Subject: Paul Schell's Millennium Plans
Date: May 27 10:47:04 1998
From: Nate Sutter - nsutter at fred.fhcrc.org



Tweeters:

I propose that one of us draft a letter to Mayor Schell to be signed by
all of us interested and willing to sign. Who of us is familiar with the
data on bird fatalities from lights? Janet Keen? The draft letter could
be posted on tweeters first so that we can add our names. The Mayor has
asked the public to come forward with ideas; this is an opportunity for us
to present a reasoned defense for why we think spending money and energy
to kill birds is a poor idea. Let's help the Mayor come up with good
ideas.

These excerpts from a story in today's Seattle PI (5/27/98) are
"illuminating" (see especially the last two sentences!):

--- --- --- --- ---
SCHELL UNVEILS IDEAS FOR MILLENNIUM FEAST; INVITES PUBLIC TO TABLE
By Ellis E. Conklin

. . .

Yesterday, Schell formally unfurled some of his notions as to how the city
should embrace the next century. He envisions Seattle bridges and
downtown skyscrapers twinkling in the dark. Maybe a lavish fountain,
modeled after Geneva's 462-foot Jet d'Eau, gushing water high over Elliot
Bay. A water wall perhaps. The planting of 20,000 trees. Public art
installations. A grand festival. A Seattle Service Corps, a giant army
of volunteers working in all corners of the city.

Schell, however, stressed that nothing is set in stone and that he wants
the public to come forward with ideas.

. . .

Schell cast a bemused expression when asked about recent criticisms from
some bird lovers who maintain that illuminating structures - particularly
during stormy weather - poses a serious hazard for migratory birds, which
can become disoriented and crash into lighted bridges or buildings.

Many of the comments were made last week in Tweeters, an Internet
discussion group that talks about birding issues in the Pacific Northwest.

"It wouldn't be Seattle," Schell said, without someone offering a
complaint.

Seattle City Council member Sue Donaldson, who will co-chair the Service
Corps element of the millennium plan, said it was "ridiculous" to believe
birds will be blinded by the light.

Schell said the millennium festivities "should be more than another New
Year's Eve party." He wants it to be substantive. And lengthy. It will
begin symbolically on Earth Day 1999 and stretch to Martin Luther King Jr.
Day 2001.

. . .

The last area, Schell said, is about legacies.

"We are [a] city of light, water and woods, and that's what we'll
celebrate - our natural environment."

This is the area where the bridge and building lighting come into play, as
well as the planting of trees.


[P-I reporter Ellis E. Conklin can be reached at 206-448-8320 or
ellisconklin at seattle-pi.com]
--- --- --- --- ---


Any volunteers to draft a letter for us?

Nate Sutter
nsutter at fred.fhcrc.org
Seattle, Washington