March
2008
City Transitioning into Green Mecca?
It’s hard enough transitioning into living a greener lifestyle when I’m just thinking about myself and how I live my life. Can you imagine trying to inspire an entire city?
This blog post on National Geographic’s Green Guide website talks about some of the biggest concerns of cities that are trying to “go green.” There are some interesting ideas presented here, except that I’m not sure how they will all be implemented. For example, one idea is that cities will begin charging drivers to use the streets, so that there will be less congestion, except that I thought we already charge people to use the streets, with registration fees? Wheel tax? Tolls? Meters for parking?
One idea that I think Omaha needs to implement is a light rail system and street cars. Do I have any idea of how much something like that costs? Not really. Do I know that it has been seriously talked about? Kind of. Do I still think it’s a super sweet idea? Absolutely.
Buffet would be shaking his head at my logic here, but would it or would it NOT be really cool to be able to live in Lincoln and work in downtown Omaha, and just read the newspaper on your way to work? Leave your car at the train station and hop on, using your Nebraska Rocks Rail Pass everyday? Wouldn’t it be a relief to rely on a train to take you back home to Omaha after a crazy Huskers game?
And how about Greensburg, Kansas? Have you heard this story? Last May, Greensburg was almost completely destroyed by a 2-mile wide tornado - an extremely sad story - can you imagine having your entire town erased within one storm? Apparently, after the entire city was leveled, the city council got together and collectively decided, “We should go green. It is IN our name, right?” (Quote manufactured by yours truly.) USA Today picked up a real quote from a city administrator six days after the tornado, and then the Discovery Home Channel picked it up, too.
Apparently in the rebuilding of Greensburg, there is heavy talk of a reality show that will document the revitalization of this devasted town into a fully functioning city of fantastic green-ness.
It’s almost too much of a coincidence for me, the fact that a town called Greensburg is going to rebuild their town into an eco-friendly city. This is exactly what makes me shake my head and go, “Yeah, I’d definitely watch that.”
Read this recent report from the Kansas City Star about updates and a comprehensive overview of the situation.
Would you ride the rails from Omaha to Lincoln? How about a streetcar from Dundee to downtown? If you could make any traditionally green item the symbol for Omaha’s green aspirations, what would you choose?
Would you travel to Greensburg, Kansas with me, on foot, for a future Greensburg pilgrimage? Footing it could only be replaced by a fleet of lime Prius-es. Hey - it would be something to write home about, on recycled paper with soy ink, of course.
Great post - and this is always the challenge, isn’t it: greening our cities. And yes, from what I’m reading, Leo DiCaprio is the host of a Rebuild Greensburg reality show. No doubt to be shown on Discovery/Planet Green.
Wow - Leo, huh? An interesting choice for a host - those Kansans aren’t going to know what hit them. … “Wow, he looks so much taller in person. And did you see he doesn’t shave very well? Yes, I know, but he was such a lovely boy!” Very cute.