Ireland wants the Canary to sing

ASPEN — Mick Ireland moved the next chess piece in the Aspen mayoral race Wednesday - but opponents countered that it's much ado about nothing.

Standing in front of a painting of Aspen's flora and fauna at the Aspen Center for Environmental Studies, Ireland introduced his environmental initiative to a news conference of 16 people.

Ireland praised the work of Mayor Helen Klanderud and the City Council on the Canary Initiative — the city's program to fight global warming. "But the time has come to uncage that canary and hear her sing," he said.

Ireland's goal: reduce the valley's carbon footprint by 5 million pounds per year and implement more regionwide cooperation on environmental issues and global warming.

"The commitment I am asking today is different, larger and more urgent than that. ... It's a regional vision that will bring communities together to reduce their effects on global warming," Ireland said.

"If ever a wooden stake were needed to be driven into the heart of an environmental monster, it would be here on the Western Slope," Ireland said of plans to increase oil shale development, which would drain water supplies and create mounds of tailings for what he called an "unsound energy source."

Ireland called for support of state legislators' efforts to preserve recreational water and water quality. He also called for a series of "symbolic steps," including upgrading lights at the city garage and boilers in city facilities; requiring events to follow the high recycling standards set by the Winter X Games; turning off the gas-powered hearth on the downtown mall; enforcing diesel emissions standards on vehicles; and reigning in construction and development.

Ireland disagrees with opponent Tim Semrau's plan to allow affordable housing owners to see a return of up to 5 percent on their investment, using the city's housing fund to reduce the price of units for subsequent owners.

"We all agree with capital improvements," Ireland said. "But I would rather use that [real estate transfer tax] money to make sure the units we do have are affordable."

The candidate said plans for further affordable housing units in Aspen, including at Burlingame Ranch, are an opportunity to tread more lightly on the environment, and he called for retrofitting homes with energy-efficient appliances when affordable housing units sell.

Ireland called the Aspen mayoral seat a "bully pulpit" and an important position for Aspen to lead by example.

"Simply put, Aspen should commit to reducing our carbon footprint by 5 million pounds per year," Ireland said. "I will do everything I can to make Aspen a true example to the rest of the world in the fight against global warming."

<b>Opponents respond</b>

"If there's an environmental candidate, I would claim that title," said Councilman Torre, who is also vying for mayor.

Torre called both Ireland's initiative and Semrau's promises for increased earnings on affordable housing "campaign platitudes" about things that are "already in the works."

The City Council has long been pushing plans for capital improvements to affordable housing, and the city's environmental plan, the Canary Initiative, has proved a success over the last two years, Torre said. He added that he played an important role as a councilman in passing an ordinance that tripled the city's recycling.

"Aspen and the mayor of Aspen has always been an environmental leader. It comes with the job," Semrau said, adding that he fully endorses the efforts of the Canary Initiative: "Is anyone in Aspen against the environment?"

Semrau questioned whether Ireland read the Canary Initiative, with its 15 objectives and action plan, which Semrau said he'd already endorsed when he entered he campaign.

And Semrau upped the ante, saying he believes in taking even further steps to reduce traffic, to implement higher standards of environmental building and to look again at city plans to build a 100,000-square-foot complex downtown for city and county offices.

"I don't see anything new here," Semrau said of Ireland's plan.

Mayoral candidates will have a chance to square off on the issues April 11, at Squirm Night.

Charles Agar's e-mail address is cagar@aspentimes.com.