, first things first, anyone in south Fresno using mostly sidewalks and bikes, you all get $35 dollars a year, for the extra week of hot weather you suffer. I don't give a frig what the legislature does, but this is first dibs on the tax money.  It is the cost of having to get up a bit earlier than needed to walk the dog.

So why not use the tax money to fix sidewalks and plant shade trees?

Because sidewalks and trees did not file suit and win because of quite obvious damages. We are not doing a Citizen's United. I file the class action, it gets too hot one extra week around her.  We file,  give me my $35, you all can vote whatever nonsense you want.