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Enforce land-use law

The Spokesman-Review

Thanks for The Spokesman-Review editorial calling for a carbon tax, rather than an easily gamed cap-and-trade scheme. However, if we are serious about protecting the climate, let’s begin by enforcing the state’s Growth Management Act, rather than leaving it to citizen lawsuits.

Spokane bristles with violations such as the big subdivisions of northern Five Mile Heights, some of which were approved by the county despite being well outside the legal urban growth boundary. As an example of unintended consequences, the building of those subdivisions led to the construction of nearby Prairie View Elementary School, which, because Growth Management Act policies on pedestrian access were ignored, now means that nearly all of Prairie View’s students must be bused at huge taxpayer expense – while spewing countless tons of carbon pollution.

Incidents like these are costing taxpayers millions, statewide, while ruining the climate at the same time.

There is no longer any question that the global climate is warming beyond forecasts, and that it is our responsibility to fix. Let’s begin by making our county and state governments follow the law, enforcing the Growth Management Act to limit energy-wasting sprawl.

David Camp

Spokane



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