Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels is being hailed as an eco-hero by the likes of Vanity Fair [photo] for his Mayor's initiative to implement the Kyoto Protocol and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Nickels #1 goal is to "Reduce Seattle’s dependence on cars". But while he's calling on other people to get out of their cars, Nickels' gluttonous dependence on his own official automobile should raise eyebrows. Seattle taxpayers provide the Mayor with a 2006 Cadillac DTS Luxury III for his exclusive official use. And use it he does. City expense records [sample] reveal that the Mayor has burned an average of 152.1 gallons of gasoline a month since Jan. 2005, the equivalent of 5 gallons of gasoline every single day of the year.
And it's not just the gasoline consumption that's profligate -- in the last 12 months alone, Hizzoner has spent roughly $36,000 in public funds on leasing, maintenance, fuel and other operating costs for his various luxury cars, and that doesn't even include salary and benefits for his chauffeur. May we all reduce our dependence on cars to $36,000 a year --
The fuel consumption numbers sounded very high to me (at a ballpark of 20 MPG, it would suggest that the Mayor drives 100 miles a day), so I confirmed the details with the Mayor's spokesman, Martin McOmber. Although the Mayor himself doesn't drive that much, his car does. The car is garaged at City Hall, so every morning the chauffeur drives the 5.8 miles to Nickels' West Seattle residence to pick up the Mayor, and every evening the car is driven another 5.8 miles back to City Hall. Furthermore, the Mayor is active and goes around town to appear at different events and meet with different groups. His advance team often takes the car before the Mayor's appearances to check out security and parking arrangements. McOmber stressed that this car is only for the Mayor's official, not personal use. He disagreed with my use of the word "chauffeur", as the driver is a sworn SPD officer who provides security for the Mayor. He also explained that the car was selected by the security detail at SPD, and that the Mayor has asked the police to try to get him a more fuel efficient car. (He's now in his 5th year in office, you'd think they would have figured out a better solution by now).
McOmber also mentioned, to the Mayor's credit, that the city has reduced its overall fuel consumption from 2.4 million gallons in 2004 to 2.1 million gallons in 2005 and that the city's motor pool includes 142 Prius, 121 compressed natural gas, 29 electric cars and 500 trucks that run on biodiesel. Okay, but given the Mayor's own official vehicle habits one can only wonder how automotively efficient the rest of city government really is.
In early 2005, when Nickels called on his fellow mayors to "reduce greenhouse gas emissions", he was driving a Lincoln Town Car Cartier 2003, which a Forbes review describes as "More room than most big-city apartments". Fuel economy report: 17 MPG city, EPA greenhouse gas score, 4 out of 10. It also cost the city taxpayers $1,045 a month in lease payments. In July 2005 Nickels upgraded to a new Lincoln, a Town Car Signature L (heated rear seats, Alpine Audiophile System, and a Navigation System ($100/month extra) Fuel economy report: 18 MPG city, EPA Greenhouse Gas Score: 5 out of 10. The new Lincoln cost the taxpayer $1,178 a month in lease payments, plus a one-time charge of $4,411 to prepare it for service.
Then in November 2005, only a few months into what was supposed to be a two-year lease, the Mayor's office issued a purchase order to lease the Cadillac DTS (heated seats with built-in massage, Premium Enhanced Audio with Satellite Radio, Fuel Economy report: 17 MPG city, EPA Greenhouse Gas Score: 4 out of 10). The Cadillac went into service this month ($11,737 a year plus a one-time preparation expense of $5,265).
The expense records suggest that the Lincoln has been returned. But the Mayor also has a back-up car, a 1998 Ford Expedition, (Fuel Economy Report: 13 MPG city), for which the taxpayers pay $134 a month in lease payments.
Sure, the Mayor has a legitimate business need for an automobile so he can get around town, but who doesn't? It's hard to imagine that the Mayor can't get by with a much more economically and environmentally efficient vehicle (and driving it less) -- especially when he's formulating policies to demand as much from the rest of us. Until Mayor Nickels becomes more responsible in his own automobile use, it's easy to dismiss him as just another fiscally incontinent limousine liberal, whose credo is "Do as I say..."
Posted by Stefan Sharkansky at April 27, 2006 04:51 PM | Email ThisMay we all be mayors and have staff.
Posted by: Erik on April 27, 2006 05:29 PM“This is an important day for everyone who loves Seattle and cares about the future of our planet,” Nickels said. “The challenge before us is clear: we must change today to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions, or face the consequences of a world changed by global warming. By taking bold action in our city today, we will show other communities, states and eventually the federal government that we can choose a better future.”
Greg Nickels - eco-hero.
Posted by: Gary on April 27, 2006 05:31 PMOut of a fleet of how many vehicles?
We should have a state and national constitutional amendment that states, aside from national security issues, that no elected officials, their staff, or government workers shall be exempt from any laws passed on the general public.
"Dorothy, wake up...." - Wizard of Oz, 1939.
Posted by: SouthernRoots on April 27, 2006 05:38 PMSomething tells me that all of the green vehicles in the fleet were not phased in over time as vehicles needed to be replaced, but were suddenly purchased en masse as a showy display of environmentalism.
And how come NIckels isn't hoofing it around the City a bit more? The man is obese. If he got out of the massaging seats in the back of the Cadi every once in a while and walked, he could save the taxpayers money, display less hypocrisy and lose some weight, all at the same time.
