[T]he conference announced that the mayors of Albuquerque, N.M., and Fayetteville, Ark., had won first place honors in this year's Mayors' Climate Protection Awards Program.Of course it didn't take too long for the Journal to expose the Mayor's greenhouse gas reduction claims as, well... gas.
The awards honor mayors for measures to curb global warming and increase energy efficiency. Albuquerque Mayor Martin Chavez was recognized for shepherding a city program that promotes "green-tech'' companies, use of bicycles and purchase of cleaner city vehicles. The program has caused an overall reduction of city greenhouse gas emissions by 67 percent since 2000.
It is a claim every Albuquerque resident who cares about global warming could be proud of: Since 1990, city residents have cut their greenhouse gas emissions by 6 percent.
It is also untrue.
It sure looks like The Almighty Alcalde pulled the wool over the Conference of Mayors and the Governator himself back in June of last year when he sold them on a 67% greenhouse gas reduction since 2000. You'd think that there would be some modification in the mayor's approach in light of the less than stellar results of his green scheme and the city's looming budget crisis.
The city is continuing to purchase a new fleet of vehicles that are designed to reduce greenhouse gases and reduce our dependence on foreign oil. In fact, you may have noticed that APD sergeants are driving brand new E85 Tahoes. These new Tahoes are designed by General Motors to run on both E85 and regular gas.
E85 is a blend of 85% ethanol and 15% gasoline. So what's the problem? A Tahoe running regular unleaded gasoline gets about 13 MPG in the city - running E85, the same vehicle gets about 9 MPG. In other words, E85 vehicles are about 69% as efficient as their gas powered counterparts.
In New Mexico, ethanol costs about 13% less per gallon than gasoline (E85prices.com). Comparing apples to apples, we're paying somewhere in the neighborhood of 18% more for E85 than we would for the same vehicle to burn gas. Many of you are thinking that you're willing to pay more to save the environment and combat global warming.
There are other consequences to Marty's march toward the green - our Eyes tell us it's having a direct impact on our safety. E85 isn't available everywhere and officers are forced to buy it rather than regular gasoline - that means more time out of service due to availability and the increase in consumption.
To reduce consumption (and we suspect cost), officers are now being told to turn off their engines when they're on a call. The problem here is that they can't turn off the equipment and radios that rely on the vehicles for power. Turn off the engine, kill the battery. The vehicle and its officer are out of service.
AFD has switched to biodiesel in its fire engines. Like E85, biodiesel isn't readily available which requires engines to be out of service for an extended period of time. In addition, the engines weren't designed to run on biodiesel so the long term effects on the equipment aren't known.
In both of these cases the monetary consequences are obvious. But the more important consequence is the danger that the out of service vehicles place all of us in. How long will it be until someone loses their life because it's time for an officer to refill, or an engine needs more biodiesel? Or... has it already happened?
The city is continuing to purchase a new fleet of vehicles that are designed to reduce greenhouse gases and reduce our dependence on foreign oil. In fact, you may have noticed that APD sergeants are driving brand new E85 Tahoes. These new Tahoes are designed by General Motors to run on both E85 and regular gas.
E85 is a blend of 85% ethanol and 15% gasoline. So what's the problem? A Tahoe running regular unleaded gasoline gets about 13 MPG in the city - running E85, the same vehicle gets about 9 MPG. In other words, E85 vehicles are about 69% as efficient as their gas powered counterparts.
In New Mexico, ethanol costs about 13% less per gallon than gasoline (E85prices.com). Comparing apples to apples, we're paying somewhere in the neighborhood of 18% more for E85 than we would for the same vehicle to burn gas. Many of you are thinking that you're willing to pay more to save the environment and combat global warming.
(Sidebar)The problem with saving the world for a mere 20% surcharge paid by the city is that we supply that premium with our tax dollars and it gets worse. Ethanol is subsidized by the government to the tune of $1.05 to $1.38 a gallon and it takes 1,700 gallons of water to produce that one gallon of ethanol. More importantly for those who are convinced that reducing greenhouse gas by reducing the amount of fossil fuels consumed, it takes over a gallon of fossil fuel to produce a gallon of ethanol (Townhall.com).
Have you notice that global warming has now become "climate change?" As if adherents to the consensus hadn't already blamed both warmer and cooler temperatures on global warming they've now begun to call global warming "climate change." We wonder if it has anything to do with the fact that this year has been one of the worst and coldest winters in a long time.
"Change" works either way and you don't get caught having to defend "warming" while record snows fall in the Midwest. You really don't need any more proof that "global warming" is a political movement not a scientific one than their willingness to change the name when it no longer fits the circumstances.
(End Sidebar)
There are other consequences to Marty's march toward the green - our Eyes tell us it's having a direct impact on our safety. E85 isn't available everywhere and officers are forced to buy it rather than regular gasoline - that means more time out of service due to availability and the increase in consumption.
To reduce consumption (and we suspect cost), officers are now being told to turn off their engines when they're on a call. The problem here is that they can't turn off the equipment and radios that rely on the vehicles for power. Turn off the engine, kill the battery. The vehicle and its officer are out of service.
(Sidebar)
Our Eyes tell us that officers may want to take a look at page 46 of their new contract. It addresses the issue of take home vehicles. In short, the Chief of Police can take away all take home vehicles simply by notifying the union. Forty-five days later you're driving to work, even in emergency situations.
