Thursday, June 11, 2009

Can I Run for Public Office? No.

If I could run for office, here are some of the 'propuestas' I would run on.

Ecology/Conservation

As part of a plan to make Yucatan the most ecology-friendly state in the country:
  • An immediate 'hold' on all ongoing construction permits to review and if necessary, include, greater 'green' areas in all housing developments. A swing set and a palm tree on a minuscule corner lot do not a 'park' make, nor do they provide the beneficial temperature controlling effects of a larger, more generous 'green' area. All future construction permits subject to increased allocation of space to 'green' areas.

  • A real 'reforestation' campaign, emphasizing replanting of vegetation indigenous to the area. No more palm trees and grass. This is not Miami.

  • No more golf courses.

  • Increase the budget for inspection and control of all well and water drilling activity in the state. The water is being contaminated at an alarming rate and soon it will be useless.

  • Immediate implementation of a tax credit for all purchasers of hybrid vehicles.

  • Promote installation of plastic and glass recycling plants to reduce soda and beer bottle garbage, which is part of the landscape now. All soda and beer bottlers in the state must either offer a refund for their bottles, or pay a tax in lieu of. No exceptions. Out of state bottlers must pay tax which will be used to pay refund to the general public on bottles collected.

  • Invest in solar technology in order to have most state government buildings run by solar power by 2020.

  • Tax credits for homeowners who install solar or alternative energy in their homes.

  • Tax credits for homeowners who plant indigenous vegetation on their properties.

Taxation

  • Any and all Yucatan state taxes to be rolled into one flat tax.

  • Push for the federal IVA tax to be applied to everything, as well as pushing for a flat federal income tax.

  • Eliminate tenencia tax on autombile purchases for all hybrid and 4 cylinder models.

  • Increase vehicle tax on 6 cylinder models and a maximum tax on 8 cylinder models.

  • Tax credit (percentage based on vehicle purchase price, used or new) for purchases of hybrid vehicles.

How am I doing so far?

12 comments:

Anonymous said...

I'd vote for you. I'd only favor the flat tax for its simplicity and then only if the wealthy were forced to pay, not allowed to skate free like they do today, because "they know someone."

cozzie laura said...

A flat fee, and none of the "it costs XX however if you pay by this date you get a discount and a raffle ticket"

I'd vote for you, especially if you had a catchy jingle.

Jonna said...

Yeah, I'd vote for you too but along with a catchy jingle you'd need to give out a few t-shirts and shake a little booty.

William Lawson said...

Anything else? The list keeps growing...

working gringa said...

I'll definitely vote for you, but only if you add a law (and the power to enforce it) that punishes people who torture animals, tie animals up without food and water, or do other inhumane things to animals within the state.

I want a tshirt too.

adribetty394 said...

I have no idea about taxes, but I love your Green ideas. Actually I'm going to email you later, I want to take your model and present it to our city officials. We're not that Green in Miami, regardless of the palms and the grass.

William Lawson said...

Tshirts, no problemo, WG. Animal rights? Sure. Let's get the people on track and the rest will follow, I think.

Adri, let's hear what Miami city council decides!

mcm said...

Hey El Maloso, get a grip. You were in Canada too long!!!

mexicachica said...

Love all the green laws, while your at it add some sort of incentive or city wide initiative to have rooftop gardens. I read somewhere that it would decrease the temperature in the city by 10 degrees!

Great post!

William Lawson said...

I heard that too, MexiChica! Where can we get more info on rooftop lawns n gardens?

Mexicachica said...

William
I found this link to a site that has some more technical information about rooftop gardens. It also lists out some great benefits.

http://www.cityfarmer.org/rooftop59.html

Green roofs help moderate temperatures, improve air quality, reduce storm-water runoff and create habitat for birds and butterflies. They can create a green refuge within a sea of concrete. Plus it increases 'green' collar jobs. Its pretty neat!

William Lawson said...

Gracias MexiChica!!