Posted by: Jeff B. on April 27, 2006 06:02 PMLet him start with the 192 which runs Pac Hiway S. all night.
Posted by: JCM on April 27, 2006 06:13 PMIf Mayor Greg Nickels wants the citizens of Seattle to get out of their cars and take public transportation, then he should set an example.
Nickels lives in West Seattle and it should not be any problem for him to walk approx 4 blocks from his home to SW Admiral Way and take Bus #57 to town. Bus #57 goes right by City Hall. Besides the exercise would do him some good and it would be one less vehicle on the road during the AM and PM commute.
IMO, Nickels advance team should be using one of the pool vehicles. And what is wrong with Mr Nickels using a Ford Explorer for his jaunts around town. Oh, thats right, it doesn't have heated rear seats and a fancy audio system with Satellite Radio.
http://transit.metrokc.gov/cftemplates/show_map.cfm?BUS_ROUTE=057&DAY_NAV=W
Posted by: Janet on April 27, 2006 07:53 PMWhys don’t we get the Mayor a bike one without a seat, that way he’s goina know what its like to be a Seattleite.
Forgetaboutit
Although I do have to say beware about going too far down this path because we'll all wind up riding mopeds and water buffalo to work.
Posted by: Reporterward on April 27, 2006 09:28 PMI know it's been fun pointing barbs at Mayor Nickels, the Seattle City Council and even Christine Gregoire who tied with Dino Rossi in the 2004 Governor's election.
Pointing out hypocrisy is always grand. Let's just be careful we don't fall into the same trap.
As an example, comments above and elsewhere suggest these elected officials should ride the bus, a bike or use other "environmentally friendly" modes of transportation thus all but conceding that driving so-called gas guzzlers like Cadillacs, Lincolns and SUVs is bad.
I'm not willing to make that admission nor am I willing to trade a more valuable playing piece in this ideological for the temporary gain of winning this minor little skirmish.
Have fun driving that Caddy on the taxpayer's dime Nickels. Just let me ride my 5.0 or '67 Stang when it's restored enough to hit the road.
Posted by: GS on April 27, 2006 10:16 PM
Nickels delusions of grandeur are causing him to forget his station in life. If he wants to indulge in his fantasy as being a hero of the Kyoto Protocol he should quite his job as mayor and start running as the Democratic contender for President.
Posted by: Bill K. on April 27, 2006 10:45 PMDon't think too hard about this just stockpile some propane tanks and say at reeducation class that the mayor is right but your neighbor deserves to go first as he is fat slob and therefore uses more of the earth up and that you never posted at soundpolitics.
The Mayor and Greenies could give a flip about being pointed out. Their paradiam you BAD very bad and anything he does to eventually eliminate you from the earth is good including driving any car and tearing down and Not replacing a road that billions of dollars of the economy travel on and with its permanent destruction leads to a significant economic and social loss. Since government at all levels thinks we serve it it is a matter of time before everything is justifiable by their “science and reasoning”…..including the Nickels protocol.
Judging from the muffin top above his belt line he is excessively using donuts as well.
Posted by: swassociates on April 28, 2006 07:24 AMMayor Nickelbag probably did ask for a more fuel efficient car but he probably attached so many conditions to what the vehicle must have that you rule out anything other than the gas guzzlers he now uses. In this climate why does one need heated seats? Or built-in massagers?
It is high time the greenie weenies put their money where their mouth is by giving up their cars, plastics, and synthetic fibers (Gortex) if they are really that concerned about oil consumption and greenhouse emissions. Stop telling the rest of us what to do, you hypocritical louts!!
Posted by: Burdabee on April 28, 2006 09:13 AMYou said:
"We should have a state and national constitutional amendment that states, aside from national security issues, that no elected officials, their staff, or government workers shall be exempt from any laws passed on the general public."
What laws are you referring to?
Is there a law prohibiting the use of a car? Or the use of a driver?
The laws of this country apply to everyone in the country. The only people arguing otherwise aren't Democrats.
I am currently resurrecting a particular ride that features 454ci of gas guzzling opportunism. I do not care what mayor nipples thinks of it or it's impact (other than the impact that will occur if I get him in my sights). The more draconian nipples gets, the more Kyoto I will get on his a$$!
Posted by: alphabet soup on April 28, 2006 08:14 PMThere is an enless supply of oil, we just need to drill for it. Too bad we'd rather "save the planet". What rubbish, save it for who? Don't they realize God will end it all at a time of his choosing?
Posted by: SP Fan on April 28, 2006 09:48 PMEvery twist and turn BB takes in eliminating parking in the name of saving the planet is just a ploy to save $$ for developers. Savings for developers = more free lunches for BB. It's obvious he's enjoying too many free lunches.
Posted by: glock on April 29, 2006 04:54 PM
Hipocracy aside, I don't give a tinkers damn about what Nickels drives.
If he and his ilk continue down this road to over regulation and outright prohibitions, none of it will matter anyway.
Our economy cannot survive to thrive if they continue this nonsense.
I will simply leave the area and find a better place to live.
It is simply none of anyones business how much fuel I use or how I use it so
long as my use doesn't directly affect others (pouring it into storm drains or on others houses).
Green-house gasses don't directly affect anyone else nor does Global warming and
anyone impressionable enough to beleive that they do is too friggin dense to be in charge of an ant farm.
This area is rapidly becoming more and more of a toilet and Nickels is swirling the bowl to the left.
Posted by: Amused by liberals on April 30, 2006 09:36 AM