tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-49972344747173538212024-03-19T04:46:38.476-04:001000 Friends of Connecticut BlogNews and alerts on Smart Growth in ConnecticutNichole Strackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11401105627160451833noreply@blogger.comBlogger184125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4997234474717353821.post-48865259878004262502012-01-31T05:34:00.002-05:002012-01-31T05:39:49.358-05:00Smart Growth Retains Young Talent<span >Our very own Nichole Strack was recently featured in the <a href="http://www.courant.com/"><b>Hartford Courant</b></a>'s "FreshTalk" for her views on how Connecticut can improve its retention of young professionals:</span><div><span ><br /></span></div><div><span ><span >"</span><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: rgb(41, 39, 39); "><span >I live in Connecticut partly by choice, but mostly by coincidence.</span></span></span></div><p style="margin-top: 10px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; color: rgb(41, 39, 39); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><span >I left Ohio to attend <a class="taxInlineTagLink" id="HOE28" title="Trinity College" href="http://www.courant.com/topic/education/colleges-universities/trinity-college-HOE28.topic" style="font-weight: 700; color: rgb(0, 66, 118); text-decoration: none; ">Trinity College</a> in Hartford on a full scholarship. When I graduated, I faced two options. I could leave Connecticut and start fresh in <a class="taxInlineTagLink" id="PLGEO100100404010000" title="Tampa" href="http://www.courant.com/topic/us/florida/hillsborough-county/tampa-PLGEO100100404010000.topic" style="font-weight: 700; color: rgb(0, 66, 118); text-decoration: none; ">Tampa</a>, Fla., living for free with my favorite grandparent, or I could accept the job that I had been offered here.</span></p><p style="margin-top: 10px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; color: rgb(41, 39, 39); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><span >I stayed.</span></p><p style="margin-top: 10px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; color: rgb(41, 39, 39); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "></p><p style="margin-top: 10px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; "><span >I am now the voice of 1000 Friends of Connecticut, a coalition of smart growth advocates determined to curb sprawling development and improve our quality of life. One of the first conferences I attended in my new role posed a way to measure sustainability in Connecticut: How many 15- to 25-year-olds want to stay in the state after graduating from high school or college?</span></p><p style="margin-top: 10px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; "><span >Now, seven months have passed and I cannot help but wonder, "Why do I want to live here?"</span></p><p style="margin-top: 10px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; "><span style="font-family: georgia; "><a href="http://www.courant.com/news/opinion/hc-op-fresh-talk-strack-make-connecticut-livable-0-20120125,0,1728771.story"><span >...Read the full op-ed at the Courant's web site. </span></a></span></p><p></p>Nichole Strackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11401105627160451833noreply@blogger.com284tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4997234474717353821.post-39675562387976702302012-01-31T04:54:00.005-05:002012-01-31T05:09:50.105-05:00Smart Growth = Economic Development<img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzq9_qReE3m35tSwTId01AWzo7uWZWfMWnIvV1KeRn96FVDdsKiXdb81yt-MbM9J6XfNwEaWW_VuMbiipSOsswS0qThJwue7rCULycuw3NDGVFDIBgj52Oj2Yd_cMY_prtcvwC_-Gf0JM/s200/DSC00829.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5703733719405321138" /><span ><span><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><b>1000 Friends of Connecticut</b></span><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "> </span><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">hosted the final event in its Speaker Series on Thursday, Januar</span></span><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">y </span><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">19, in the Great Hall of Union Station in downtown Hartford, featuring Tom Condon from the Hartford Courant and C</span><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">ommissioner Catherine Smith from the Department of Economic and Community Development.</span><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "> </span><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">The overarching message that Smart Growth </span><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><em>is </em></span><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">economic development was heard by all </span><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">throughout the evening. Moreover, the Smart </span><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">Growth group demonstrated a shift in its own message as Tom Condon and Commissioner Smith highlighted not o</span><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">nly what Smart Growth prevents, but what it produces.</span></span><span><div style="text-align: left;"><span ><br /></span></div><span ><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "></span><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "></span></span><div style="text-align: left; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><span > </span></div><div style="text-align: left; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><span><span >Commissioner Smith spoke to using her agency to promote healthy cities, rational mass transit, and compact, walkable communities. She reported meeting regularly with the Dept. of Energy and Environmental Protection and the Dept. of Transportation to ensure that moving forward, economic development happens around individuals and existing communities, as opposed to automobiles and parking lots.</span></span></div><div align="right" style="text-align: left; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-size: 10pt; "><br /></div><div align="left" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><div style="text-align: left;"><span><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji3asOYXk9gsoDsbO7Yih8gIf1aIJgHkL4TEy6x3E5F3Kl3RJHYYxkfkoO4dWLgHpULtWY-77t8Zjj-3JTgCCs10SPi6t2DjHeovZZbRfoBudJ7Pc-hlK-XgGp9MFn5F_QMMQ6YSIQJQY/s200/DSC00815+copy_2.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5703735741855194738" /></span></div><span><div style="text-align: left; "><span ><span>If you missed the event, there are a few ways to catch up:</span><span> </span><span>You can read Tom Condon's opinion editorial, "Smart Growth is Economic Development," by</span><span> </span><strong><a track="on" href="http://www.courant.com/news/opinion/hc-op-condon-column-smart-growth-0119-20120119,0,1042650.column" shape="rect" linktype="1" style="cursor: default; ">clicking here</a>,</strong><span> </span><span>or you can</span><span> </span><strong><a track="on" href="http://ct-n.com/ondemand.asp?ID=7368" shape="rect" linktype="1" style="cursor: default; ">watch the evening's program on CT-N.</a></strong></span></div></span></div></span>Nichole Strackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11401105627160451833noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4997234474717353821.post-24443768430588555742012-01-17T10:49:00.003-05:002012-01-17T10:55:26.256-05:00DECD Commissioner to Outline Smart Growth Agenda<div style="text-align: center;">PRESS RELEASE</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: right;">For more information, Contact:</div><div style="text-align: right;">Nichole Strack, Executive Director</div><div style="text-align: right;">1000 Friends of Connecticut</div><div style="text-align: right;">(860) 523-0003 or (860) 906-4020</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"> <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:documentproperties> <o:revision>0</o:Revision> <o:totaltime>0</o:TotalTime> <o:pages>1</o:Pages> <o:words>298</o:Words> <o:characters>1534</o:Characters> <o:company>1000 Friends Of Connecticut</o:Company> <o:lines>27</o:Lines> <o:paragraphs>5</o:Paragraphs> <o:characterswithspaces>1827</o:CharactersWithSpaces> <o:version>14.0</o:Version> </o:DocumentProperties> <o:officedocumentsettings> <o:allowpng/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--> <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:trackmoves/> <w:trackformatting/> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:validateagainstschemas/> 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unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Book Title"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="37" name="Bibliography"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" qformat="true" name="TOC Heading"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--> <!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:Cambria;} </style> <![endif]--> <!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal">HARTFORD, CT—Catherine Smith, Commissioner of the Department of Economic and Community Development, will outline her proposals for sustainable economic development in Connecticut on Thursday, January 19, from 6:30 to 8:00 PM in the Great Hall of downtown Hartford's Union Station. Special guest, Tom Condon of the Hartford Courant, who is known for his outspoken commitment to smart growth and improved quality-of-place, will moderate the event.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">The event, sponsored by 1000 Friends of Connecticut, is the third in a series concerning the Malloy Administration's smart growth agenda. Previous events included talks by DEEP Commissioner Dan Esty and ConnDOT Commissioner James Redeker, each of whom were asked to speak to how their offices can work together to promote a future in Connecticut marked by economic prosperity and environmental conservation.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">“We are encouraged by the caliber of these Commissioners, their grasp of smart growth issues, and especially by their willingness to work with one another,” said Nichole Strack, Executive Director of 1000 Friends of Connecticut. “We look forward to working with Commissioner Smith to make real progress on an agenda that includes revitalized downtowns, compact and walkable town centers, remediated brownfields, and the multi-modal transit options and smart-energy practices that create healthy, thriving regions.”<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">1000 Friends of Connecticut is a statewide organization whose mission is to promote and shape growth to ensure a prosperous economy, a healthy natural environment, and distinctive, integrated and attractive communities while promoting opportunities in education, housing, transportation, and employment for ourselves and future generations.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">The event is free and open to the public. For more information, visit the group’s web site at www.1000Friends-CT.org.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">###</p> <!--EndFragment--></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div>Nichole Strackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11401105627160451833noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4997234474717353821.post-59732335701228536282012-01-11T16:07:00.008-05:002012-01-11T19:35:40.423-05:00Curbing Costs in Connecticut with Public-Private PartnershipsThe Board and Staff at 1000 Friends of Connecticut recently asked over 4,000 of our followers if they thought Connecticut can "grow smart" now that strong leaders for our cause are in the Administration. Their responses are still streaming in, but the public at large leans towards wondering whether or not Governor Malloy and his executive agencies are "walking the walk," as opposed to just "talking the talk."