Climate Action This Week: Reducing Methane Emissions from Landfills; Peace Officer Accountability Act; Modifying the standard for use of physical force by peace officers; Concerning a zero-emission landscaping equipment incentive program; Modifying the standard for use of physical force by peace officers

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Here are our top three actions. We think they will take about 15 minutes or less.

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* 1. Reducing Methane Emissions from Landfills - HB 1663

Landfills are a significant source of methane, a powerful greenhouse gas with a far bigger impact than CO2. The EPA estimates that 15.1% of methane emitted in the U.S. in 2019 was from landfills (https://www.epa.gov/lmop/basic-information-about-landfill-gas). The methane is generated when organic wastes such as food scraps, grass clippings and paper decompose.

Cutting methane emissions from landfills is a critical way to reduce the rate of climate warming in the near-term.

This bill would reduce methane emissions in Washington by requiring owners or operators of certain landfills to install methane gas capture systems and to collect gas at an extraction rate that complies with the surface methane emission limits set in statute. Many of those technologies also cut emissions of volatile organic compounds and other local air pollutants, which reduce possible health risks for landfill neighbors.

We are following the lead of Zero Waste Washington on this bill.

Scheduled for a public hearing in the House Committee on Environment and Energy on Tuesday, January 11, 8:00 AM.

✏️ Please sign in here to support HB 1663 before Tuesday, January 11, 7:00 AM and select “Pro” in the position button.

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* 2. Peace Officer Accountability Act - HB 1202

This bill recognizes police duties to de-escalate and exercise reasonable care. It allows people harmed by a breach of these duties to sue individual officers and their employers in civil court for damages and attorney fees. It eliminates the “qualified immunity” defense.

We are following the lead of the Washington Coalition For Police Accountability on this bill.

Scheduled for public hearing in the House Committee on Civil Rights & Judiciary on Tuesday, January 11, 10:00 AM. 

✏️ Please sign in here to support HB 1202 by Tuesday January 11 at 9:00 AM and select “Pro” in the position button.

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* 3. Modifying the standard for use of physical force by peace officers - HB 1726

We’re opposing this bill. This bill reduces the required justification of the use of force from Probable Cause to Reasonable Suspicion.

We are following the lead of the Washington Coalition For Police Accountability and the ACLU on this bill.

Scheduled for a public hearing in the House Committee on Public Safety on Tuesday, January 11, 8:00 AM. 

✏️ Follow this link to provide a written comment on HB 1726 via the legislative website and do it by Tuesday, January 11, 7:00 AM.   

“Position” - please select “Con”. The first sentence of the written comment should be: I strongly oppose HB 1726.

📑Then choose 1-2 additional sentences from the options below or feel free to write your own:
  • Reasonable suspicion is overly broad and subjective, leaving room for prejudice and racial profiling.
  • Courts tend to be overly deferential to police officers, lending cover for inappropriate actions after the fact.
  • It violates the Fourth Amendment to the US Constitution which prohibits unreasonable search and seizure.
  • Legislation such as HB 1310 passed last year have stimulated changes in police departments, leading to less use of force and more reliance on investigative work prior to making arrests, making communities safer. Killings by police in 2021 were down 62% in Washington, vs. 5% nationwide, so early data suggest the reforms are helping. Now is not the time to go back on that progress.

All done? Don’t forget to scroll to the bottom and click the orange “DONE” button to submit your actions!
Have five more minutes? Here's a couple more for you!

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* 4. Concerning a zero-emission landscaping equipment incentive program - SB 5543

This bill would offer incentives of $100-200 to encourage residential and commercial owners to change from gas and diesel-powered to electric-powered landscaping equipment, e.g. leaf blowers. Who doesn’t want leaf blowers to get quieter? And more importantly, the two-stroke gas-powered engines used in lawn equipment are extremely polluting -- bad for the environment and for those using them. 

We hear there will be a separate bill addressing this issue in the House, which may be more effective. We’re waiting to see it.

Scheduled for a public hearing in the Senate Committee on Environment, Energy & Technology on Tuesday, January 11, 10:30 AM. 

✏️ Please sign in here to support SB 5543 by Tuesday, January 11 at 9:30 AM and select “Pro” in the position button.

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* 5. Modifying the standard for use of physical force by peace officers - HB 1735

We know it’s confusing that HB 1726 and HB 1735 have the same title. They are very different and we oppose HB 1726, above, while supporting this one, HB 1735.

In the last year, officers in some departments have declined to assist people in mental health crises, citing concern that they aren’t allowed to use force should that become necessary. HB 1735 clarifies that police still do have authority and responsibility to perform life saving measures and community caretaking functions, e.g. by assisting first responders or mental health professionals attempting to provide treatment.

We are following the lead of the Washington Coalition For Police Accountability on this bill.

Scheduled for a public hearing in the House Committee on Public Safety on Tuesday, January 11, 8:00 AM. 

✏️ Please sign in here to support HB 1735 by Tuesday, January 11 at 7:00 AM and select “Pro” in the position button.

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* Nice work! We made it through the first email of actions! How did that go?

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* What visions do you have of a future where we have made equitable climate progress?

-- The 350 WA Civic Action Team

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