Mary Cheh Leaves No Doubt She’s Green
One year ago, the D.C. Republican Committee gave Ward 3 Councilmember Mary M. Cheh a hard time about her constituent newsletter. Chairman Bob Kabel and Executive Director Paul Craney jabbed the green-minded legislator for neglecting to note the publication's greenness.
"You recently mailed Ward 3 residents an unsolicited newsletter that failed to indicate if it was printed on recycled paper or used soy ink," Kabel wrote in a letter. "The practice of mailing all your constituents unsolicited mail without taking steps to be environmentally conscientious leaves an environmental impact."
The newsletters, in fact, had been printed on recycled stock and with soy ink, but Cheh made no such mistake this year.
You can find this message plastered on the most recent edition of her Ward 3 newsletter: “We engaged a printer for the production of this piece that is 100% wind powered, carbon neutral, uses a waterless printing process, and is an EPA Green Power Partner and EPA Climate Leader. It was printed on FSC certified paper using vegetable-based inks.”
FSC, for those unawares, refers to the Forest Stewardship Council, which certifies that the paper used is made from “well-managed forests, controlled sources and recycled wood or fiber.” Their logo sits alongside three others advertising the pamphlet’s green bona fides. (And, yes, there’s a union bug, too.)
Cheh says the new wording doesn't reflect any huge change regarding her printing practices. "I just announced them," she says. "I didn't want any of that stuff to be a distraction. I want people to read the newsletter."
Craney says all the disclaimers are "a good start" for Cheh and the council in terms of practicing what they preach.
"There's more that can be done," he says. "Especially when the council imposes green extreme measures on small businesses, the least they can do is do them themselves."
1:57 pm
Of course Cheh also wants to go and build a parking garage over the Cleveland Park metro stop. You could build the thing with recycled concrete and soy paint, it still would be an environmental nightmare.
2:34 pm
She doesn't want to build it. She just tossed out the suggestion for some public discussion as a way to show she cares about the concerns of Cleveland Park businesses who complain that the lack of parking hurts their business. It's like her foreclosure plan from a few years ago - toss it out to win kudos and know that it'll never go anywhere.
3:36 pm
Is glad to see the D.C. GOP is working hard on all the pressing issues facing the city.
4:30 pm
It's not the lack of parking that's doing it.
DC just has so many more retail and entertainment options now. People don't have to travel to Cleveland Park. What's the unique draw except the Uptown (sort of) and the Zoo?