Comments on: London Calling. Are New York’s Leaders Really Listening? http://www.streetsblog.org/2006/11/02/london-calling-are-nyc-leaders-listening/ Covering the New York City Streets Renaissance Mon, 23 Nov 2009 05:31:30 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8 hourly 1 By: Bill Ellson http://www.streetsblog.org/2006/11/02/london-calling-are-nyc-leaders-listening/comment-page-1/#comment-10295 Bill Ellson Tue, 07 Nov 2006 13:44:18 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2006/11/02/london-calling-is-nyc-bothering-to-listen/#comment-10295 The grass always looks greener on the other side. Mayor Livingstone and his deputy Nicky Gavron talk endlessly about climate change but completely disregard it when actually making decisions. Between 30% and 40% of London's energy consumption, and carbon dioxide emissions, are from construction. New large developments in London invariably involve large scale demolition and trucking away of wastes and use of high 'embodied energy' products in construction. Environmental Impact Assessments in the UK only ever consider the energy that will be used in running a building once it is constructed, never looking at the full picture. Livingstone has the power to insist on clarity in EIAs but refuses to do so. In September I asked Livingstone's Head of Environment Shirley Rodrigues whether the Mayor would insist on greater transparency in this regard. Her only response was "We are not going to stop building housing". Oh, and not only do we still have traffic congestion in London but car use in the suburbs, within Ken Livingstone responsibility, is not only increasing but if he gets to build his Thames Gateway Bridge will increase even more. Finally, Trafagar Square was a vibrant public space long before Livingstone closed the north side, screwing up longstanding arrangements for night buses. The grass always looks greener on the other side.
Mayor Livingstone and his deputy Nicky Gavron talk endlessly about climate change but completely disregard it when actually making decisions.
Between 30% and 40% of London's energy consumption, and carbon dioxide emissions, are from construction.
New large developments in London invariably involve large scale demolition and trucking away of wastes and use of high 'embodied energy' products in construction. Environmental Impact Assessments in the UK only ever consider the energy that will be used in running a building once it is constructed, never looking at the full picture. Livingstone has the power to insist on clarity in EIAs but refuses to do so.
In September I asked Livingstone's Head of Environment Shirley Rodrigues whether the Mayor would insist on greater transparency in this regard. Her only response was "We are not going to stop building housing".
Oh, and not only do we still have traffic congestion in London but car use in the suburbs, within Ken Livingstone responsibility, is not only increasing but if he gets to build his Thames Gateway Bridge will increase even more.
Finally, Trafagar Square was a vibrant public space long before Livingstone closed the north side, screwing up longstanding arrangements for night buses.

]]> By: Nicolo Macchiavelli http://www.streetsblog.org/2006/11/02/london-calling-are-nyc-leaders-listening/comment-page-1/#comment-9184 Nicolo Macchiavelli Thu, 02 Nov 2006 23:53:18 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2006/11/02/london-calling-is-nyc-bothering-to-listen/#comment-9184 Could be too that Mr. Livingston is planning for higher future oil prices. Something that would maximize value for the North Sea fields as well. Maybe NYC should wake up and notice that we don't produce oil. Texass and Saudi Arabia do. They tax oil at extraction, and we pay those taxes for them. Nice of us. Could be too that Mr. Livingston is planning for higher future oil prices. Something that would maximize value for the North Sea fields as well. Maybe NYC should wake up and notice that we don't produce oil. Texass and Saudi Arabia do. They tax oil at extraction, and we pay those taxes for them. Nice of us.

]]> By: someguy http://www.streetsblog.org/2006/11/02/london-calling-are-nyc-leaders-listening/comment-page-1/#comment-9164 someguy Thu, 02 Nov 2006 21:34:04 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2006/11/02/london-calling-is-nyc-bothering-to-listen/#comment-9164 I think it's safe to say that BP Markowitz has done an incredible job being a booster for Brooklyn, but a terrible job in terms of real issues. He seems really detached from actual policy and that leads me to think he'd be a pretty bad mayor. I think it's safe to say that BP Markowitz has done an incredible job being a booster for Brooklyn, but a terrible job in terms of real issues. He seems really detached from actual policy and that leads me to think he'd be a pretty bad mayor.

]]> By: ddartley http://www.streetsblog.org/2006/11/02/london-calling-are-nyc-leaders-listening/comment-page-1/#comment-9162 ddartley Thu, 02 Nov 2006 20:39:57 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2006/11/02/london-calling-is-nyc-bothering-to-listen/#comment-9162 This story and that license plate make me picture Markowitz all decked out like some hip hop poseur, saying things like "that's how I roll." This story and that license plate make me picture Markowitz all decked out like some hip hop poseur, saying things like "that's how I roll."

]]> By: Lars http://www.streetsblog.org/2006/11/02/london-calling-are-nyc-leaders-listening/comment-page-1/#comment-9155 Lars Thu, 02 Nov 2006 19:17:23 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2006/11/02/london-calling-is-nyc-bothering-to-listen/#comment-9155 Marty needs to start matching words with deeds. He likes to talk a good environmental and green record, but he will not support ANYTHING that begins to infringe on the car driver. The momentum in the city no matter where you go is to overwhelmingly do some positive things on Transportation - things which his office will be in direct oppostion to. It is probably the main thing that should he seek to run for Mayor will be his major downfall. Unless he learns. Fast. And stop parking that thing on the sidewalk, that would be a ticket for me when I rent a car and park it. Marty needs to start matching words with deeds. He likes to talk a good environmental and green record, but he will not support ANYTHING that begins to infringe on the car driver. The momentum in the city no matter where you go is to overwhelmingly do some positive things on Transportation - things which his office will be in direct oppostion to.

It is probably the main thing that should he seek to run for Mayor will be his major downfall. Unless he learns. Fast.

And stop parking that thing on the sidewalk, that would be a ticket for me when I rent a car and park it.

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