Greetings!!
In the next week or so, legislative leaders and the Governor will be
finalizing negotiations on next year's budget and the use of surplus
funds. This means we have one more chance to get more funding for open
space from this year's budget surplus. To succeed, we need a LOT of
emails, letters, and calls into our state legislators and the
Governor's Office in the next few days. This effort has been initiated
by the LAND CONSERVATION COALITION OF CONNECTICUT.
We know that the Ethel Walker Land is high on the priority list with
many legislators, and the Trust for Public Land is in the best position
to obtain this state funding. Your support will make a difference in
this funding!!
Bill 656, the Land Preservation
Act, called for $60 million from the surplus for open space, farmland,
and urban land acquisition and restoration. It died in committee.
Fortunately, this does NOT necessarily mean that no funds will be included in the
legislature's final budget. It does mean, however, that legislators and
the Governor need to hear from dozens of conservationists IMMEDIATELY.
PLEASE USE THE INFORMATION BELOW TO CONTACT YOUR STATE LEGISLATORS AND
GOVERNOR RELL NOW.
WHAT YOU CAN SAY:
- Our communities cannot wait to preserve our most important open
spaces.
- A property like the Ethel Walker School campus provides BOTH open
space AND watershed protection.
- Open space is good for the economy. The Farmington Valley was
recognized last year as one of 19 "nature-friendly" communities in the
U.S. Keeping intact habitats and accessible recreation are critical for
this distinction – an attraction for small businesses and recreation
dollars.
- This is what the people of CT want the surplus spent on!
See more example letters and options on our website, related to our
support for SB 656. Even one sentence is enough to show your support!
PLEASE SPEND 5 MINUTES RIGHT NOW TO HELP ENSURE THAT THE STATE USES A
SMALL FRACTION OF OUR SURPLUS TO INVEST IN OUR NATURAL AND AGRICULTURAL
LANDSCAPES. SIMPLY URGE THEM TO SUPPORT THE USE OF SURPLUS FUNDS FOR
LAND PRESERVATION.
To find out who your legislators are go here - Find Your
Legislator - then scroll to your town and click on the House
and Senate Districts next to it.
Here is the Governor's contact information:
Governor M.
Jodi Rell, Executive Office of the Governor, State Capitol, 210
Capitol Avenue, Hartford, Connecticut 06106. Governor.Rell@po.state.ct.us.
(860) 566-4840
Also, PLEASE send a "bcc" of your email (do NOT "cc") to Sandy at sbreslin@audubon.org AND ktw@keepthewoods.org, or email
saying you have called. We plan to document the support for this cause
to continue the push for funding for important pieces of open space.
THANK YOU! YOUR CALLS, LETTERS AND EMAILS MAKE ALL THE DIFFERENCE!
We are having a Community Meeting tonight at Flamig Farm at 7PM.
See you there.
Keep the Woods!