<br /><br />The Commissioners from the Departments of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP), Transportation (ConnDOT), and Economic and Community Development (DECD) have risen above and beyond in terms of staying in the public's eye, but our Friends still want to know more. In theory, linking the environment with transportation, energy-efficiency and the economy makes perfect sense to everyone, especially as election season approaches. But what does it look like in practice?<br /><br />At Connecticut <img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH91T5CFVwfkL_FijRrM2uYpPQkA4MWjTpcFWel5aYJc547B8lsBmSyBAUHfSWo-_u0bCy8eL-Oc7yN3T-sSmnNrQYVqg9Vl4eq6d5vJUFzdwdC7b6p4V3C7EO7egI0i5vwXCPDG5QqFY/s200/DSC00700.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5696484398902019442" />Transit (CTTRANSIT), it looks like a sixty-foot accordion on wheels. Just yesterday, Commissioners Esty of DEEP and Redeker of ConnDOT applauded the new "bendy buses," as they are known in Britain, for meeting the Federal EPA's 2010 near-zero emissions requirement.<div><br /><a href="http://www.cttransit.com/PressHomepage/DisplayFromHomepage.asp?PressID={7EAB059D-4828-442F-A6A5-5C34084C5986}">According to CTTransit's web site</a>, Commissioner Esty stated, "DEEP and DOT are working together to create a 21st century transportation network that is a key to rebuilding Connecticut's economy, creating jobs, and making our state an attractive place to live and work. The type of larger-capacity, low-emission bus being deployed ... will help us accomplish those goals--while protecting our air quality and the environment."<div><br /><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJeO1_oeYsiRxhuwiXyrTn6lwkc3GUrUoOzpul3KEytHeH_aSMHvcpZBery6p-pa-fR2-v15YTJFgQ-BOGvw-YJep_VbuoE6ClTD520olivfqI9hlq78KU045hXKk7AMlc3JsmeUU__MQ/s200/DSC00703.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5696485697875023602" /><div>Two of these hybrid buses began service on Wednesday, January 11 in Hartford on Park Street and Farmington Avenue. They join CTTransit's fleet of nearly fifty diesel-electric buses and five hydrogen fuel-cell powered buses. In addition to that, their flexible centers allow for their greater size and safe turns, translating into more passengers on the bus and less vehicles mile travelled. The innovative design seats up to fifty-seven people with enough space left over for fifty-five standing passengers, and the interiors of the buses resemble what</div><div>one might see in Britain.<br /><br />The costs of the new buses were fully covered by Federal funds, exemplifying the very opportunities that 1000 Friends of Connecticut's Speaker Series has aimed to highlight. This cross-sector partnership between the privately-owned CTTransit with ConnDOT and DEEP is essential to furthering a Smart Growth agenda that makes real progress in areas including rational mass transit, enhanced energy practices, and the land-use decisions that support them; however, where do the revitalized downtowns and compact, walkable communities come into play? Join 1000 Friends of Connecticut on <b>Thursday, January 19 at Union Station in Hartford</b> and learn how Commissioner Smith's vision for the Department of Economic and Community Development will complement it's sister agencies in a way that maximizes infrastructure investments in a sustainable manner.</div><div><br /></div><div>For more information on 1000 Friends of Connecticut's Speaker Series, <a href="http://www.1000friends-ct.org/2011-speaker-series-registration.html">click here.</a><br /><br />CTTRANSIT is the ConnDOT-owned bus service serving Greater Hartford, New Haven, and Stamford. Read CTTRANSIT's press release on their new hybrid-electric 60-foot articulated buses <a href="http://www.cttransit.com/PressHomepage/DisplayFromHomepage.asp?PressID={7EAB059D-4828-442F-A6A5-5C34084C5986}">here</a>, or contact Phil Fry at pfry@cttransit.com.</div></div></div>Nichole Strackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11401105627160451833noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4997234474717353821.post-28109295343768670502011-12-17T11:34:00.003-05:002011-12-17T11:48:55.484-05:00Rewire State's Electrical SystemAn Op-Ed from the Hartford Courant <br />By Jefferson B. Davis of Pomfret, who serves on 1000 Friends of Connecticut's Board of Directors.<br /><br />"Now that Connecticut's electrical power has been fully restored, the typical governmental responses are kicking in: point fingers, hold hearings and propose changes to existing practices. And, as is also typical, the discussions will take place within a distinct silo of a single issue. In this case it is the pre and post storm performance of Connecticut Light & Power.<br /><br />It doesn't have to be that way. By thinking more broadly and strategically, Connecticut could turn its view forward instead of backward and become a trailblazer in how power is created and distributed while driving new job creation."<br /><br />Read the rest of the op-ed in the Hartford Courant by following this link: http://www.courant.com/news/opinion/hc-op-davis-independent-generation-key-to-energy-s-20111218,0,6027764.story1000 Friends of CThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13438040541472706759noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4997234474717353821.post-77846996040207800072011-12-08T19:26:00.003-05:002011-12-08T21:50:15.745-05:00A Smart Growth P.O.V. on CTLCV<div style="text-align: left;">Environmentalists gathered earlier this week in downtown Hartford to discuss “Environmental Excellence in a time of Economic Constraint,” signaling the Connecticut League of Conservation Voter’s understanding that Connecticut’s economy can grow while still respecting our state’s historic environmental traditions. The League’s 12<sup style="text-align: left; ">th</sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-align: left; "> Annual Environmental Summit featured three riveting panel discussions—spanning across public officials, advocates, and private entrepreneurs who engaged in passionate discussions about topics that are essential to Smart Growth policy and near and dear to 1000 Friends of Connecticut's heart: brownfield remediation, green infrastructure, energy-efficiency, transit-oriented development, and ensuring these initiatives result in a more business-friendly environment (literally) that creates jobs for our residents.</span></div><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> Susan Merrow, President of 1000 Friends’ Board of Directors, spoke on a panel with the commissioners from the Department of Economic and Community Development and the Department of Transportation, along Peter Malkin of Malkin Holdings, LLC about “Transportation, the Environment, and the Economy.” Joe McGee of the Business Council of Fairfield County moderated the discussion, ensuring a proper mix of questions to address the business community’s and environmentalist’ concerns. All agreed that Connecticut’s sprawling development patterns have had disastrous impacts not only on our state’s environment, but also on our residents’ and businesses’ pocketbooks.</p><p class="MsoNormal">According to Commissioner Redeker from ConnDOT, we must invest in developing in areas along transit lines and the government must be upfront with the development community about where state funding will facilitate private investment. Peter Malkin, Chairman of Malkin Holdings LLC, Malkin Properties, and their affiliates, appealed to environmentalists in the room by his response to a question on climate change and the effects of unpredictable weather, brought to the public’s awareness by two recent storms that left hundreds of thousands without power for days on end. Malkin described the “tragedy in cutting down hundreds of thousands of trees to address problems raised by current infrastructure.”</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in"><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> Commissioner Dan Esty of the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection provided the keynote speech of the evening. According to <a href="http://www.courant.com/mobile/hc-green-environmental-summit-1207-20111206,0,678327.column">the Hartford Courant’s Rick Green,</a> Commissioner Esty stated, “It's not retrenchment. We have an opportunity to remake environmental protection for the 21st century. You can't focus on the environment in isolation.'' CTLCV’s guests left the event with an encouraging sense that the public-private partnerships needed to protect our state’s limited natural resources in a time of economic disparity are finally upon us and everyone involved has moved past “talking the talk” to “walking the walk.” <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> The Connecticut League of Conservation Voters has identified their legislative priorities for the upcoming session as Water Quality, Land-Use and Open Space Preservation, Energy-Efficiency, a Multi-Modal Transportation System, reducing exposure to Toxins and Waste, and ensuring DEEP has the resources needed to be effective. 1000 Friends of Connecticut gives kudos to the League for its efforts in keeping issues moving forward in a way that benefits the environment and the economy at the same time. <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> If you missed the event, <a href="http://www.yourpublicmedia.org/node/17277">you can listen to it on WNPR</a> or <a href="http://www.ct-n.com/ondemand.asp">watch it on CT-N.</a><o:p></o:p></p> <!--EndFragment-->1000 Friends of CThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13438040541472706759noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4997234474717353821.post-50374684942872962212011-12-05T15:24:00.004-05:002011-12-05T15:27:36.217-05:00Commissioner Redeker Outlines ConnDOT's Vision<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHv9VW-lgCPQCyL1CfFNbVRUS2A_O05K2nYbuw6kyvjLexyTTHijX3Jkwvs2-7AyWFfriApg3DOkh3_F4LXKPqt9pEVCJvfLFkETBvGMuYESc4-qsw05uz09BrnQua-VEfLt1Qid1bd90/s1600/DSC00675.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHv9VW-lgCPQCyL1CfFNbVRUS2A_O05K2nYbuw6kyvjLexyTTHijX3Jkwvs2-7AyWFfriApg3DOkh3_F4LXKPqt9pEVCJvfLFkETBvGMuYESc4-qsw05uz09BrnQua-VEfLt1Qid1bd90/s400/DSC00675.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5682743546670374594" /></a><br /><div style="color: rgb(31, 72, 88); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><span style="font-size: 9pt; ">1000 Friends of Connecticut joined Commissioner Redeker from the state Department of Transportation and Mayor DeStefano last Thursday in downtown New Haven to discuss the new Commissioner's vision for his agency. Commissioner Redeker brings with him a deep experience of mass transit--bus and rail--to the agency, along with an invigorating commitment to institutionalizing principles of Smart Growth within ConnDOT.</span></div><div style="color: rgb(31, 72, 88); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><span style="font-size: 9pt; "><br /></span></div><div style="color: rgb(31, 72, 88); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><span style="font-size: 9pt; "> </span></div><div style="color: rgb(31, 72, 88); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><span style="font-size: 9pt; ">In addition to his experience and commitment, Redeker has the support of the Malloy Administration. His agency is working closely with the Department of Economic and Community Development and the new Department of Energy and Environmental Protection--a prerequisite to 1000 Friends' Smart Growth Agenda that restores economic vitality to our state's regions. </span></div><div style="color: rgb(31, 72, 88); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><span style="font-size: 9pt; "><br /></span></div><div style="color: rgb(31, 72, 88); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><span style="font-size: 9pt; "> </span></div><div style="color: rgb(31, 72, 88); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><span style="font-size: 9pt; ">If you missed the event, you can <a track="on" shape="rect" href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?llr=lginidhab&et=1108758685431&s=0&e=001mw6agRCoOI9PjCLfYb0Qah53KTpsdEh3SD0nHru-jRLF7f-QnFosKIDis4uglNcCyzTqU4mevWaL4UtVGAWvU_nmfbE2Cce6wqJo5EIO1zcIVyzRwfJ8q01Zum7TTKeG" linktype="1" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255); ">watch it on CT-N</a>, or <a track="on" shape="rect" href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?llr=lginidhab&et=1108758685431&s=0&e=001mw6agRCoOI9PjCLfYb0Qah53KTpsdEh3SD0nHru-jRLF7f-QnFosKIDis4uglNcCLFuCyxXPcIZUMLSOjfKx9gwBUPcu0Yms7DxKoiZdRKA_WXpoxCGOd7GyhYnm8MW5BSINdNLlp3ia4GdfEHLa7jVmEcplRdExgfUL-AppO_vvK1Njsnn_-qjFQLTwo5SZQiNZHcC5Xok8DbxpSIpa8Q==" linktype="1" target="_blank" style="color: blue; ">read the Yale Daily News coverage of Redeker's inspiring vision here.