Climate Change – How Serious is Rick Kriseman?

Climate change will not be part of Rick Baker’s politics, but it is a real part of his concern for the City he loves and cares bout.

St. Petersburg, Fl
Opinion by: E. Eugene Webb PhD
Author: In Search of Robin, So You Want to Blog.

Rick Kriseman has made a big issue out of Climate change in the St. Petersburg Mayoral election.

Unfortunately, most of his concerns are more political than practical. “Outraged” by President Trump’s decision to pull out of the Paris Climate Agreement and also energized by the political opportunity, Kriseman set out on an effort to tie his opponent, Rick Baker to the Climate Change controversy.

88.5 WMNF November, 2016 by Sean Kinane: St. Pete mayor worries how Trump will impact preparations for climate change

What is important is the fact that Kriseman’s practical efforts have been more politically grandiose than effective and in reality, his actions would indicate a complete lack of understanding of the primary ingredients of climate change on Florida: sea-level rise and storm surge due to tropical storms.

WUSF Jim Nash June 22, 2017: St. Pete Mayor Picks Up Climate Change Banner.

Here is a quote from a Kriseman Campaign Flyer: “Because of the dangers climate change poses to our city, I pledged to transition St. Pete to a 100% clean energy city. We are preparing for rising seas, volatile weather, and increases in the number of powerful storms.”

Let’s look at two of the most glaring examples in this lie:

Downtown development – Pier Park

If you really believe in climate change, then you must accept the fact that the sea level is going to rise.

When you are the Mayor of a low-lying coastal City, your climate change concern should not be headlines, talk show appearances and national conferences it should be how do I protect my City. And how do I make development decisions that are not compromised by the impending results of climate change.

Kriseman has pushed the $20+ million development of Pier Park, which essentially sets at sea level. Is that a wise utilization of public funds?

Thinking in the climate change/sea level rise community says that Beach Drive will likely be somewhere between 2^nd and 3^rd Avenue if the sea level rise predictions are even close to being accurate.

Brings a whole new meaning to the phrase “water park.”

Maybe a better expenditure of those funds would be to begin to provide some protection from sea level rise for what Mayor Kriseman sees as the “heart” of St. Petersburg. Like a seawall.

Renewable energy, green buildings and all the rest of the climate change hoopla make great political fodder, but a Mayor, who believes that the climate is actually changing will not waste his taxpayer’s money on things the results of climate change may swallow.

Wastewater treatment – The South West Wastewater Plant

News Channel 8 Jeff Paterson September 15, 2016: St. Pete mayor blames climate change for release of wastewater into Tampa Bay

Kriseman must not bother to read his own press clippings. The South West Wastewater treatment plant literally sets at sea level. Yet he is pouring millions into this sea level endangered facility and making plans for it to become the major wastewater treatment facility for the entire City.

What happened to the climate change argument in this scenario?

More importantly what will St. Pete do when the water level starts to rise at the South West plant or a major storm surge makes it inoperable?

 

That’s a climate change question that deserves an answer.

These are just two of the climate change issues Rick Kriseman has created while he “worries” about climate change.

Climate change with Rick Kriseman is the same as it is with all Democrat politicians. It is a great stump speech issue, and it is easy to tie up clear thinking opponents in a nonsensical argument about believing climate change or not, but when it comes down to applying the climate change problem to real decisions, Rick Kriseman does not have a clue.

A real leader will consider the effects of a changing climate and not ignore them.

Rick Baker is not a climate change denier, and he is also not a climate change exploiter. He knows the climate is changing, and he understands the effects on St. Petersburg.

Climate change will not be part of Rick Baker’s politics, but it is a real part of his concern for the City he loves and cares bout.

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Disclosures: Contributor to Rick Baker for Mayor Campaign

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