Sharkansky’s Faulty Logic
In response to recent pro-transit and -“trip reduction” statements by council member Peter Steinbrueck, right-wing blogger Stefan Sharkansky decided to see if council members, and Steinbrueck in particular, practice what they preach. He made a records request to determine how city council members get to work, whether they use a city-owned garage near City Hall, and how much they use the city’s motor pool on official business. The results are posted here.
According to Sharkansky:
[T]he most prolific automobilist on the Council? It appears to be Peter “trip reduction” Steinbrueck himself [with $1,746.98 in annual city vehicle expenses]. …If Peter Steinbrueck’s personal goal is “trip reduction”, he can reduce his own trips — move closer to work and eventually buy one of the high-tax downtown highrise condos with limited parking that he thinks other people should live in. In the meantime, he can ride the bus.
Parts of Sharkansky’s argument are sound: If council members are going to proselytize in favor of public transit for others, clearly, they should use transit themselves. However, there are several flaws in Sharkansky’s logic. First, the amount council members spend on transportation is miniscule compared to the mileage logged by other civil servants, like the members of the King County Council, whose personal car and SUV use costs the county many thousands of dollars a year. (For example, Republican Pete von Reichbauer, the county council’s gas-guzzlingest member, was reimbursed more than $8,200 by the county in 2004). City council members’ auto expenditures, which range from $0 (Jean Godden and Richard McIver) to practically $0 (Nick Licata, at $16, and Tom Rasmussen, at $85) to Steinbrueck’s $1,746, are a fraction of their county council counterparts’.
Second, while it’s true that Steinbrueck “reports no use of public transportation for commuting or city business,” , under public records law, he doesn’t have to. (Only half the council responded to this part of the request.) Sharkansky’s records request was for both expense reports and “a reasonable estimate of the various modes of travel you use”; however, only the former is subject to public records law.
Ă…nd finally, council members’ use of a city-owned parking garage is hardly an indictment of city policy. The city charges dearly for the use of its garage—$218 a month for a reserved spot at City Hall, or $190 a month for an unreserved spot up the street, according to council finance manager Eric Ishino.
For people with busy lives and young kids (two of ‘em), even a rabid transit supporter like me will admit that bus commuting isn’t always realistic. (Especially on Seattle’s less-than-stellar bus system: Getting from Steinbrueck’s house in Lake City to City Hall, for example, requires one bus transfer and takes approximately 40 minutes, assuming both buses show up on time; driving, according to Mapquest, takes just 13.) For the record, though, Steinbrueck’s staff says he sometimes takes the bus or walks, especially to appointments downtown. “Trip reduction,” which Steinbrueck supports, means just that: Taking alternative transit when you can, and driving when you must.
what if Peter was using one of the city's hybrid Toyota Prius cars?
is that worse? or, especially if he carpools with an aide or two, isn't that MORE EFFICIENT than taking the bus?
We have to remember Sharpinsky is one of the deadenders who actually believes Bush's Lies - including the lies about why gas prices went up in WA state (where our oil comes from Alaska and we don't have any of the "reasons" they gave for jacking us).
Listen to him at your peril.