FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: FOR MORE INFORMATION:
October 30, 2009 Susan Merrow. 860-537-5302
ONE THOUSAND FRIENDS OF CONNECTICUT ANNOUNCES CHANGES IN LEADERSHIP
The Board of Trustees of 1000 FRIENDS of Connecticut announced today that its President and CEO, Heidi Green, will be taking her leave of that position in late November. Heidi Green has held that position since September of 2005, having come on Board as 1000 Friends’ first full-time staff person. “We have learned and grown so much under Heidi’s guidance these last few years. We will be sad to say goodbye, and we will be working even harder to capitalize on her hard work,” said Susan Merrow, Board Chairperson. “Heidi has put us on the map in the smart growth public policy arena. Her tireless promotion of the principles of rational, sustainable growth, sensible land-use planning, better transportation and tax policies have left their mark on our state, its laws, and policies. We wish her all the best, and we will welcome her back as one of our most valued ‘FRIENDS’,” Merrow continued. The Board of 1000 Friends has begun the process of seeking a new CEO. Heidi Green will be joining the leadership giving staff of Trinity College. 10000 FRIENDS is a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing the principle of smart growth in Connecticut through an educated citizenry and the promotion of sound public policy.
In the last year alone,
• the organization saw legislative success. We helped make it easier to clean up environmentally-contaminated sites, reuse historic mill buildings, finance green developments, and make our streets more bicycle and pedestrian-friendly;
• our Smart Growth Project Evaluation Team endorsed and publicized three smart growth real estate developments: Storrs Center, in Mansfield; 360 State Street in New Haven; and MetroGreen Apartments in Stamford; and
• we gave our first ever award -- the Smartie -- to Smart Growth Champ Tom Condon, indefatigable Hartford Courant columnist and Place Section editor, at our Fourth Annual Meeting.
Friday, October 30, 2009
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Smart Growth America President Cheers Senate Climate Action
SGA Partners,
I wanted to be the first to give you the great news. Thanks to your
efforts to educate your Senators on the many benefits that smart
growth and green transportation strategies have for the environment,
the economy, and quality of life we were able to get an increase in
funding in the Senate climate bill for these strategies.
The latest version of the Senate's Clean Energy Jobs and American
Power Act includes about 2.4% for smart growth and transportation, up
from a max of 1% in the House climate legislation. While this might
look small, this achievement should not be underestimated. We were up
against many other interests for additional funding from the bill,
including industry groups with deep pockets and better access. Our
efforts couldn't have succeeded without the help of our national
partners to go to Capitol Hill and convince Senators of the benefits
of these strategies and especially the help of all of you in the field
telling your Senators that their constituents want these investments.
I think we should all take a moment to celebrate this victory. But,
we need to realize that this isn't the end. We will continue to work
to increase the revenue going to smart growth and green transportation
to 5%, while at the same time protecting the policy language and
funding we currently do have. Kate and Stephanie will continue to keep
you updated as the climate bill moves forward so please keep an eye
out for their messages.
Thanks again,
Geoff
Geoffrey Anderson
President and CEO
Smart Growth America
1707 L St. NW
Suite 1050
Washington, DC 20036
I wanted to be the first to give you the great news. Thanks to your
efforts to educate your Senators on the many benefits that smart
growth and green transportation strategies have for the environment,
the economy, and quality of life we were able to get an increase in
funding in the Senate climate bill for these strategies.
The latest version of the Senate's Clean Energy Jobs and American
Power Act includes about 2.4% for smart growth and transportation, up
from a max of 1% in the House climate legislation. While this might
look small, this achievement should not be underestimated. We were up
against many other interests for additional funding from the bill,
including industry groups with deep pockets and better access. Our
efforts couldn't have succeeded without the help of our national
partners to go to Capitol Hill and convince Senators of the benefits
of these strategies and especially the help of all of you in the field
telling your Senators that their constituents want these investments.
I think we should all take a moment to celebrate this victory. But,
we need to realize that this isn't the end. We will continue to work
to increase the revenue going to smart growth and green transportation
to 5%, while at the same time protecting the policy language and
funding we currently do have. Kate and Stephanie will continue to keep
you updated as the climate bill moves forward so please keep an eye
out for their messages.
Thanks again,
Geoff
Geoffrey Anderson
President and CEO
Smart Growth America
1707 L St. NW
Suite 1050
Washington, DC 20036
Thursday, October 15, 2009
October Smart Growth ENews
Hot off the presses, 1000 Friends of Connecticut's October ENews.
As always, to subscribe or unsubscribe to the newsletter.
As always, to subscribe or unsubscribe to the newsletter.
DODD MEETS WITH NEW METROPOLITAN TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY CHAIRMAN
Washington, D.C. – Senator Chris Dodd (D-CT) met with Jay Walder, the new Chairman of the New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority, today to discuss how to improve Metro-North service in Connecticut. As Chairman of the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, Dodd oversees transit issues and will be responsible for transit as Congress takes up a major rewrite of transportation law in the coming months.