</a></span></div><div style="color: rgb(31, 72, 88); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "> </div>1000 Friends of CThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13438040541472706759noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4997234474717353821.post-25399107005932976692011-10-28T14:17:00.014-04:002011-10-28T16:03:17.802-04:00Commissioner Esty Applauds 1000 Friends of Connecticut<div>Several new faces joined 1000 Friends of Connecticut last night in the City Trust Building Complex, a mixed-use development located centrally in downtown Bridgeport, for an intimate meet-and-greet with Mayor Finch of Bridgeport and Commissioner Dan Esty of the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection.</div><div><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0qtpHgJQmvSRXi5QvWfNaQHHbIo-C-_Z8jqoB677pagj46RujdJCM2yxuHrvpzOR134FgEOkJ3A7m2Hmzogt5dyfMPloMoVoOUQwqprHx7je8JC0RHDZIBoUsgWOjh2Sekxgb7mm7ars/s1600/Dara+and+Nichole+with+Mayor+Finch.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 299px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0qtpHgJQmvSRXi5QvWfNaQHHbIo-C-_Z8jqoB677pagj46RujdJCM2yxuHrvpzOR134FgEOkJ3A7m2Hmzogt5dyfMPloMoVoOUQwqprHx7je8JC0RHDZIBoUsgWOjh2Sekxgb7mm7ars/s400/Dara+and+Nichole+with+Mayor+Finch.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5668632255137276754" /></a><div style="text-align: left;">1000 Friends of Connecticut provided members of the community and important key-players in Bridgeport with a unique opportunity to shake hands with Mayor Finch and Commissioner Esty and to learn more about issues that affect their everyday lives at an exclusive Leadership Reception.</div><div><br /></div><div>Afterwards, the two public officials spoke to the public on their respective initiatives and the prospects of furthering a Smart Growth agenda as engines of growth wake from the recession all around us. Commissioner Esty stressed the importance of partnerships in this critical time--not only between local, state, and the federal government--but the cross-sector partnerships that 1000 Friends of Connecticut and its Smart Growth agenda represents. The Commissioner gave thanks to 1000 Friends for bringing so many different stakeholders to one table and for embracing the type of collaboration that's required to address our state's limited resources and fiscal constraints.</div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBXgURAzzjicUAskrVQ4B_4PBKBb7SxLNwprS44b6aA7KkDENjolG03NvrE0t6gnHcOJJRFSLHd7Qbk_LRoRdC0YFHNfaDm9wIsA-EcmNIYsmO5lUIwpqx7a7cnHtqHIsrY3RyVqOrakU/s1600/Dara+and+Commissioner+Esty.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 299px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBXgURAzzjicUAskrVQ4B_4PBKBb7SxLNwprS44b6aA7KkDENjolG03NvrE0t6gnHcOJJRFSLHd7Qbk_LRoRdC0YFHNfaDm9wIsA-EcmNIYsmO5lUIwpqx7a7cnHtqHIsrY3RyVqOrakU/s400/Dara+and+Commissioner+Esty.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5668634399060971106" /></a><br /></div><div>Mayor Finch and Commissioner Esty both reported that bright times are ahead, but reaching it and maintaining it requires commitment not only from the government, but on the ground as well. Join the thousands in our collaboration to curb sprawling development by signing up for our Campaign to Grow Connecticut Smart or by making a contribution. Get more information at our <a href="www.1000friends-ct.org">web site</a>. While you're there, <a href="http://www.1000friends-ct.org/2011-speaker-series-registration-redeker-conndot.html">register to hear Commissioner Redeker at the 2nd Speaking Event in our Fall Speaker Series!</a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>1000 Friends of CThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13438040541472706759noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4997234474717353821.post-52226777184195862302011-10-19T14:16:00.000-04:002011-10-19T14:28:29.897-04:00Commissioner Dan Esty to Speak about Smart Growth<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:documentproperties> <o:revision>0</o:Revision> <o:totaltime>0</o:TotalTime> <o:pages>1</o:Pages> <o:words>300</o:Words> <o:characters>1711</o:Characters> <o:company>Trinity College</o:Company> <o:lines>14</o:Lines> <o:paragraphs>4</o:Paragraphs> <o:characterswithspaces>2007</o:CharactersWithSpaces> <o:version>14.0</o:Version> </o:DocumentProperties> <o:officedocumentsettings> 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name="Subtle Reference"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="32" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Intense Reference"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="33" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Book Title"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="37" name="Bibliography"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" qformat="true" name="TOC Heading"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--> <!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:Cambria;} </style> <![endif]--> <!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" align="center" style="text-align: left;margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; ">Bridgeport, CT—Commissioner Dan Esty of the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection will be speaking to the public on his agency’s visions for creating a sustainable development model supported by smart land-use decisions that integrate rational mass transit, economic development, and smart-energy practices on Thursday, October 27, 2011 at 6:30 P.M at the City Trust Building Complex in downtown Bridgeport, Connecticut.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">The free event kicks off 1000 Friends of Connecticut’s fall speaker series, “Putting Connecticut Back on its Tracks,” which aims to highlight the rare opportunities our regions face in curbing the sprawling development that has turned our highways into parking lots every morning and every evening during rush hour. The series as a whole speaks to the prospect of furthering a Smart Growth agenda as the fiscally responsible solution to our state’s economic and environmental threats. <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Nichole Strack, 1000 Friends’ Executive Director, stated, <span>“As we speak, Governor Malloy is focusing his attention on economic growth and job creation. With the legislative session a few short months away, we have our best opportunity in years to make a difference on smart land-use planning and economic development.”</span><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Susan Merrow, 1000 Friends’ Chair of Directors, added, “<span>This event gives our stakeholders and our public officials a perfect occasion to break free from the frustration of finding themselves working in silos and we are all excited to contribute to the dialogue that will continue into next year’s legislative session.”</span><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-add-space:auto;tab-stops:297.0pt">1000 Friends of Connecticut, a statewide Smart Growth education and advocacy non-profit, will host two more events this fall, featuring Commissioner James Redeker of Connecticut’s Department of Transportation in New Haven and Commissioner Catherine Smith of the Department of Economic and Community Development in Hartford. For more information, visit the group’s web site at www.1000Friends-CT.org.</p> <!--EndFragment-->1000 Friends of CThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13438040541472706759noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4997234474717353821.post-51832096793668154482011-09-19T23:59:00.004-04:002011-09-20T00:17:25.330-04:00A letter from the Director<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 11px; "><div _mce_style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; "></div></span><span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" >Dear Friends,<br /><br />On behalf of 1000 Friends of Connecticut's Board of Directors, I am proud to announce that 1000 Friends of Connecticut is moving forward with several new initiatives.<br /><br />Two years ago, our group lead the effort to codify the six livability principles of Smart Growth into legislation. Our Board of Directors and former President, Heidi Green, fought for these principles to guide the State Plan of Conservation and Development so that Connecticut's future generations would inherit a more viable economy, without sacrificing our state's natural resources. Yet our state faces many of the same problems today as it did prior to this legislative enactment.<br /><br />I-91 and I-95 still become parking lots during the morning and evening rush-hours. The lack of private, economic development in the state has exacerbated the pressure felt by municipalities to rely on property taxes as a form of revenue. Gas and energy prices continue to climb, unemployment persists, and our citizens, particularly the elderly, disabled, and young children, are increasingly becoming vulnerable users of the state's roadways, with Connecticut ranking 29th in the nation on the Pedestrian Danger Index according to <a href="http://t4america.org/docs/dbd2011/Dangerous-by-Design-2011.pdf">Transportation for America's report, <i>Dangerous by Design</i>.</a></span></span></span><div><span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br />As you read this, the State Plan of C&D is being re-drafted. But at this point in time, the plan lacks enforcement powers or adequate incentives for municipalities to cooperate with one another as they struggle to attract funding from a source that perpetuates the problem. </span></span></span></div><div><span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br />Now is the time for 1000 Friends of Connecticut to facilitate the coalescence of a broad spectrum of stakeholders that have a common interest in growing smarter. Even more than that, now is our opportunity. President Obama's Administration embraced the potential of Sustainable Communities in 2008, and now Connecticut has a governor who understands the long-term returns associated with investing into sustainable infrastructure and environmental stewardship. </span></span></span></div><div><span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br />Our Smart Growth coalition has been strategically planning the most effective route to ensuring our public officials-on the state and local levels-are informed of the best practices to put Connecticut back on a sustainable path, and also have the technical expertise to do so. We encourage you to <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/1000-Friends-of-Connecticut/130404556997571?ref=ts">become a fan of our Facebook page</a> and <a href="http://1000friends-ct.blogspot.com/">follow our blog</a>, or <a href="http://www.1000friends-ct.org">check our web site</a> frequently to learn about our upcoming events and ongoing operations. </span></span></span></div><div><span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br />Our efforts are futile without your continued support, so thank you for being one of the Friends that makes up 1000 Friends of Connecticut! </span></span></span></div><div><span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br />Sincerest Regards,</span></span></span></div><div><span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" >Nichole Strack, Executive Director</span></span></span></div><div><span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" >1000 Friends of Connecticut</span></span></span><div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; "><span _mce_style="font-size: 8.0pt; font-family: Arial; color: #c3dcf6;" style="font-size: 8pt; font-family: Arial; "></span><span _mce_style="color: #c3dcf6; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; "> </span><p _mce_style="color: #c3dcf6; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; "> </p></span></div></div></div>1000 Friends of CThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13438040541472706759noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4997234474717353821.post-39688664987614971822011-08-31T03:58:00.004-04:002011-08-31T04:11:06.164-04:00Put Connecticut Back on its Tracks<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">A message from 1000 Friends of Connecticut's Board of Director, Robert Orr:</div><div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Flying into Bradley a couple weeks ago, I felt like I was descending into Sherwood Forest. No state is as thickly wooded as Connecticut (which does a pretty good job of hiding our sprawl). No state has better and more abundant topsoil (70'-80' deep by some accounts) standing ready to reignite local food. No state has as extensive a rail system (yes dormant, but let's rake off the leaves) standing ready to launch multi-mode transportation. No state has as much intellectual capital standing ready to jump on the new economy embracing value over equity pursuits. No state can boast such a balance of man-made and natural beauty.