Happy Earth Week!
Last week, the MA State Senate passed a new climate bill that accelerates our clean energy transition (read about it here), but there’s much more that we need to do, from investing in our public transportation systems to investing in equitable tree canopy and much, much more.
Fair Share Amendment Canvass Kickoffs!
Join the Fair Share Amendment Campaign to kick off the effort’s first regional canvasses of 2022!
We’ll be joining allies from across the Commonwealth in Raise Up Mass to hit the doors and talk to voters about how the Fair Share Amendment could transform our communities—from well-resourced and affordable public education to safe roads and bridges and reliable public transportation. A successful response to climate change depends on robust, ongoing investments in public transit, and the Fair Share Amendment will provide the sustainable revenue to make that a reality.
Canvass Kickoffs are being held in:
- Pittsfield – Saturday, April 23
- Springfield – Saturday, April 23
- Lynn – Saturday, April 30
- Boston – Saturday, April 30
- New Bedford – Saturday, April 30
The Fair Share Amendment is a proposal to add a small tax on annual individual incomes exceeding $1 million. While the amendment is expected to impact fewer than 1% of taxpayers, it is projected to raise nearly $2 billion each year for investments in public education and infrastructure improvements. The Fair Share Amendment is on the ballot statewide on November 8, 2022.
A Livable Commonwealth: Trees as a Public Good
Thursday April 21, 2022, 7:00 pm EDT
https://bit.ly/Trees-As-A-Public-Good
Mature trees sequester substantial amounts of carbon, something that saplings cannot accomplish for decades. The loss of even a single tree impacts air quality, heat levels, and storm water drainage. So every loss of a mature tree contributes to the climate crisis and impacts public health. Neighborhoods and towns with less wealth and more people of color have fewer trees and are at greater risk for health and climate emergencies, making the loss of mature trees also an environmental justice issue. This online forum on Thursday, April 21 at 7 pm EDT will make the case that trees are a public good and discuss steps that local organizations and communities can take to protect our tree canopies.
And Mark Your Calendars…..
Lobby & Learn: The End-of-Session Clock is Ticking!
The current Legislative Session in Massachusetts will be coming to a close at the end of July, and that date will be here before you know it.
Rather than a typical virtual lobby day, this event — hosted on Wednesday, May 4th, from 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm — will be focused on learning more about some of our top legislative priorities and how to take action to support them.
The first hour will consist of deep dives on legislation. The second hour will consist of breakout groups for taking action in this critical part of the session: whether phone banking or text-banking to constituents of key legislators, relational organizing, or letter-writing. May the force of advocacy be with you in May and always!
