Regarding the Southern California Air Resources Board.
(Haven't had time to check my messages at home for a few days and I am
playing catch up).
For those of you who don't live within the jurisdiction of the SCAQMD
(Southern Cal Air Quality Management District), be thankful.
First, start off by combining all of the worst qualities of a
bureuacracy and the self righteous attitiude of people who know what is
best for you. Then add the element that they are accountable (as far as
I can tell) to no one.
I work for an aerospace company that does work for NASA. (when our
Projects are successul we are called a NASA center, when we fail we are
a contractor). To make a long stroy short, their method of work is to
come in and make a set of demands, and threaten that if you do not
comply they will fine you $25,000 per day. (that is per day). Mind you,
this is not for producing any in-plant pollutants. This is for the
number of cars that drive to/from work each day. Over a few years we:
1) built/improved the facilities for public transportation, 2)
reassigned many parking spots to car pool only spots, 3) initiated van
pool program with subsidized costs, 4) investigated and initated a
limited telecommuting program, 5) signed up with a company who surveys
employees home locations and helps organize car pools.
SQAMD comes back every year for three years and basically says the same
thing each year: you are not doing enough ...you need to reduce parking
spots by 30% ... you need to force people into more car pools by
whatever means possible .... you need to make sure that they don't drive
nearby and park somewhere else and walk in ....and if you don't we will
fine you $25,000 per day until you do!
.... Then they come back the third year (nothing had improved as to
number of cars/day) and said. "You guys have been more responsive than
other companies, we are going to use you as an example to follow."
Example #2: Wife works in a local downtown. SQAMD storms in and says to
City Gov: .... too many parking lot spots in the downtown encourages too
many people to drive in, (uhhh, the intent IS to encourage cars/buyers
to use the stores) close parking lots.... encourage car pools and
bicycle travel for shopping (yeah, that's going to work) .... too many
parents are dropping off children at the city schools and when the
parent drives away there is a SINGLE DRIVER IN THE CAR, need to force
parents not to drive their children to school, unless they are car
pooling .... need to buy more school buses (no budget for that, buses
are diesels, existing buses are 20% filled)... on and on... and if you
don't we will fine the city $25,000/day! Far as I can tell the city did
nothing, who knows what will happen next year.
Let me be clear on a few points:
1. They come in and threaten and threaten. $25,000/day was often
stated.
2. There is no one, not a mayor, not a govenor, not a court, not anyone
that you can appeal to. If they every placed fines, THEN one could
appeal in court.
3. Far as I can tell they are not swayed by logic. Doesn't matter if you
live 3 miles away or 80 miles away. Doesn't matter if you have a low
mileage, well maintained car, motorcycle, or SUV. Every vehicle is
treated the same. Doesn't matter if existing school buses are 25%
filled.
4. As I remember, the SCAQMD was created to monitor and control
industries which polluted the air (so called smoke stack industries). A
majority of their time now seems to be taken up with threatening
companies and cities with fines if they don't cut down on the number of
cars.
My expectation is that the SQAMD will do whatever they feel like. When
they say jump you ask "how high?". If not you are non responsive.
Doesn't matter if crushing cars more than 20 years old has any effect on
smog. If they so do, just ask: " how soon can we start?". Doesn't matter
if installing 2000 bicycle racks at the mall will do anything to
actually get more people to use bicyles to go shopping at the mall (or
the local Vons), just go do it. Put a policeman at the local elementary
school and give out tickets and fines to the Moms who drop off their
frist grade daughter. You are evil for wanting to drive in the first
place, you ought to take a bus....
Sorry, I got carried away.
I do expect the worst out of that organization.
-Roger
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