Taking the LEED

Kansas City can do a lot better when it comes to environmental issues. Recently the City Council passed a watered down resolution proposing stricter environmental standards. I say watered down because the Chamber of Commerce got to hold private meetings with the City and basically re-write the resolution. And you thought legislators wrote legislation. Sure they do... There's doing the right thing and then there's doing the easy thing. Rarely do they seem to be the same thing. The right thing to do was to listen to the EPA back in the early 90's and quit dumping raw sewage into Brush Creek. The easy thing to do was to ignore it and throw down some sidewalks and landscaping, a couple of fountains and tell people to avoid the spray after heavy rainfalls (if it wasn't true it would be funny). The right thing to do was to stick to our original resolution that public buildings meet LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification standards. The easy thing to do was to double-back and exempt projects like the downtown arena and all other projects "already started." Years ago people scoffed at California for demanding higher emission standards for vehicles sold there. Predictions were made of a mass exodus of business and people leaving CA in the economic stone age. Last I checked, California is doing quite well and continuing to challenge the auto makers to produce vehicles that generate lower emissions. Lead, follow or get out of the way. I would like to see Kansas City do some leading for a change.