From: Aer Parris
To: Commission-Public-Records
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Comment for today
Date: Tuesday, November 17, 2020 9:58:13 AM
WARNING: External email. Links or attachments may be unsafe.
Hello!
I want to make a comment about three agenda items,
Agenda Items 10(b), (c) and 10(d).
Agenda Items 10(b), (c) -- Proposed 2021 budget and tax levy increase
While you're taking measures to reduce fees for airlines, you're asking taxpayers to raise more
than $78 million with more increases in the next few years. This means that as our community is
facing hardships due to COVID-19, we're raising taxpayer costs to benefit corporations.
Unfortunately, there is nothing in the budget that will reduce emissions from SeaTac, which is
the largest source of emissions from the port. It continues to rely on biofuels, claiming it will help
achieve emissions reduction. But WSU staff have shown that using biofuels does not reduce
CO2 emissions and they're not able to say how much biofuel use at Sea-Tac would reduce
other emissions! Meaningful reduction in emissions comes from a reduction in flights.
This budget should not be approved until it shows a real path toward reducing total GHG
emissions from Sea-Tac.
Steps that should be taken include:
Pause any spending on Sea-Tac projects that are not necessary for safety.
Redirect money earmarked for Sea-Tac expansion projects to mitigation projects that
reduce harms to airport-impacted communities (like sound insulation and air purifiers for
homes, daycares, and schools).
This is especially important for our communities of color, which bear the brunt of air
and noise pollution from these operations.
The Port must invest money (paid by
Sea-Tac users) into programs to address, mitigate, and redress the
harms Sea-Tac air and noise pollution has caused impacted
communities.
Halt the "Sustainable Airport Master Plan" (SAMP) and redirect funds earmarked to
research and development of modes of passenger and cargo transportation in our region
that are actually sustainable -- like rail.
Agenda Item 10(d) -- $22 million for Sea-Tac parking garage.
Please reject the proposal to spend $22 million on upgrades to the Sea-Tac parking garage.
Although the idea is that it will reduce CO2 emissions, that number is meaningless when put
into context: in 2017, CO2 from fuel pumped at Sea-Tac exceeded 5,800,000 metric tons (with
three times greater warming impact on the climate than on-the-ground emissions). Making a
reduction of 17-20 metric tons per year nothing.
Instead, use that money to reduce emissions by reducing growth!
--
In solidarity,
