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Join Us at the State House on Wednesday, April 9
We have only have until July 31, the end of the legislative session, to pass an Environmental Bond Bill. Already many key environmental agencies, partners and programs are suffering from a lack of funds. If the Bond does not pass this session some programs will effectively cease to operate – putting our water quality, land protection and tourism industry at risk.
While the Bond has made important progress moving through the legislature waiting is a risk we simply cannot afford. We need as many people as possible to come to the State House in Boston to tell the Legislature that it must pass the Environmental Bond this session! A big turnout for the rally and lobby day is one of the crucial ingredients of making sure the Legislature hears our message. Our presence at the State House will be felt and make legislators take notice and act more quickly. It is essential to get constituents to directly ask their Legislators to approve a strong Environmental Bond. If you haven't done so already, I urge you to contact your members, friends and colleagues ask them to attend our rally and lobby day.
If you can attend please let us know, and tell us how many from your group will join us by sending an email to info@envirobond.org.
RALLY AND LOBBY DAY PLANNED FOR WEDNESDAY, APRIL 9
10:00 AM - 1:00 PM
Start at Appalachian Mountain Club's Cabot Auditorium – 5 Joy St. in Boston (steps from the State House.)
Mark your calendar! Wednesday, April 9 at 10 am we need as many people as possible to come to the State House (gathering first at AMC at 5 Joy St.) in Boston to tell the legislature that it must pass the Environmental Bond this session!
We will hear from Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Bowles, Rep. Frank Smizik (D-Brookline) and others (including possibly Governor Patrick) and then go meet with our Senators and Representatives in their State House offices.
NOTE - WORRIED YOU CAN'T LOBBY?
· You do NOT need to be a registered lobbyist to join us.
· The law allows non-profit 501c3 organizations (such as land trusts and others) to lobby and take part in these types of activities on a limited basis. For more information please see MGL Chapter 3, Section 44 - the last paragraph.
· We will provide training to help you be more comfortable and knowledgeable with a unified and straightforward message to deliver to your own state representative and senator. You only need to visit two offices and deliver your message!
Schedule, Background, and Directions are below.
SCHEDULE FOR THE RALLY
PLEASE BE AT AMC BY 10:00 AM!
10:00-10:30 Coffee, donuts, & registration (meet at Appalachian Mountain Club, 5 Joy St., not the State House)
10:30-11:15 Rally for the Environmental Bond
with Secretary Bowles, Rep. Frank Smizik, House and Senate champions
*Governor Deval Patrick, invited speaker
11:15-11:30 Lobbying Training, Q&A, how to lobby your legislators on the bond
11:30-12:30 Visits to your Reps. and Senators in State House
12:45-1:00 Debriefing and Rally closing
WHO YOUR LEGISLATORS ARE & WHAT TO SAY TO THEM
To find out who your legislators are, visit http://www.wheredoivotema.com. Enter your home address, then click on "Find my election information" and scroll down to "Rep in General Court" and "Senator in General Court." Click on the legislator's name to be taken to their official web page for their contact info.
When you visit your legislator on Lobby Day, the message is simple:
Pass the Environmental Bond before this legislative session ends in July! This is the most important environmental bill of the next five years. At the rally we will hear from some of the state's top environmental specialists and lobbyists about the best ways to deliver our message as well as receive hand-outs with more information to pass along to your legislators.
BACKGROUND ON THE ENVIRONMENTAL BOND
The Environmental Bond Bill is the single most important environmental bill to be considered by the Legislature. Projects funded through the Environmental Bond directly affect communities across the state by protecting natural areas, safeguarding water quality, restoring rivers and streams, providing for dam removal, supporting working farms, building our economy and improving our quality of life.
The Environmental Bond is the cornerstone of the Commonwealth's long-term investment in its environment. It provides investments over the next five years for local and statewide projects that protect critical natural areas and wetlands, maintain our parks, beaches and bike paths, offer municipal aid, and more.
The Coalition for the Environmental Bond, representing 250 groups and businesses, a combined membership of more than 400,000 Massachusetts families, have united to advocate for passage this legislative session before money for all the programs runs out.
The 2008 Environmental Bond will provide the capital funds for vital state environmental programs over the next five years. The 2002 Environmental Bond Bill (and subsequent "Patch Bonds" in 2004, 2006 & 2007) funded more than 76 different programs with important activities around the state. Funds from the 2002 Bond have been largely used up, and many important programs are running out of money, putting our environment, health and safety at risk. Without a new Environmental Bond, many environmental programs will face major cuts that affect our communities, outdoor recreational activities, and natural resources.
For more information see the Web site of the Coalition for the Environmental Bond (www.envirobond.org). If you have questions please contact Jeremy Marin at info@envirobond.org.