</div> <p class="p1">All this adds up to a state with more potential for attracting enterprising (younger) and accidental (laid off, older) entrepreneurs with better cities, towns, hamlets, and countryside than any other.</p> <p class="p1">All that's needed is a makeover of codes and regulations to stop thwarting normal market forces from embracing the glory still embedded in its bones. Connecticut is the Tuscany, the Val d'Orcia of North America. We just need our Nutmeg version of <span class="s1">Iris</span> and Antonio Origo to get the ball rolling.</p><p class="p1" style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMxKpUHfS_QfksD0GkQjAXh9t6UJ5PuSOLOYwXI9yDHJYL4oaz2mxxM96ZFIV6cSsugtWzUftYpKpkLHxhU6Y-UlncN9Q0SH9aH-_0K7lLQrJqUkKSPzaUT_gYRDIIqsjSCoO6F0_AKRk/s400/Val+d%2527Orcia.jpg" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 76px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5646929301870082498" /></p><p class="p1"> </p><p class="p1">This could be Connecticut, but its Val d'Orcia with Monte Amiata, view to the west from La Foce. This landscape was barren, completely denuded down to bare rock by over grazing of sheep and poor agricultural practices. However, with much hard work, care and attention in the 1920s, the Origos succeeded in transforming it into the beautiful countryside bordering charming Tuscan towns that you see above. Nothing in the picture is accidental. Connecticut needs the same purposeful approach, political will and fire in the belly to reach the potential of the great gift we've inherited.</p><p></p>1000 Friends of CThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13438040541472706759noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4997234474717353821.post-35344187894420942552011-03-08T12:03:00.004-05:002011-03-08T15:08:16.185-05:00Smart Growth Deserves A Better Boost<span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Times;font-size:medium;"><h2><!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:19.0pt;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align: none;text-autospace:none"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:7;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: 800;font-size:32px;"> <!--StartFragment--> </span></span></p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:7;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:19.0pt;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align: none;text-autospace:none"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Smart Growth Deserves A Better Boost</span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:19.0pt;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align: none;text-autospace:none"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal; ">By Susan Merrow</span></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:16.0pt;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align: none;text-autospace:none"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">The Hartford Courant</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:16.0pt;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align: none;text-autospace:none"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">11:04 AM EST, March 7, 2011</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:16.0pt;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align: none;text-autospace:none"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">From the moment the recent recession reared its head, the phrase "It's a shame to let a good crisis go to waste" has been a theme in many quarters — nowhere more than the smart-growth quarter, where advocates have urged that this time of curtailed spending should be used to rein in policies that have promoted sprawl.</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:16.0pt;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align: none;text-autospace:none"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">The state budget is the perfect place to begin, for that is where the cost of sprawl is embodied in the huge infrastructure expenditures at all levels of government. In 2009, the General Assembly passed a law, Public Act 09-230, "To define smart growth and require smart growth provisions of state, local and regional plans of conservation and development be consistent." Now would be the perfect time to use those definitions to guide policy decisions, especially in how we spend the state's money.</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:16.0pt;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align: none;text-autospace:none"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">So how does Gov. Dannel P. Malloy's budget stack up on issues of smart growth? To find out, read the full article </span><a href="http://www.courant.com/news/opinion/hc-op-smart-growth-0306-20110306,0,4927749.story"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">here</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">.</span></span></span></span></p> <!--EndFragment--> </span><p></p> <!--EndFragment--> </h2></span>1000 Friends of CThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13438040541472706759noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4997234474717353821.post-35495885732273459182011-02-09T21:27:00.002-05:002011-02-13T21:38:26.142-05:00New Report says Connecticut Fixed it First!<img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 64px; height: 81px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCkXfzUtrPF_MtPoa90hJsXrtBMhqpP233zxR-YWbLr3tVatLBkO5B16EgmSUZXqTLz7ONFCXlFn_kv6zXUUQi3XI-OWQmrSxrx0oPTzwWh4ARqIPndQFEVITLWfiZCmLqjKB0O4vi5gI/s320/1000+friends+logo.png" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5573367101080534338" /><div style="text-align: center;"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 198px; height: 60px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIKLLqS2bZvh8U_00c_LVyQxYpMsQU1TbWZ33W41KODlWGaSQpQz-tIoMNN9aBHFqjdYyS8Ks42ynhkAtCxn_r71BZrnYfYjOGNVaYqZVnPl-XX1y3NRhsL54JacsiEkrNHMs5PSmOiJ4/s320/CTLCV+logo.png" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5573367271554082978" /></div><!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial, serif;"><b><i><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 43px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFnAveCsPWN_4UEEtjSllQf7s6CWrW6GteUF6mCdEvKFdbJscNbYp3jF45xMyNd9qX88UcBlfv7k3EWV3kN1iLYuqXIFviT_kh5vZOUHQbEUxS32o60q7X0rP6Urruq2zcUXXiR_wpL7I/s320/SGA+logo.png" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5573367175178583250" /></i></b></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial, serif;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; font-family:Arial, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Research</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> Confirms President Obama’s SOTU Remarks: Smart Transportation Spending Creates Jobs, Grows the Economy</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b><i><span style="font-family:Arial;"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></i></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Report shows investing in repair and maintenance projects and public transportation can help</span></span></i><span style="font-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Connecticut revitalize America’s transportation system and rebuild the economy; </span></i></span><span style="font-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Connecticut ranked first. </span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Connecticut, February 4, 2011 </span></span></i><span style="font-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">– A new report released by Smart Growth America (SGA) provides Connecticut with a roadmap to pursue President Obama’s call to repair our crumbling roads and bridges and invest in public transportation to jumpstart the economy. The report, which highlights how well states created jobs using American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) flexible transportation dollars, provides Governor Malloy, the Department of Transportation, and the legislature with a smart investment strategy to get more jobs from the same number of transportation dollars and help rebuild the economy effectively. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Connecticut ranked first, based on how well the state used its portion of the $26.6 billion in flexible ARRA transportation dollars to create jobs. The report was released two years after the passage of ARRA and a week after President Obama’s State of the Union Address and his clarion call to rebuild America and create jobs. </span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">“Smart Growth America commends Connecticut for using its federal stimulus funding to maximize job creation,” Geoff Anderson, President/CEO of Smart Growth America said. “Connecticut should continue on this same path of smart, fiscally responsible transportation policies when it considers its 2011 transportation budget. If Connecticut continues to allocate the majority of its transportation dollars in its new budget to the repair and maintenance of roads and bridges, and expanding access to public transportation, the state can save money and put people back to work.” </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Connecticut leaders understand that rebuilding our economy is the most significant challenge of our generation. As the President said in his address, “To attract new businesses to our shores, we need the fastest, most reliable ways to move people, goods and information…America is the nation that built the transcontinental railroad, brought electricity to rural communities and constructed the interstate highway system. The jobs created by these projects didn’t just come from laying down tracks or pavement. They came from businesses that opened near a town’s new train station or the new off-ramp.” This report analyzes state-reported ARRA data and finds that wise spending of transportation dollars produces immediate results in terms of jobs.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">The states that made the best use of funds invested in public transportation projects and maintained and repaired existing roads and bridges. The states that ranked poorly focused on building new roads and bridges.