Rantz: Mayor Durkan’s own Green New Deal annoys just about everyone

Mayor Jenny Durkan, desperate to be seen as Progressive by a base she will rely on to expand her political career, announced her own eco-friendly plans Tuesday.

Let’s call it Durkan’s Green New Deal. It’s decidedly less interesting and less impactful, but just as expensive and ill-conceived as the monster plan introduced by Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. Ironically, Durkan didn’t get the reception, from either side of the issue, that she had hoped for.

At her State of the City address, Durkan proposed legislation to force developers to include electric vehicle charging stations in all new buildings.

“Seattle has always invented the future, and we will lead the transition to electric vehicles to combat climate change,” Durkan quizzically claimed. “Our actions to reduce emissions from transportation will help create a healthier and more just city, with a stronger economy.”

First, the city’s position is hypocritical. City officials have previously argued that adding parking to apartment complexes increases the cost of rent, which they blame for displacement and homelessness. Suddenly they’re not worried about the cost they’d be forcing into developments?

Related: Seattle to profit off of parking nightmare they’re creating

Second, why the sudden love of cars and why push technology like this, before we see where autonomous cars are headed?

Durkan and other city leaders have purposefully made car ownership financially onerous. They don’t force developers from building enough parking to meet demand, which then causes apartment parking garages to post ever-skyrocketing monthly rates.

And those who can afford to own a car in the city, get stuck in traffic nightmares designed by Durkan and the Seattle Department of Transportation, hoping to force you to give up your car. She’s pushing forward with a congestion fee, despite being deeply unpopular.

But, suddenly, she supports forcing parking lots to accommodate electric cars?

Forcing development to adopt amenities that aren’t in-demand, while giving a pass to building what renters are asking for, makes little sense. Ironically, since there’s not a huge demand for the powered EV-ready spots, it’ll end up taking spots away for traditional cars, which will then make parking even more expensive. This should earn the ire of conservatives who support developers.

But Progressives are also upset.

A quick review of Twitter, you see the militant bike community up in arms, wondering why Durkan is pushing an agenda they foolishly see as pro-car.

Uh what about electric bikes? What about accelerating rapidride and CCC? I don’t understand these priorities. :/

— Rachael (@raludwick) February 19, 2019

Sounds like a great way to reduce buildings costs…didnt she just get done talking up affordability?

— chris (@allgonenames) February 19, 2019

While their preference to better fund bike infrastructure is laughable, since bike commuting is at record lows, they’re right to point out the confusing sudden love of cars.

According to a Durkan press release:

The new measures will require that every individual residence with private parking includes an EV-ready space. For multifamily development with shared parking facilities, at least 20 percent of the spaces will be EV-ready. Parking facilities for non-residential uses will include a minimum of 10 percent of EV-ready spaces. The electric vehicle requirements are flexible in instances where meeting the required amount of EV paces would require upgrades to the utility infrastructure.

It’s unclear why she chose the percentages she presented, and we don’t yet know how receptive the Seattle City Council will be the legislation.

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