Absolutely essential environmental investments are funded through this bond, including:
Recreational Facilities, Parks and Parkways
* Recreational Facilities Restoration - skating rinks, swimming pools, basketball courts, playgrounds, beaches, golf courses, forests, parks, harbor islands - $220 million
* City parks and playgrounds - Urban Self-Help - $55 million
* New "Signature Parks" in under served urban areas - $25 million
* DCR parkways & boulevards repair & improvement - $75 million
* DCR vehicle bridges repair & improvement - $250 million
* Mass. Historical Commission preservation grants - $10 million
Land Protection
* Town Conservation Areas and parks - Self-Help - $36 million
* Conservation Partnership Grants to land trusts - $7 million
* DCR State Forests, Parks, and Reservations land acquisition - $76 million
* Trails and Greenway corridors - $15 million
* Drinking Water Protection grants to cities & towns - $22.5 million
* MassGIS support and improvement - $13 million
Agriculture & Forestry
* DAR Agricultural Preservation Restriction Program (APR) - $67.7 million
* DAR agricultural economic and environmental sustainability - $20 million
* Private forest landowner program - $4 million
* State Forest management and conservation - $10 million
Wildlife
* Wildlife Habitat & Endangered Species land acquisition - $73 million
* Endangered Species Habitat Recovery - $10 million
* Upland Habitat Management - $8 million
* Riverways Program - $10 million
* State Wildlife Action Plan implementation - $11.4 million
* Fishing and boating access facilities - $6.5 million
Water Quality Protection
* Water quality monitoring, assessment and protection - $15 million
* DCR storm water management & Clean Water Act - $30 million
* Water Pollution Abatement Fund - $50 million
* Safe Drinking Water Fund - $25 million
* State & Municipal dam rehabilitation / removal - $31.5 million
* Protection and rehabilitation of the lakes and ponds - $5 million
* Stream flow and ground water monitoring networks - $25 million
Seaports, Coastal & Marine
* Coastal resources protection, preservation, access, & enhancement - $30 million
* Navigable coastal and inland waterways projects - $12.5 million
* Harbor and Waterfront Improvement Grants - $60 million
Air, Solid Waste & Pollution
* Solid waste facilities clean-up and closure - $13 million
* Hazardous materials cleanup - $32 million
* Statewide air monitoring network - $4.5 million
DIRECTIONS TO THE APPALACHIAN MOUNTAIN CLUB
The AMC's Cabot Auditorium is at 5 Joy St., in the Beacon Hill neighborhood of Boston. Street parking near the office is extremely limited. Driving directions all include parking garage information.
From points north via I-93 South:
1) Take the Storrow Drive/Cambridge exit (Exit 26A). Follow the ramp and merge onto Storrow Drive.
2) From Storrow Drive, exit left at the Government Center exit.
3) At the end of the exit, there are two lights in quick succession. Go straight through the first light. At the second light, stay left (but not sharp left) on Cambridge Street.
4) There are three parking garages on Cambridge Street: one on the left, two blocks up, and two on the right (after the road bears right past City Hall).
5) If you park in the first parking garage, walk up Cambridge Street to Joy Street. Turn right on Joy Street. The AMC is located at 5 Joy St. If you park in one of the later parking lots, walk up Cambridge Street to Beacon Street. Turn right on Beacon Street. Then turn right on Joy Street just past the State House. The AMC is located at 5 Joy St.
From points south via I-93 North:
1) Take the I-90/Logan Airport/Worcester/S. Station exit (Exit 20). Bear immediately to the left onto Frontage Road, following the sign for "South Station" — do not get on the Mass. Pike.
2) Stay in the left lane (Retail District). At the light, turn left on Kneeland Street.
3) Go through five sets of lights (at the fifth set, you will cross Tremont Street, in the Theatre District). Pass the Transportation Building on the right.
4) At the sixth light, turn right on Charles Street (you have no choice).
5) Go through one light. You can park your car in the Boston Common parking garage on your right.
6) Exit the garage onto Beacon Street, heading toward the State House (the big building with the gold dome). Joy Street is just before the State House on the left.
7) Turn left onto Joy Street. The AMC is at 5 Joy St. on the left side of the street.
From the Massachusetts Turnpike:
1) Take the Cambridge/Allston exit (Exit 18), a left exit.
2) After the toll, the exit splits. Bear right, following the signs to Cambridge.
3) At the traffic light at the end of the exit, take a sharp right onto the ramp leading to Storrow Drive.
4) Take Storrow Drive to the Government Center exit.
5) On the exit ramp, bear right at the fork, following the signs to Government Center. You will be on Cambridge Street.
6) There are three parking garages on Cambridge Street: one on the left, two blocks up, and two on the right (after the road bears right past City Hall).
7) If you park in the first parking lot, walk up Cambridge Street to Joy Street. Turn right on Joy Street. The AMC is located at 5 Joy St. If you park in the later parking lots, follow Cambridge Street to Beacon Street. Turn right on Beacon Street and then right on Joy Street just past the State House. The AMC is located at 5 Joy St.
From the Park Street T station (MBTA Green Line and Red Line)
1) Exit the station to Boston Common.
2) Walk across the Common toward the State House (the big building with the gold dome).
3) Facing the State House, turn left and walk down one block to Joy Street.
4) Turn right on Joy Street. The AMC is at 5 Joy St. on the left side of the street.
From the Downtown Crossing T station (MBTA Orange Line)
1) Exit the station to Summer Street.
2) Walk up one block to Boston Common.
3) Follow directions from the Park Street T stop, above.
From North Station (MBTA Commuter Rail)
1) Take the MBTA Red Line to Park St. T Station and follow the directions above.
OR, if you'd rather walk (it's uphill all the way)
1) Exit the station to Causeway Street.
2) Turn right, walking south on Causeway St.
3) Going straight, cross Lomansey Way/Merrimac St. and walk up Staniford St.
4) Cross Cambridge St. and turn left.
5) Take the third left, Joy St. Walk up and over the hill t to the AMC at 5 Joy St. on the right side of the street.
From South Station (MBTA Commuter Rail)
1) Take the MBTA Red Line to Park St. T Station and follow "From Park St." directions above.