“Chairman Walder and I had a good discussion about the challenges facing Metro-North and how we can improve it to make sure that Connecticut residents can count on Metro-North for fast, safe, reliable travel every day,” said Dodd. “Thanks to stimulus funding, we’ve already begun work to upgrade the Danbury branch line, extending safer and more reliable rail service to communities all the way from Norwalk to Danbury. As I told Chairman Walder, I’m committed to improving the Metro North experience for passengers and expanding it to encourage more Connecticut residents to take advantage of what it has to offer.”
Dodd is working to expand transit opportunities in Connecticut and across the country.
In April, Dodd held a field hearing in New Haven to discuss the transit challenges facing Connecticut. Metro North President Howard Permut testified, along with Connecticut Department of Transportation Commissioner Joe Marie and several other transit experts. Dodd is also working to develop the New Haven-Hartford-Springfield rail line, bringing Connecticut officials to Washington to meet with leaders of the Federal Transit Administration and Federal Railroad Administration, and inviting federal officials to Connecticut.
Earlier this year, Dodd passed a measure to allow transit agencies to use up to 10 percent of the funding they receive under the Recovery Act to cover operating expenses to help transit agencies prevent fare increases, avoid lay-offs, furloughs and significant cuts in service.
Dodd has also introduced the Livable Communities Act, a bill to help local communities plan and implement projects that improve transportation, housing, and economic development.
The MTA the largest public transportation agency in the country, carrying 2.8 billion passengers a year on New York City Transit, Long Island Rail Road, Metro-North, Long Island Bus and MTA Bus. Metro-North’s New Haven Line, which Metro-North operates for the Connecticut DOT, is the largest commuter rail line in the nation and in 2008 carried 38 million of Metro-North's 84 million passengers.
“Chairman Walder and I had a good discussion about the challenges facing Metro-North and how we can improve it to make sure that Connecticut residents can count on Metro-North for fast, safe, reliable travel every day,” said Dodd. “Thanks to stimulus funding, we’ve already begun work to upgrade the Danbury branch line, extending safer and more reliable rail service to communities all the way from Norwalk to Danbury. As I told Chairman Walder, I’m committed to improving the Metro North experience for passengers and expanding it to encourage more Connecticut residents to take advantage of what it has to offer.”
Dodd is working to expand transit opportunities in Connecticut and across the country.
In April, Dodd held a field hearing in New Haven to discuss the transit challenges facing Connecticut. Metro North President Howard Permut testified, along with Connecticut Department of Transportation Commissioner Joe Marie and several other transit experts. Dodd is also working to develop the New Haven-Hartford-Springfield rail line, bringing Connecticut officials to Washington to meet with leaders of the Federal Transit Administration and Federal Railroad Administration, and inviting federal officials to Connecticut.
Earlier this year, Dodd passed a measure to allow transit agencies to use up to 10 percent of the funding they receive under the Recovery Act to cover operating expenses to help transit agencies prevent fare increases, avoid lay-offs, furloughs and significant cuts in service.
Dodd has also introduced the Livable Communities Act, a bill to help local communities plan and implement projects that improve transportation, housing, and economic development.
The MTA the largest public transportation agency in the country, carrying 2.8 billion passengers a year on New York City Transit, Long Island Rail Road, Metro-North, Long Island Bus and MTA Bus. Metro-North’s New Haven Line, which Metro-North operates for the Connecticut DOT, is the largest commuter rail line in the nation and in 2008 carried 38 million of Metro-North's 84 million passengers.
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Benefits on reusing dirty sites and GHG reductions
The EPA recently released a report that quantifies the climate-changing greenhouse gas imacts of sprawling land use development and the benefits of reusing brownfield sites. It estimates GHG emissions related to greenfield development -- from the “decay and release of organic carbon to the atmosphere… bio‐carbon can be released from soil, plants, and dead organic matter, such as leaf litter.” The study concludes that these bio-carbon releases may comprise 4 percent of total GHG emissions.
The report also calls particular attention to the potential to reduce GHG emissions by converting “EPA-tracked contaminated land for utility-scale solar and wind,” and “increasing re-cycling of construction debris.”
The report also calls particular attention to the potential to reduce GHG emissions by converting “EPA-tracked contaminated land for utility-scale solar and wind,” and “increasing re-cycling of construction debris.”
Saturday, October 10, 2009
Coalition for an Accountable Recovery to advise media on Recovery.gov data
October 9, 2009
For Immediate Release
Contact: Michelle Lee 202-232-1616 x 211
Or Brian Gumm at 202-683-4812
Coalition for an Accountable Recovery to Advise
Media on Recovery.gov Data Ahead of 10/15 Release
Washington, DC – The Coalition for an Accountable Recovery (CAR) will convene a telephone briefing on Tuesday, October 13th for journalists covering the first quarterly round of spending data from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), which is due out on Thursday October 15th.
