From red to green

1 comment May 28th, 2008

The failure of the bill that would have allowed Rockford and other communities to install cameras to catch those who run red lights is not the worst thing that could have happened.

I see folks run the red almost every day and I think the cameras may have made a few of them reconsider their decision to gun it as the light turns red. Studies that I cited a while back show that accidents decrease in communities that have the cameras. I think we would have been better with the cameras, but at least we’re no worse.

Now that we have the red out of the way, it’s time to think green.

A group called, for now, the Green Communities Coalition will visit with members of the editorial board tomorrow.

From Julia Vadez, spokeswoman for the city of Rockford: The city is moving forward in signing the US Conf. of Mayor’s Climate Protection Agreement. In developing an agenda for a “green” community, we have pulled together not just the needed conservation efforts such as recycling and focus on reducing our carbon footprint, we are also building companion programs in regional planning, adaptation of building codes, and organizational practices to better “practice what we preach”.