(End Sidebar)
AFD has switched to biodiesel in its fire engines. Like E85, biodiesel isn't readily available which requires engines to be out of service for an extended period of time. In addition, the engines weren't designed to run on biodiesel so the long term effects on the equipment aren't known.
In both of these cases the monetary consequences are obvious. But the more important consequence is the danger that the out of service vehicles place all of us in. How long will it be until someone loses their life because it's time for an officer to refill, or an engine needs more biodiesel? Or... has it already happened?
20 comments:
The Sidebar regarding take home cars is correct, however it was also in the previous contract. Per the previous contract the cheif has always had the avaliblity to take away the take home cars.
Another term?
I THINK NOT.
Someone needs to do a REAL poll. If the election were held today, would he be re-elected? We must not accept some phony poll done by this administration, fooling us to think that his numbers are good.
No Journal poll, no Monahan poll, as they will be rigged to favor Marty's re-election. More smoke and mirrors.
A real poll will tell the truth.
Taxpayers and voters, Republicans & Democrats especially, don't want any part of another Marty Administration and his appointed incompetent (corrupt) Directors.
These whiney cops! I work over 60 hours a week on the night shift with no benefits, for 11.82 an hour. I am a disabled vet and this is the best job I could get and im grateful! I wish I could be a cop and sit all day in a donut shop and get a car to drive home. Mayor Chavez has been more than fair to these ungrateful cops! You guys on this web site are no better! Mayor Chavez has my vote!
We don't need government to save us from ourselves. What we need is to be saved from government. Period.
The fact of the matter is that no matter which fuel you use, it is still a Chevy Tahoe and lets face it SUVs are not as economical on fuel and as a taxpayer it ticked me off when I saw the new Tahoes. Now that I know that they can take either fuel and that neither fuel is economical I am outraged. I would ask where is his brain, but I think we already know the answer to that one!!!!!
We don't need government to save us from ourselves. What we need is to be saved from government. Period. (GOOD ONE!!!)
Especially in this case..Abq. city government is so dysfunctional and it's no wonder since it's being led by Mr. Dysfunctionality Himself the High Priest of Dysfunction and DWI....His Un-Honorable Mayor Marty (the toad) Chavez!!! Give him a big round of applause!!!
To the poster talking about whiny cops. I am not a cop but I certainly appreciate and respect the officers of APD and BCSO. I have never seen them set around in a donut shop as you have suggested. They work for two terrible tyrants, the mayor and the chief. They are under paid and over worked. Just pick up the news paper or turn on the television and you will understand why this city is at the top of every major crime category. Please don't be so condescending toward them, some day everyone of us will call one of them in our hour of need. I voted for this Mayor, but now realize that he an this chief need to go.
I want one of those free cars! I cant afford the gas in my personal truck.
Yes, to above commentor. The rank and file do their best and yes they do work for tyrants(that's being kind)
They have to deal with the everyday rift raft assholes that this mayor welcomes here with open arms. He does so to get the non English speaking criminal's vote.That's all he gives a shit about. That and drinking and whore chasing.
Previous poster 'Mayor Chavez has my vote!' I would love to meet you in person so that I can barf on your shoes. I sincerely hope that Marty is not paying you OUR taxpayer money to get on this site and say asinine things that no one buys - and I mean NO ONE. Grow up and get a real job, not one as Marty's A-- Wipe. Disgusting.
Lets just spell it out.
C-O-R-R-U-P-T-I-O-N
Mayor Marty, Hes OUR Mayor!
(cheers)Marty Marty he's our man, if he can't be dishonest, no one can!!! Does anyone remember the Richard Pryor movie "Brewsters Millions"? Maybe if everyone got together we could put "anyone but Marty" on the ballot instead of "none of the above" like Montgomery Brewster did. Man, I hope Marty reads this! I wish I could get a personalized tag that reads "MUCK FARTY" on it so it would be worth it when I went through the scam-eras! Does anyone feel the same? MUCK FARTY????
Yeah, Muck Farty!!!!
Yes definitely "MUCK FARTY" and while we're at it we could say SCHUCK FULTZ TOO!
LET'S MARKET THESE AS BUMPER STICKERS FOR FARTY'S RUN AS MAYOR AD NAUSEUM!!! GENIOUS, THAT POSTER IS SIMPLY A GENIOUS HAHAHA SCHUCK FULTZ, TOO!! WOW BRILLIANT!!
That's all it would take. A bumper sticker campaign to get the entire city laughing their asses off at Miserable Marty. He'd definitely be out, regardless of crooked Judge Vanzi's wishes. Where can I buy one? The proceeds can be used for more coffee for APOA leadership - they won't have to pilfer donations or the union kitty any more.
yeah, let's do it!! I'll go online and get a few printed up. I'll put it on my vehicle and if you see me, you can light me up, pull me over and ask me for one!! Just don't cite me for being a Farty Hater!! Hahah! (Besides, it would look really good right next to your "how's my driving" bumper sticker, don't ya think?)
For the bumper stickers, I think we should go through the company that Marty uses.
Every couple of years he gets the city logo's changed, has another type of bumper stickers on all city vehicles, on and on...
He either owns the company or has some type of interest in it. But they're probably raking the city so we'd certainly wouldn't get a good price!
Hahaha.....thx for the suggestion!
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