On Valentines Day take a minute and realize, contemplate, consider then vocalize.

You gotta love Livonia.

Thank you Jim Jolly, Laura Toy, Brandon McCullough, Cathy White. You gotta love forward thinking.

Reader reaction to Monday night's City Council Meeting where  Bahr, McIntyre, Donovic voted No on climate change referral to Mayor.

Background: When Cathy White initiated a proposal to have the city of Livonia, specifically the Mayor's office, look into what a local community can do to offset climate warming the eyes of this typewriter opened wide. Impressive, who could object to taking a look at a current, topical issue that many feel should have a spotlight highlighting how a local government might play a role on one of the most talked about issues this year.

Well the council voted Monday, February 10th, to refer the issue of climate change to the Mayor who is quoted in a regional publication as saying that  she plans to rely on the Greenleaf Commission "and the knowledge of that committee in taking a broader look at a lot of the things that we're doing in our community from the vehicles we're using to recycling as much as we possibly can." 

The city council was not all that convinced the city has a role to play in climate issues. Councilman Scott Bahr led the opposition by reading from a prepared text objecting to the resolution which narrowly passed 4-3, with Bahr, Councilman Rob Donovic and Council President Kathleen McIntyre voting No. 

Reactions to the resolution and those voting No:

Kathleen Bilger:  I am very disappointed in our 3 councilmen who voted against the climate change proposal. Yes, one city can not offset a global change but we can set an example that others can follow. Collectively we can make a difference. It is possible to slow the progression of climate change but we must continue the process that started with recycling, hazardous waste collection and conservation of resources. Why do you think we do these things? We do them to preserve the environment which is part and parcel of climate change.

State Senator Dayna Polehanki: I would like to applaud the Livonia City Council for passing a resolution 4-3 to study how the city can determine ways to be environmentally conscious in the face of climate change. It was disappointing to see some dissension on this resolution given that a clear consensus has long been formed in the scientific community about climate change and the human impact on our environment. While it may not be convenient for us to acknowledge, we are living with the worldwide consequences, as we can see with record setting fires, hurricanes, and temperatures. Various studies have shown that we must take action now to slow rising global temperatures. I am glad that many in Livonia are showing leadership and taking this problem seriously. 

Chris Last: If we wait until everything, absolutely everything is perfect, we will never begin. Data driven? It is my opinion that it is much more reliable to simply open your eyes and be honest with yourself. Pluto was a "planet" but "data" said otherwise, but wait, now it is a "planet" again. Data?  It is also said...

Jeremiah 2:7,  "And I brought you into a plentiful land to enjoy its fruits and its good things. But when you came in, you defiled my land and made my heritage an abomination."
    
1 Corinthians 4:2,  "Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found trustworthy."

Ben Franklin,  "If you fail to prepare, you are preparing to fail"

The bottom line is, any and ALL actions that can be taken to better conserve,appreciate, understand, adjust to, and "re-think, re-use, re-cycle" is a step in the rightdirection.  Simply my own personal feelings, as I was not quite clear on what this proposal was or the intent. To those that choose to speak for a higher power and data, actions speak much louder than words.

City Councilman Jim Jolly quoted in a regional news source about the resolution:  "I don't understand why we wouldn't want to investigate leaving less of a footprint, less of a mark in what we do in every circumstance." 

School board Trustee Liz Jarvis writing on facebook: Mr. Bahr's presumptions are wrong. We are not trying to reverse climate change; only to mitigate its effects. Additionally, if climate change is cyclical-and it probably is-so what? Does that mean we sit on our hands, and not use the knowledge, experience, and technology available to us this time around? Surely we have learned something in the interim. We are obligated to be good stewards of this planet, to the best of our ability. Anything less is shameful.

Carol Wiles-Bagazinski writing in response to Liz Jarvis on facebook:  Thank you for saying this Liz! I am completely baffled by the thought process of someone who claims we must be stewards of the Earth, but then denies science - in the same statement!