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Connecticut spent 100 percent of its ARRA transportation funds on repairing and maintaining roads and bridges; nothing on building new ones; and 9.1 percent on public transportation and non-motorized projects such as trails, bicycle projects and pedestrian projects. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">"We're proud that Connecticut “fixed it first” and created jobs critical to our state's recovery. We urge even greater emphasis on mass transit funding, which has a triple benefit: it creates jobs, gets people to their jobs, and improves the quality of life for all of us," said 1000 Friends of Connecticut Chair Susan Merrow.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">"We have seen a gradual shift in Connecticut toward investments in public transit where we get the biggest bang for the buck - dollar for dollar, public transportation projects create the highest percentage of jobs. These investments are good for both the economy and the environment," added Lori Brown, Executive Director of the Connecticut League of Conservation Voters.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:red;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">SGA determined its rankings by assessing how states invested their ARRA flexible transportation dollars, as reported by the states themselves to Congress. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Historically, repair work on roads and bridges generates 16 percent more jobs per dollar than new bridge and road construction. Repair and maintenance projects spend money faster and create jobs more quickly than building new roads because they employ more kinds of workers, spend less money on land and more on wages, and spend less time on plans and permits.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Additionally, historical investments in public transportation have generated 31 percent more jobs per dollar than new construction of roads and bridges. </span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">SGA’s analysis of ARRA spending shows that even more jobs were created with public transportation spending – these projects generated 70 percent more jobs per dollar than new highway construction.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-line-height:115%; font-family:Arial;mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi- mso-bidi-language:AR-SAfont-family:Times;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">"Our new administration in Hartford and new leadership at Department Of Transportation have a chance now to build on this good news and firmly establish the connection between wise spending on transit, fixing existing infrastructure, and growing smart," Susan Merrow concluded.</span></span><span style="font-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">For the complete report, go to </span></span><a href="http://smartgrowthamerica.org/documents/lessons-from-the-stimulus.pdf"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">http://smartgrowthamerica.org/documents/lessons-from-the-stimulus.pdf</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Smart Growth America</span></span></b><span style="font-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> is the only national organization dedicated to researching, advocating for and leading coalitions to bring smart growth practices to more communities nationwide. From providing more sidewalks to ensuring more homes are built near public transit or that productive farms remain a part of our communities, smart growth helps make sure people across the nation can live in great neighborhoods. For additional information, please visit </span></span><a href="http://www.smartgrowthamerica.org/"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">www.smartgrowthamerica.org</span></span></a><span style="font-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">.</span></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-line-height:115%;font-family:Arial;font-size:11.0pt;color:red;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <!--EndFragment-->1000 Friends of CThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13438040541472706759noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4997234474717353821.post-69981972819093494932010-08-02T05:16:00.003-04:002010-08-02T05:19:07.762-04:00Affordable Housing and 8-30G<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="Georgia","serif";font-family:";color:black;">As an intern for the Connecticut Fair Housing Center, I've been asked to comment on section 8-30G of the Connecticut General Statues, commonly known as the Affordable Housing Appeals Procedure. Section 8-30G, enacted in 1989, was a boon to advocates for more fair and affordable housing in the state, but has also been highly controversial. This section of the statutes applies to cases where a developer proposes building affordable housing in any town where less than 10% of existing housing can be described as affordable (meaning a household earning less than 60-80% of the state or area's median income must spend no more than 30% of its income on total housing costs). If a town zoning or planning commission rejects a developer's application to build affordable housing in a residential area, the developer can then appeal the town's decision and the burden of proof would be on the town to prove that rejecting the development was, "necessary to protect substantial public interests in health, safety, or other matters…such public interests clearly outweigh the need for affordable housing; and…such public interests cannot be protected by reasonable changes to the affordable housing development". The gist of the law is that for the developer's proposal to be rejected, the town zoning or planning commission must make a convincing case that such a proposal would clearly be against public interests or somehow endanger the health or safety of the community. Since for the vast majority of towns in Connecticut less than 10% of housing can be classified as affordable, this revision to the statues sent waves throughout the state and has led to the creation of hundreds, if not thousands, of affordable housing units statewide- either through the appeals process or merely because of towns recognizing the difficulty of opposing such developments.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="Georgia","serif";font-family:";color:black;">Naturally, section 8-30G has provoked a good deal of opposition from affected towns.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>There are people that oppose affordable housing for bigoted or ignorant reasons, and enacting a law that favors the creation of affordable housing won’t change those attitudes overnight. Some people bristle at the thought of having local control over town planning compromised by often self-interested developers, and others express frustration and disappointment that the state government, in trying to further affordable housing, would resort to measures which effectively punish towns rather than incentivize- use of the “stick” and not the “carrot”. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="Georgia","serif";font-family:";color:black;">But there are also those that want to repeal or revise section 8-30G for perfectly legitimate and principled reasons- namely, that it serves to work against Connecticut “smart growth” efforts. Although developers must site their affordable housing units in residential zones, the exact location of those units can be anywhere, such as on the peripheries of the town or away from population centers. For a town interested in becoming more compact and sustainable, this law can be frustrating, indeed. But other towns may be more interested in restricting any influx of people, or specifically, a certain type of people. As such, instead of restricting their residential zones or revising their zoning regulations to more precisely define their plain for sustainable growth, they insert language into their town statutes which gives overwhelming priority to town residents in applying for affordable housing, effectively barring low-income out-of-towners from residing there. The undertones to this kind of behavior can be clear: urban poor are not welcome in the suburbs. But of course, other towns may very well be interested in providing affordable housing, as long as it fits the context of the town’s broader plan for sustainable growth and doesn’t lead to further sprawl. Considering how vehement opposition to the law can be, it can be difficult to know exactly what the underlying feelings are. Fighting 8-30G tooth-and-nail without suggesting feasible alternatives and demonstrating their successful implementation is not the best way to show one’s intentions. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="Georgia","serif";font-family:";color:black;">Some advocates for affordable housing take the view that the smart growth movement in Connecticut is by its very nature elitist and discriminatory, interpreting it as motivated merely by a desire to restrict population growth to the cities, discouraging low-income and non-white Connecticut residents from ever moving outside the cities and achieving the same economic opportunity and quality- of-life that more affluent residents enjoy. I think this view is unfair. I know that the true adherents to a smart growth philosophy believe that an inclusionary and sustainable society are one and the same. And I think the conflict between smart growth and affordable housing is artificial and pointless, and a distraction from the real issues. What I’m hoping for now is greater communication between both sides and sensitivity towards the other’s concerns. The circumstances of an economically and racially segregated state must be considered alongside the need for a radically different approach to population growth and economic development, and I see no reason why both can’t be done. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="Georgia","serif";font-family:";color:black;">-Owen Deutsch</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="Georgia","serif"font-family:";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>1000 Friends of CThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13438040541472706759noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4997234474717353821.post-43454353571623671732010-07-28T15:42:00.002-04:002010-07-28T16:00:05.076-04:00Plans for High-Speed Rail Moving Full-Speed AheadTomorrow--Thursday, July 29--DOT Officials from Connecticut, Vermont, and Massachusetts will host a public informational meeting to discuss the environmental impact of the planned New Haven-Hartford-Springfield high-speed rail line. <a href="http://www.ct.gov/governorrell/cwp/view.asp?A=3872&Q=463306">According to Governor Rell</a>, the project "has tremendous economic development potential for Connecticut and will go a long way to ease congestion on heavily traveled Interstate 91." Transportation officials from Connecticut and the other states involved have been collaborating with the federal government and Amtrak to complete necessary preliminary work. <div><br /></div><div>Earlier this week, Governor Rell also announced the state Bond Commission is expected to approve $260 million in bonding to improve the corridor. This funding may be matched by $220 million in federal funding should Connecticut's application be approved. Officials have high hopes the NHHS High-Speed Rail Line will attract enthusiasm on the federal level given the strong regional collaboration taking place in New England. </div><div><br /></div><div>Come to One Union Place in downtown Hartford at 6:00 P.M. tomorrow evening to learn more and to speak for the public.</div>1000 Friends of CThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13438040541472706759noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4997234474717353821.post-30648875878838387572010-07-20T15:15:00.002-04:002010-07-20T15:18:25.024-04:00Woman Hits Liability Lotto-Will CT Nature Lovers Lose 3000 Acres of Paradise? Public Hearing TONIGHT!