RIP: Sea level rise parcel tax

Let's take a moment to reflect on the demise, at least for now, of the County parcel tax that was aimed at funding to protect from sea level rise.  As the Daily Journal reported:

A parcel tax measure meant to back San Mateo County’s climate initiatives won’t appear on the November ballot after officials realized economic uncertainty was causing low polling support for the measure.

“A lot of this is a reflection of where we are with the economy — rising gas prices, inflation, the possibility of a recession. I think people are really concerned,” County Manager Mike Callagy said. “We really hope that someday we’ll be able to bring this back around in better times because these are situations that are not going to get better and are only going to get worse.”

While the Daily Post dug a little deeper and stated it bluntly under the headline "County tax didn't stand a chance;  Poll data shows it would have failed by 11 points".  The Post noted

The tax would have cost property owners 5 cents per square foot annually.  For the owner of a 2,000 square-foot-home, the tax would have cost $100 per year.  Poll respondents did express interest in some of the ideas behind the tax--primarily around reducing the impacts of drought by recycling water and reducing flammable brush.

Translation:  Hey County, please worry about things that are right here, right now and not something that may or may not happen 50 years from now.  Oh, and do it within the huge budget you have now.

Today's Chron has a long piece on "graywater" that you can get from recycling what comes out of the washing machine and your shower.

The technology isn’t new — greywater systems have been around for decades. But experts note that California, a state long familiar with extreme drought, still doesn’t have statewide incentives for people to install systems that can save thousands of gallons of water each year for a family of four.  On a local level, incentives are not robust in the Bay Area either. Santa Clara County offers a $400 rebate through Valley Water, San Francisco offers $225, Contra Costa County and the East Bay Municipal District each offer up to $50, and other counties and water districts offer none at all.

Another benefit: Using greywater means people can continue to grow plants and trees in their yard — which can provide food and shade and support wildlife — rather than ripping them out in the face of water restrictions, advocates said.  But while greywater has been shown to save both water and money, advocates and experts note that it’s faced a number of challenges to more widespread adoption over the years.

It goes on to discuss the permit process and costs, the lack of experienced installers, whether the water utilities really want us to do it and a general lack of public awareness -- all things the County could actually work on within the bounds of its current budget and staff.  In the meantime, we have a little respite from yet another parcel tax.

Comments

[Phinancier]

The $800,000 they spent on a consultant to tell them what they should have already known if they were living in the real world could have paid for thousands of home water recycling credits. That's just common cents.

[resident]

Like the Terminator, they vill be back. There are a hundred better things to spend money on than a dyke but they don't get the loving headlines. This nonsense is classic Dave Pine.

[[email protected]]

Is the Burlingame Park and Rec Dept. still going ahead with the development of a "Park" at the Bayfront next to "Kincade's?"
I remember that was a "big deal" for Margaret a few years ago.

[hillsider]

The Park and Rec folks decided to sell the land to the Obamas for their Martha's West home. It was big money that could not be ignored. Sort of like Michele. I missed you holy.

[Paloma Ave]

hillsider, where have you been hiding?

[[email protected]]

Welcome Back Hillsider!
I have not commented much either due to spending the last three months Jet Skiing, Para Sailing, playing Basketball and Roller Skating with "Roc" in North Korea.
Wish you were there.
Where is BD?

[resident]

We got us some sea level rise today didn't we now. Was Mayor Mike out in a canoe assessing the damage and giving advice or was he just playing the way Mayor Pete did by whipping was Southwest? C'mon Mike. Maybe redirect some of that sea wall money to drainage. You have been campaining (I spelled that correctly) on fixing El Camino for years. WTF? You needed a boat out there today, Mike. What about all-electric Emily? Laguna is in her district. I bet it was a lagoon today just like it is every 10 years.