The purpose of the briefing will be to: review those forms of ARRA spending that will be disclosed (and those that will not); to review what is known about what the data will show; and to answer any questions reporters have about this and future data releases. (Much more data will be issued October 30th.)
The briefing will be led by Gary Bass, executive director of OMB Watch, and Greg LeRoy, executive director of Good Jobs First. The two organizations co-chair CAR.
Date: Tuesday, October 13th, 2009
Time: 1:00 pm Eastern
Call-in: 219-509-8020
Code 287971
The Coalition for an Accountable Recovery (CAR) was formed in February 2009 by about 30 groups to promote transparency and accountability in the $787 billion Recovery Act. In numerous communications, meetings and public events since, it has helped diverse organizations learn more about the act and participate in the debate over its implementation.
OMB Watch is a nonprofit group founded in 1983 to promote government transparency and accountability, equitable regulatory and budgetary processes and policies, and active citizen participation in our democracy. Good Jobs First is a nonprofit founded in 1998 to promote corporate and government accountability in economic development and smart growth for working families.
For Immediate Release
Contact: Michelle Lee 202-232-1616 x 211
Or Brian Gumm at 202-683-4812
Coalition for an Accountable Recovery to Advise
Media on Recovery.gov Data Ahead of 10/15 Release
Washington, DC – The Coalition for an Accountable Recovery (CAR) will convene a telephone briefing on Tuesday, October 13th for journalists covering the first quarterly round of spending data from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), which is due out on Thursday October 15th.
The purpose of the briefing will be to: review those forms of ARRA spending that will be disclosed (and those that will not); to review what is known about what the data will show; and to answer any questions reporters have about this and future data releases. (Much more data will be issued October 30th.)
The briefing will be led by Gary Bass, executive director of OMB Watch, and Greg LeRoy, executive director of Good Jobs First. The two organizations co-chair CAR.
Date: Tuesday, October 13th, 2009
Time: 1:00 pm Eastern
Call-in: 219-509-8020
Code 287971
The Coalition for an Accountable Recovery (CAR) was formed in February 2009 by about 30 groups to promote transparency and accountability in the $787 billion Recovery Act. In numerous communications, meetings and public events since, it has helped diverse organizations learn more about the act and participate in the debate over its implementation.
OMB Watch is a nonprofit group founded in 1983 to promote government transparency and accountability, equitable regulatory and budgetary processes and policies, and active citizen participation in our democracy. Good Jobs First is a nonprofit founded in 1998 to promote corporate and government accountability in economic development and smart growth for working families.
So, you want to help your community develop sustainably, but you don’t know how?
A new report takes a comprehensive look at the state of tools municipalities can use to model and evaluate relative climate change benefits earned by developing differently. The tools it explores can be employed at the project, neighborhood and metropolitan scale. It summarizes the relationship between urban form and climate change and features four case studies on how tools are being used today.
We won’t be able to reduce greenhouse gas emissions with technology alone, we will need to combine technological change with changes in our behaviors, transportation priorities, building design and placement, economic development strategies, and fair housing policy. In Connecticut, most planning is done locally, these tools offer ways for volunteers and town staff to develop the analysis they need to plan successful and sustainable communities.
The tools discussed are:
• Athena Impact Estimator for Buildings;
• Community Energy and Emissions Inventory;
• Community Viz;
• Development Pattern Approach;
• Energy Demand Characterization;
• Envision Tomorrow;
• INDEX and Cool Spots;
• I-PLACE3S ;
• MetroQuest;
• Neighborhood Explorations the View of Density;
• Tool for Evaluating Neighbourhood Sustainability; and
• UPlan.
The report is Urban Planning Tools for Climate Change. Its authors are: Patrick M. Condon, Duncan Cavens, and Nicole Miller. It was published by the Lincoln Institute of Land Policy and is available for purchase in hard copy or free download at www.lincolninst.edu.
We won’t be able to reduce greenhouse gas emissions with technology alone, we will need to combine technological change with changes in our behaviors, transportation priorities, building design and placement, economic development strategies, and fair housing policy. In Connecticut, most planning is done locally, these tools offer ways for volunteers and town staff to develop the analysis they need to plan successful and sustainable communities.
The tools discussed are:
• Athena Impact Estimator for Buildings;
• Community Energy and Emissions Inventory;
• Community Viz;
• Development Pattern Approach;
• Energy Demand Characterization;
• Envision Tomorrow;
• INDEX and Cool Spots;
• I-PLACE3S ;
• MetroQuest;
• Neighborhood Explorations the View of Density;
• Tool for Evaluating Neighbourhood Sustainability; and
• UPlan.
The report is Urban Planning Tools for Climate Change. Its authors are: Patrick M. Condon, Duncan Cavens, and Nicole Miller. It was published by the Lincoln Institute of Land Policy and is available for purchase in hard copy or free download at www.lincolninst.edu.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