<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 20px; "><p style="text-align: justify;">In mid-May, a Connecticut jury awarded $2.9 million to Maribeth Blonski, 43, for injuries sustained after she crashed her mountain bike into a large, obvious, yellow gate at the West Hartford Reservoir in 2002. In response, the Metropolitan District Commission (MDC) is considering closing its gates to all recreational activities to avoid potential future lawsuits and higher insurance premiums.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_IdPFVFiLGXA/TESFFWSvmXI/AAAAAAAAABE/d12BaVbBHrw/s1600-h/clip_image002%5B4%5D.jpg" style="color: rgb(85, 136, 170); text-decoration: none; "><img title="clip_image002" border="0" hspace="12" alt="clip_image002" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_IdPFVFiLGXA/TESFGCAVu4I/AAAAAAAAABI/17bFWGBn4ws/clip_image002_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="346" height="200" style="border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 4px; padding-right: 4px; padding-bottom: 4px; padding-left: 4px; border-top-style: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-bottom-style: initial; border-left-style: initial; border-top-color: initial; border-right-color: initial; border-bottom-color: initial; border-left-color: initial; display: inline; " /></a></p><p style="text-align: justify;">The MDC is a non-profit municipal corporation created in 1929. It owns several recreation areas, including the West Hartford Reservoir, which the MDC itself calls a “<a href="http://www.themdc.com/2rec_wh.htm" style="color: rgb(85, 136, 170); text-decoration: none; ">nature lovers paradise</a>.”</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Blonski, from Wethersfield and Rocky Hill, formerly hosted a public access television program about mountain biking. She publicly commented that at the time of the accident her head was down and she did not see the gate until she was only three feet away. Court documents indicate she was riding between 20 and 30 mph. An expert witness noted skid marks 20 feet from the gate, and that she was riding in the wrong direction.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">The MDC argued the accident was a result of Blonski’s own negligence and that as a political subdivision of the state, it is immune from such lawsuits.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_IdPFVFiLGXA/TESFGU3dV-I/AAAAAAAAABM/CneyU05RBOw/s1600-h/clip_image003%5B4%5D.gif" style="color: rgb(85, 136, 170); text-decoration: none; "><img title="clip_image003" border="0" hspace="12" alt="clip_image003" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_IdPFVFiLGXA/TESFHDToDhI/AAAAAAAAABQ/ZAAC3hNmH7c/clip_image003_thumb%5B1%5D.gif?imgmax=800" width="339" height="139" style="border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 4px; padding-right: 4px; padding-bottom: 4px; padding-left: 4px; border-top-style: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-bottom-style: initial; border-left-style: initial; border-top-color: initial; border-right-color: initial; border-bottom-color: initial; border-left-color: initial; display: inline; " /></a></p><p style="text-align: justify;">Nevertheless, after a complex legal analysis involving Connecticut’s Recreational Liability Statute and definitions of “municipal corporations,” “government functions,” “corporate profits,” and “proprietary functions,” the judge determined that the MDC was <i>not</i>immune from liability. The jury then decided the rider was 30% at fault and that the MDC was 70% at fault for not having signs and warnings to make riders aware of the gate that was present and closed for most of 30 years.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Since the jury announced its decision, the MDC has entered a motion to set aside the verdict. Opposition to closing the West Hartford reservoir has become <a href="http://savethemdctrails.org/" style="color: rgb(85, 136, 170); text-decoration: none; ">vocal</a>. West Hartford Mayor Scott Slifka and town councilor Joseph Verrengia will introduce a <a href="http://blogs.courant.com/rick_green/2010/07/west-hartfords-mayor-scott-sli.html" style="color: rgb(85, 136, 170); text-decoration: none; ">resolution</a> calling for the MDC not to close its reservoirs, and <a href="http://www.courant.com/news/opinion/editorials/he-ed-mountain-biker-mdc-0717-20100717,0,312468.story" style="color: rgb(85, 136, 170); text-decoration: none; ">State Rep. David Baram said</a> he will propose legislation that will stop future lawsuits against the Metropolitan District Commission.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Additionally, a public meeting on this topic will be held Tuesday, July 20<sup>th</sup> at 5:30 P.M. in the Auditorium of the Town Hall in West Hartford. If you appreciate the West Hartford Reservoir, it’s important that show up and say so.</p></span>1000 Friends of CThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13438040541472706759noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4997234474717353821.post-76487296116764870322010-07-02T11:55:00.004-04:002010-07-02T12:08:28.532-04:00Livable Communities Planning in Hartford Sets Example for the State of Connecticut by Erin Bourgault<div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>U.S. Congressman John B. Larson held an open forum on Monday, June 28<sup>th</sup> on Livable Communities and the Hartford “One City, One Plan” and iQuilt Proposals, with special guest Congressman Earl Blumenauer.<b> </b>Hartford’s plans should set an example for the rest of the state of Connecticut towards urban planning, improving transportation and housing options, and protecting the environment. The proposals include goals to revitalize downtown Hartford and enhance its role as a cultural center, as well as connect people to the city by improving mobility and coordinating multimodal transport. The major focus of iQuilt, the “Capitol District Vision Plan and Hartford’s Pathways of Innovation,” is to create a Greenwalk between Bushnell Park and the riverfront, as well as a “Connecticut Square” outdoor festival space to transform Hartford into a more friendly and welcoming environment.</div> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Although Hartford is a compact district, many people drive throughout the city. By improving streets so they are enjoyable, walkable and bike-able, citizens can become less dependent on cars. The new proposal includes a connection to Union Station in order to enhance the use of public transportation in Hartford.<span> The American Public Transportation Association estimates that families with access to good public transportation can save an average of $9,000 per year in transportation costs compared to households with no transit access. </span>Congressman Earl Blumenauer used the phrase “bike partisanship” and stated that cycling is a tool to bring people together. <span>Improving transportation options across the state of Connecticut would do more than decrease traffic congestion; it would improve quality of life.<span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in"><span><span></span></span>The proposals and commitments in Hartford connect to the proposed Livable Communities Act, written by U.S. Senator Dodd of Connecticut. According to Senator Dodd, <span>“This legislation provides funding for regions to plan future growth in a coordinated way that reduces congestion, generates good-paying jobs, creates and preserves affordable housing, meets our environmental and energy goals, protects rural areas and green space, revitalizes our Main Streets and urban centers, and makes our communities better places to live, work, and raise families.” </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">In March 2010, Senator Dodd and U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Deputy Secretary Ron Sims went to New Haven and Hartford to promote the integration of housing, transit, and smart land use to create more livable communities. Congressman Larson said, “As we work to rebuild our economy and put our neighbors back to work, we must also rebuild our communities, making them greener more sustainable and more livable for generations to come.” Hartford has begun to take on this goal, and the rest of the state of Connecticut should follow.</p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitl-_hIFJ-4dnBIInJmTnfUx4Dl7xh1cUY6ahmwBa3ZlFoCfF_1kke-9O57c03gmNwTeOG0ZXqxF0hAvCoahdZjobAyTMfW24eQ3kZL20wIqKExlkQQXs_F0EeKeaF1DmAXJkXheQuqYU/s1600/about-image1.png"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitl-_hIFJ-4dnBIInJmTnfUx4Dl7xh1cUY6ahmwBa3ZlFoCfF_1kke-9O57c03gmNwTeOG0ZXqxF0hAvCoahdZjobAyTMfW24eQ3kZL20wIqKExlkQQXs_F0EeKeaF1DmAXJkXheQuqYU/s320/about-image1.png" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5489340307399553266" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 146px; " /></a>For more information, check out www.hartfordiquilt.org. <!--EndFragment-->1000 Friends of CThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13438040541472706759noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4997234474717353821.post-82852827371903806612010-06-11T14:27:00.002-04:002010-06-11T14:33:47.860-04:00Only the Sustainable SurviveAs BP’s tragic oil spill ignites worldwide outrage, other corporations seek to secure an environmentally-friendly reputation among the consuming public. CBIA’s 2010 Sustainability Conference, held on Wednesday June 9, 2010, served as a welcome reminder that even in a down economy, sustainable business activity is not as far-fetched as some corporations believe. Michael Ellis, Senior Associate of GreenOrder, presented current sustainability trends among businesses and predictions for the future using results from <a href="http://www.cbia.com/newsroom/Surveys/documents/Sustainability_09.pdf">CBIA’s 2010 Survey on Sustainability and Connecticut Business</a>. Two panel discussions followed—highlighting the value companies place on “taking their sustainability initiatives to the next level.” Recycling paper or eliminating waste within facilities is not enough to compete in our transforming “green marketplace.”<br /><br />Results from CBIA’s 2010 survey, coupled with speakers representing AT&T, IBM Corporation, and Microsoft, the Connecticut Clean Energy Fund, TelecommuteConnecticut/CTRideshare, and Oakleaf Waste Management demonstrate a strengthened commitment to sustainability principles. The key findings from CBIA’s Sustainability survey report the majority of Connecticut companies have adopted “green” business strategies—mostly in the area of energy efficiency. CBIA first began following green business trends in 2007 when only 47% of Connecticut companies reported going green. The number climbed to 59% in 2008, and jumped to 73% in 2009. This figure increased by only 1% over the last year—possibly implying that corporate sustainability has “reached a saturation point, at least for now.”<br /><br />As added support to these findings, the representatives of AT&T, IBM, and Microsoft reported their respective companies have shifted away from thinking only in the short term and adopted a long-term analysis of energy costs. Furthermore, each of the three have adopted Smart Grid policies and were happy to report substantial returns on their investments in energy-conserving initiatives.<br /><br />The environmental community applauds these businesses for their proactive attitudes and sense of corporate responsibility—yet work is still needed. Upfront costs and lack of knowledge are the two primary obstacles companies face in their efforts to “go green.” Many business leaders remain unconvinced that consumers are truly willing to put environmental concerns ahead of their wallets. In addition to these concerns, corporate leaders still have an incentive to think only in the short-term in regards to energy costs. Should the government decide to put a price on carbon, the externality posed by carbon dioxide will be internalized within the company’s operations costs and they will no longer be inclined to ignore the serious energy issue our country faces. Environmentalists must continue their efforts to inform the pubic on the importance of this issue. More importantly, we must persuade our policy-makers to more vigilantly pursue a clear, all-encompassing energy policy that forces corporations to view sustainability not as an unaffordable luxury, but as a sound, if not essential, business practice for a 21st century, global economy.