We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors, we borrow it from our children.
-Chief Seattle
What is sustainability? Is it something worth pursuing? Is it something we should fear? Will it actually help us or is it worthless and bad for business? What can we do at a community level to support sustainability? What can we as individuals do? And does any of us even really matter?
These are some of the questions that I will attempt to address in this new column for Around Alhambra.
The bottom line is that sustainability is simply living within our means as it relates to the physical environment around us. If we do that, it will help to ensure the survival of life on earth as we know it. Simple, but extremely important.
It might sound like a lofty and unattainable goal, but we already practice this same concept in many areas of our lives. Businesses will fail if they continually spend more money than they make. In order to survive, families need to ensure that their spending doesn’t exceed their income. And cities, like Alhambra, must find a way to balance their budgets to ensure future success.
It might be straightforward, but what does a balanced budget look like when we’re talking about the environment? It is not always as clear cut as it is in other areas of our life. Fortunately, there are many ways that we as a society and we as individuals can implement positive changes. I look forward to writing about some of these changes we can make, offering suggestions, and highlighting local success stories from businesses and other institutions.
And if you just can’t wait to dive into this extremely important topic, you’re in luck! The City of Alhambra is currently in the process of developing a comprehensive environmental sustainability plan, called Sustainable Alhambra, and we need your input.
Alhambra Councilmembers are currently in the process of holding town hall meetings to discuss the plan with the City’s environmental consultant. Please check out how you can get involved at: cityofalhambra.org/726/sustainable-alhambra.
This plan will be the blueprint and foundation for our City’s efforts to become a more sustainable community, not just for our current residents, but for many future generations of Alhambrans.
Jeff Maloney is Chief Counsel for the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy and has served on the Alhambra City Council since 2016.
