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Opinion: All of us should be concerned and committed to supporting citywide and individual actions to conserve water and energy and to slow climate change and global warming.
Q Wilson, 9, cools off in the splash pad at Lincoln Park in July. Triple-digit temperatures continue to plague South Texas in a record-setting summer of heat.Given the choice, our family does not want the modest 13.
5% rebate on our July CPS Energy bill proposed by San Antonio City Manager Erik Walsh as residents struggle through San Antonio’s record hot summer.to fund a rebate would benefit those of us who do not need it at the same time it would provide only short-term relief to those in real need. Rising energy bills driven by increased usage and spiking natural gas prices have allowed CPS Energy to deliver this windfall to the city. To their credit, at least some council members want to find more lasting ways to mitigate the brutal reality of this unprecedented heat wave on the most vulnerable citizens.. If you are wondering what progress has been made in that time, here is my answer: not much.2019 report was only posted last year, and the 2021 report will be posted in the coming months, according to a city spokesman. I can’t imagine it’s going to show any progress. Thursday was the 57th day this year when temperatures in San Antonio reached 100 degrees or more, two days shy of the 59-day record set in 2009. But wait: there had only been 46 such days by Aug. 11, 2009, according to the National Weather Service, so we are overheating at a record pace. If late August and September deliver more such days, there will be a new record.Success! You're on the list. Whoops! There was an error and we couldn't process your subscription. Please reload the page and try again. Against that backdrop, what can City Council do with the money? Quite a bit, actually. It could help VIA Metropolitan Transit construct shade shelters on outdoor bus stops that lack that protection. It could follow the lead of other cities and establish mobile cooling centers that would target the city’s growing homeless population. It could keep public pools open until cool weather finally arrives. It could stripe neglected bike lanes, improve safety signage and work to make urban core streets safer for people to park their vehicles and commute on bikes. I like Councilman Mario Bravo’s proposal to use the funds to plant more trees, which are especially needed in inner-city neighborhoods where sidewalks and streetlights are still a dream. He also advocated for more weatherization of older, energy-inefficient homes, as well as more cooling centers. In this heat, everyone in the urban core ought to be able to walk to one. CPS Energy can redouble efforts to promote conservation and distribute more smart thermostats to homeowners that enable the utility to remotely reduce energy consumption. Traffic police can discourage idling vehicles spewing emissions into the atmosphere. Last week, while pedaling through Alamo Plaza, I yet again observed three of the red sightseeing buses sitting driverless and empty of passengers in the plaza, with their engines and air conditioners running. I came through again 15 minutes later and the same three buses continued to idle.
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