<br /><br /><div><i>Nichole Strack</i></div><div><i>Trinity College, Hartford, CT.<br /></i><br /></div>1000 Friends of CThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13438040541472706759noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4997234474717353821.post-20674128398703458932009-11-17T16:49:00.002-05:002009-11-17T16:52:30.840-05:00Bridgeport one of ten Environmental Justice Showcase Community EPA saysEPA Announces Environmental Justice Showcase Communities<br /><br />CONTACT: <br />Deb Berlin <br />berlin.deb@epa.gov <br />202-564-4914 <br />202-564-4355 <br /><br />FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE <br />November 17, 2009 <br /><br />EPA Announces Environmental Justice Showcase Communities <br /><br />WASHINGTON – U.S Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lisa P. Jackson announced a national initiative to address environmental justice challenges in 10 communities. EPA has committed $1 million to this effort over the next two years. <br /><br />“These 10 communities will serve as models for the EPA’s committed environmental justice efforts, and help highlight the disproportionate environmental burdens placed on low-income and minority communities all across the nation,” said EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson. “By expanding the conversation on environmentalism, we can give a voice to vulnerable groups that haven’t always had a voice on these issues. Our 10 Showcase Communities will provide lessons for how we make every community a better place for people to live, for business to invest and bring jobs, and for opportunities to grow.” <br /><br />The selected Environmental Justice Showcase Communities will use collaborative, community-based approaches to improve public health and the environment. EPA will provide $100,000 per project to help address concerns in communities disproportionately exposed to environmental risks. These demonstration projects will test and share information on different approaches to increase EPA’s ability to achieve environmental results in communities. <br /><br />The following locations will serve as Environmental Justice Showcase Communities: <br /><br />Bridgeport, Connecticut: EPA will build on work that has already taken place to develop community capacity and engagement, identify a broad network of partnerships, and connect with the goals of the city government. Using this past work as a foundation, EPA plans to work collaboratively with a wide-range of stakeholders to develop projects focused on improving indoor air quality, increasing community capacity for green jobs, increasing recycling rates, and reducing asthma and toxics exposure. <br /><br />Staten Island, New York: EPA will work with the North Shore of Staten Island, a former industrial community that now contains many abandoned, contaminated, and regulated properties along the waterfront. This neighborhood has seen an increase in the number of kids with elevated lead levels in their blood. EPA, in consultation with key community members and state and local health agencies will develop a community-based health strategy for the area. <br /><br />Washington, D.C.: EPA is building on its environmental justice work with a variety of partners, such as: the District Department of Environment; the District Department of Health; and, local recipients of Environmental Justice Collaborative Problem Solving and Environmental Justice Small Grant awards. <br /><br />Jacksonville, Florida: EPA will focus on improving environmental and public health outcomes in an area that consists of a predominantly low income and minority population. This area has a number of Superfund sites, brownfields, vacant and abandoned lots or other properties where contamination is suspected, and impacted waterways. EPA will work with its partners, including environmental justice community representatives, to address sites of concern and turn them into an opportunity for residents to collaborate with developers and revitalize their neighborhoods. <br /><br />Milwaukee, Wisconsin: EPA will work to further the redevelopment of the 30th Street Industrial Corridor. The corridor, a former rail line in the north-central part of the city, is home to low income communities of color. This project seeks to improve the human, environmental and economic health of these neighborhoods by redeveloping brownfields along the corridor, implementing environmentally preferable stormwater management practices, and developing urban agriculture. <br /><br />Port Arthur, Texas: EPA proposes a comprehensive, cross-media pilot project in Port Arthur, Texas, a racially and ethnically diverse population along the Gulf Coastof southeast Texas. This community was severely impacted as a result of hurricanes Katrina, Rita and Ike. Through the EJ Showcase Project, EPA will work with partners to strategically target additional work and supplement ongoing efforts. <br /><br />Kansas City, Missouri and Kansas City, Kansas: EPA has identified 11 neighborhoods in the metropolitan area that have many risk factors including poor housing conditions and increased exposure to environmental hazards. EPA will conduct an assessment to identify specific sources of pollution and will work with neighborhood leaders to prioritize community concerns. Strategies to address these concerns will be developed through these partnerships. <br /><br />Salt Lake City, Utah: EPA has chosen six neighborhoods in central and west Salt Lake City as the focus of a Children’s Environmental Health and Environmental Justice initiative. The areas include Glendale, Jordan Meadows, Poplar Grove, Rose Park, State Fairpark and Westpointe. EPA selected the areas based on the presence of several environmental risk factors and the community’s support and past participation in addressing environmental issues. The multi-agency initiative will seek to identify and reduce children’s exposure to contaminants from multiple pathways. EPA will work closely with the community and other federal, state and local agencies to identify issues of concern and develop and apply tools to address those issues. The state of Utah has developed a tracking system that will provide baseline health and environmental data and help the partnership achieve results. <br /><br />Los Angeles Area Environmental Enforcement Collaborative, California: The densely populated communities closest to the I-710 freeway in Los Angeles Countyare severely impacted by pollution from goods movement and industrial activity. In a multi-year effort, a unique collaboration of federal, state and local governments and community organizations will work together to improve the environmental and public health conditions for residents along this corridor. Partners will identify pollution sources of concern to the community, review agency data sources and develop action plans. One goal is to improve compliance with environmental laws by targeting inspections and enforcement at the state, federal, and local levels to address community concerns. <br /><br />Yakima, Washington: EPA will address multiple environmental home health stressors in the Latino and tribal communities in the Yakima Valley. A coordinated effort between state, local, and non-profit partners will be used to address the range of exposures found in the community, with a primary focus on reducing exposure through contaminated private well drinking water. This will be accomplished by assessing homes with contaminated wells, providing “treatment at the tap” mitigation, and reducing pollution sources through available regulatory tools and best management practices. <br /> <br />Since 1994, EPA has provided more than $32 million in general funding to more than 1,100 community-based organizations. <br /><br />More information on environmental justice and the Environmental Justice Showcase Communities:http://www.epa.gov/compliance/environmentaljustice/grants/ej-showcase.html1000 Friends of CThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13438040541472706759noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4997234474717353821.post-24881956019067763602009-11-16T12:11:00.002-05:002009-11-16T12:13:38.341-05:00Spotlight on the jobs crisis conferenceIn-person attendance to tomorrow's forum, Spotlight on the Jobs Crisis, is filled to capacity. However, the forum will be streamed via the web beginning at 9:00 am.<br /><br /> <br />Go to<br /><br /><a href="http://www.ustream.tv/channel/afl-cio-epi-spotlight-on-the-jobs-crisis">Spotlight on the Jobs Crisis</a><br /><br />Tuesday, November 17, 2009<br /><br />9:00 am to 11:00 am (UPDATED TIME)<br /><br />That the economy is growing again provides hope, but it will not lead to job growth or a lowering of unemployment for many months to come. Therefore, as recovery takes hold, it is ever important that economic policies focus on generating a robust, shared prosperity and millions more jobs as soon as possible. More than fifteen million Americans are out of work, and a third of them have been unemployed for six months or more. Millions more are underemployed. <br /><br />Moreover, these data obscure what has been a particularly devastating unemployment situation for Hispanic and black workers, whose unemployment rates are at almost 13% and over 15% respectively. EPI estimates that a third of the workforce will be unemployed or underemployed at some point in 2010, with the impact exceeding 40% in minority communities. And, as whole industries shutter with the decline of the manufacturing sector, communities built around good union jobs are withering away.<br /><br />Join the Economic Policy Institute, in partnership with the AFL-CIO, Center for Community Change, Leadership Conference on Civil Rights, NAACP and National Council of La Raza, as we shine a spotlight on the jobs crisis and its devastating impacts on workers and their communities. The Recovery Act has made a critically important contribution to alleviating the worse downturn in several generations, but more needs to be done as soon as possible to generate more jobs. With his recent call for a December summit on jobs, it is clear President Obama shares our sense of urgency.<br /><br />For more information, email events@epi.org.1000 Friends of CThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13438040541472706759noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4997234474717353821.post-71374699532140105352009-11-09T11:00:00.002-05:002009-11-09T11:07:02.493-05:00Connecticut Under-Invests in Pedestrian Safety1,000 Friends of Connecticut<br />Connecticut Bicycle Coalition<br />Connecticut Association for Community Transportation<br />Connecticut Livable Streets Campaign<br />Elm City Cycling<br />Greater Bridgeport Transit Authority<br />Regional Plan Association<br />Tri-State Transportation Campaign<br />The Yale Medical Campus Traffic Safety Group<br /> <br />FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE<br />November 9, 2009<br /><br />Media Contact: Ya-Ting Liu<br />Tri-State Transportation Campaign<br />212.268.7474 / yating@tstc.org<br /><br /> <br />National Report Shows Connecticut Under-Invests in Pedestrian Safety despite Available Federal Funding; Advocates Urge ConnDOT to Make Pedestrian Safety a Priority<br /> <br />A <a href="http://t4america.org/resources/dangerousbydesign/">new national report</a> by Transportation for America and Surface Transportation Policy Partnership finds that although 12.6% of total traffic fatalities in Connecticut were pedestrians in 2008, the state spends less than two percent of available federal transportation dollars to make roads safer for walkers, joggers and bicyclists.<br /><br />The timely report comes in the wake of five pedestrian fatalities and two near-fatalities in the last two weeks in Manchester, Farmington, West Hartford, Hartford and New Haven. These are tragic reminders that roads designed for speeding cars, without provisions for the safety of people on foot or bicycle are killing both pedestrians and motorists. <br /><br />Advocates said pedestrian traffic deaths are preventable if the state makes minor changes to transportation policies and funding practices.<br /><br />“While Connecticut has made strides to become more pedestrian and bike friendly over the past year, residents still face significant danger every time they set foot on Connecticut’s roads,” said Ryan Lynch, senior planner and Connecticut coordinator for the Tri-State Transportation Campaign, a non-profit policy watchdog organization. “Recent and tragic pedestrian fatalities only reinforce the need for Connecticut Department of Transportation to target resources to make roads safer for all users, including drivers, walkers and cyclists.” <br /><br />The advocates called on Connecticut Department of Transportation (ConnDOT) to:<br />• Prioritize pedestrian safety.<br />• Create and fund Safe Routes to School, Safe Routes to Transit and Safe Routes for Seniors programs.<br />• Designate at least 10% of federal Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP) money and 10% of federal Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) funding for programs that prevent traffic injuries and fatalities.<br />• Implement and expand the Complete Streets legislation passed in 2009.<br /><br />“In diverse and thriving cities like New Haven, the majority of residents do not drive to work every day. A growing number of Connecticut residents are making the decision to get around their cities and towns on foot, by bicycle or by transit simply because it is so much more convenient than driving. It has been clear for many years that state and federal governments must dramatically recalibrate their transportation investments so that our streets, crosswalks and sidewalks can better serve residents of all ages and abilities,” said Mark Abraham, a Steering Committee member of the Connecticut Livable Streets Campaign.<br /><br /> “As health professionals and students, we believe any sensible effort to stem the rising tide of the obesity, heart disease and diabetes epidemics must consider how to encourage physical activity on the streets of our cities and towns. We applaud the efforts of state and local officials in recognizing the importance of pedestrian safety, but as the Transportation for America report demonstrates, more needs to be done and done urgently,” said Natalie Spicyn and Jonathan Romanyshyn of the Yale Medical Campus Traffic Safety Group. <br /><br />“One factor that discourages more individuals from using transit is that in many locations walking to and from a bus stop is unsafe, unpleasant or impossible,” said Ron Kilcoyne, General Manager/CEO of Greater Bridgeport Transit Authority.<br /><br />"Although cycling and walking are generally safe and pleasant ways to travel around our cities, urban infrastructure, traffic volumes, and high rates of aggressive and inattentive driving present significant challenges, both actual and perceived, to many street users including children, the elderly, the disabled, and novice or inexperienced cyclists and pedestrians," said Bill Kurtz of Elm City Cycling.1000 Friends of CThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13438040541472706759noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4997234474717353821.post-88873339039084979982009-11-09T10:38:00.000-05:002009-11-09T10:39:45.611-05:00JOB ANNOUNCEMENTJOB ANNOUNCEMENT<br /> <br />1000 FRIENDS of Connecticut, a Hartford-based non-profit organization dedicated to promoting principles of responsible, sustainable economic growth compatible with a healthy environment, seeks a Chief Executive Officer to manage its day-to-day operations. Working with a Board of Trustees, the CEO will be responsible for program development and administration, communications, personnel, budget, and finance. <br /> <br />The purpose of 1000 FRIENDS of Connecticut is to mobilize a broad-based membership representing diverse interests affected by growth and development in Connecticut, including transportation, housing, land use planning and open space, and tax policy. We support, advocate and promote community vitality and encourage growth throughout Connecticut, and we work to expand and strengthen these in Connecticut Communities.<br /> <br />Duties include working with the Board to:<br />*Facilitate strategic planning for the organization<br />* Coordinate and manage the organization’s advocacy and education goals<br />*Coordinate and manage fundraising activities<br />* Represent the organization in the public eye<br />*Grow the organization’s public profile<br />*Oversee budgeting and financial management<br /> <br />Salary commensurate with experience.<br /> <br />Please send cover letter, resume, writing sample, references, and salary requirements to <a href="info@1000friends-ct.org">info@1000Friends-ct.org</a> by November 24 (subject line Resume).1000 Friends of CThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13438040541472706759noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4997234474717353821.post-81891794171573101932009-11-05T09:46:00.002-05:002009-11-05T09:49:16.512-05:00Essential Smart Growth Fixes for Urban and Suburban Zoning CodesCan't wait to see how these fixes compare with the model smart growth zoning code being prepared by students at the UCONN Law School this semester!<br /><br />EPA Announcement below:<br /><br />Across the country, local governments are searching for ways to create vibrant communities that attract jobs, foster economic development, and are attractive places for people to live, work, and play. But many are discovering that their own land development codes and ordinances often get in the way of achieving these goals, and they may not have the resources or expertise to make the specific regulatory changes that will create more sustainable communities.<br /><br />To respond to this need, EPA's Smart Growth Program convened a panel of national smart growth code experts to identify the topics in local zoning codes that are essential to creating the building blocks of smart growth. This document, <a href="http://www.epa.gov/smartgrowth/essential_fixes.htm">Essential Smart Growth Fixes for Urban and Suburban Zoning Codes</a>, presents the panel's initial work. It is an evolving document, one that will be regularly revised, added to, and updated, and is intended to spark a larger conversation about the tools and information local governments need to revise their land development regulations. <br /><br />The document explores 11 "Essential Fixes"; addressing the most common barriers local governments face in implementing smart growth. Topics include mixing land uses, fixing parking requirements, modernizing street standards, managing stormwater, and adopting smart annexation policies, among others. Each Essential Fix describes the problem or barrier and the actions that the community could take to overcome that barrier. These actions are organized as modest adjustments, major modifications, or wholesale changes to give communities options based on their political will, financial resources, and organizational capacity. Communities can apply parts of fixes or multiple fixes or entirely overhaul their codes.<br /><br />This tool does not include model language, nor is it intended to provide model codes or ordinances (click here to find some specific examples of codes that support smart growth development). The information here, however, can help communities evaluate their existing codes and ordinances and apply the information to create more environmentally, economically, and socially sustainable communities. This document focuses primarily on barriers in suburban and urban communities. Similar issues regarding rural development will be addressed in a subsequent document that is planned for release in January 2010.<br /><br />We intend to continually revise, update, and expand the information provided here. Please send comments, feedback, or suggestions to the EPA project manager, Kevin Nelson, AICP, at nelson.kevin@epa.gov or 202-566-2835.<br /><br />************1000 Friends of CThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13438040541472706759noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4997234474717353821.post-57540491858544840042009-11-04T08:18:00.003-05:002009-11-04T08:25:55.000-05:00Field Hearing & CommunityDon't you love the term "development community"? I like it almost as much as "environmental community" or "business community" or "nonprofit community". <br /><br />But we who live in and among all those "communities" know they aren't homogenous groups with single agendas. <br /><br />We need to be sure that when the "development community" speaks it includes the voices of Connecticut's green builders, sustainable development professionals, affordable housing developers, and includes not-for-profit as well as for-profit developers.<br /><br />Below is an announcement of a field hearing on the state plan for the "development community". <br /><br />_________________________________________________________________ <br />To The Smart Growth Working Group:<br /> <br />Below is a reminder about a field meeting scheduled for Thursday, November 5th at 3 pm in Wallingford regarding the State Plan of Conservation and Development. <br /> <br />As I mentioned at our last meeting, the Continuing Committee of the State Plan of C&D is following through on one of our bills - P.A. 09-230 - by holding a series of public meetings about how the State Plan is developed and how we can best incorporate Smart Growth principles into the next iteration of the Plan. This meeting was specifically requested by those in the development community as well as from towns to hear about the practical impacts of the State Plan at the ground level. This is the second of three planned meetings between now and the holidays, after which time the Continuing Committee will begin developing a report to the General Assembly about its findings.<br /> <br />A link to directions is included below. Hope you can attend, and feel free to pass this information on to others who may be interested.<br /> <br />Rep. Brendan Sharkey<br />88th District - Hamden<br /><br /><br />--------------------------------------------------------------------------------<br /><br /><br />To All Members of the Continuing Committee on State Planning and Development:<br /> <br />There will be a meeting on 11/5/09 at 3PM at The Willows in Wallingford. This meeting serves as part of the informational hearings we are holding on recommendations to update the State Plan of Conservation and Development. We hope to educate ourselves on how the State Plan affects professionals on the frontline, specifically our engineers and town planners. We ask that all members attend so that we may engage in discussion and get some practical input on the state plan at the local level. For directions to The Willows (located at 751 N Farms Road Wallingford CT) please reference the following <a href="http://www.thewillowsct.com/ww_directons.html">link</a>.1000 Friends of CThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13438040541472706759noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4997234474717353821.post-120511022774717782009-11-02T17:24:00.001-05:002009-11-02T17:25:25.563-05:00Local Elections in 162/169 TownsLocal government is where the rubber hits the road. Find out where candidates in your town stand on compact/mixed use zoning, traffic calming, bike lanes, sidewalks, brownfield clean up, affordable housing, historic preservation, farmland protection and securing priority open space. <br /><br />Know who you're voting for. Then, VOTE!1000 Friends of CThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13438040541472706759noreply@blogger.com0