Urge your Members of Congress to support the Break Free from Plastic Prevention Act

Please, reach out to your Members of Congress to support the Break Free from Plastic Prevention Act of 2021 (H.R. 2238, S.984) and to thank Rep. Grijalva for co-sponsoring the Act.

Below is the letter drafted by the head of  Sustainable Tucson's Zero Plastic Waste Team, Kevin Green. You can cut and paste your message on their website (addresses below.)

Rep. Kirkpatrick
https://kirkpatrick.house.gov/contact/email-me/
Phone: 520-881-3588

Rep. O'halleran
https://ohalleran.house.gov/zip-code-lookup?form=/contact/email
520-316-0839

Sen. Sinema
https://www.sinema.senate.gov/contact-kyrsten
(520) 639-7080

Sen. Kelly
https://www.kelly.senate.gov/
520-475-5177

To thank Rep. Grijalva for being a co-sponsor of the act:

Rep. Grijalva
https://grijalva.house.gov/contact-raul/
(520) 622-6788

Sample letter:

I am reaching out to urge you to support the Break Free from Plastic Prevention Act of 2021 (H.R. 2238, S.984). Introduced by Sen. Jeff Merkley (OR) and Rep. Alan Lowenthal (CA), this bill represents the most comprehensive set of policy solutions to the plastic pollution crisis ever introduced in the U.S. Congress.

Introduced by Sen. Jeff Merkley (OR) and Rep. Alan Lowenthal (CA), this bill represents the most comprehensive set of policy solutions to the plastic pollution crisis ever introduced in the U.S. Congress.

The United States generates more plastic waste than any country in the world. Plastic is made from fossil fuels by processes that cause air pollution and contribute to climate change. Up to 50% of plastics manufactured are for single-use purposes — used for just a few moments and then discarded. Most plastic is never recycled — over 90% of it ends up in landfills or our oceans.

Plastic pollution is inundating our communities, our waterways, and even our bodies. It is making its way into our food, drinking water, and even the air in the form of microplastics — plastic debris that breaks up into smaller and smaller particles.

Plastic contributes to climate change at every step of its life cycle, from extraction to refinement, manufacture, transportation, disposal, and waste.

The BFFPPA will tackle the exploding crisis of plastic pollution and transform waste and recycling management in the U.S. Key provisions of the bill include:

• Phasing out unnecessary single-use plastics,
• Establishing national recycling targets,
• Shifting responsibility for waste management and recycling to the manufacturers and producers,
• Establishing minimum recycled content standards,
• Encouraging a shift to refillable and reusable alternatives,
• Creating a moratorium on new plastic production facilities

These changes are all important to help ensure a healthy and climate resilient future.

We cannot simply recycle our way out of a crisis this massive. Corporations and plastic producers must take responsibility for the waste created by their products. We must address the problem at the source by reducing the amount of single-use plastic we use and encouraging a shift toward better and reusable materials.

Please support this national legislation that is crucial to meaningfully addressing the plastic waste problem.

TAKE ACTION: Next steps on Move Tucson transportation plan

Move Tucson is the city-wide mobility plan being developed as a way to implement Tucson's Complete Streets policy. For the past several months Department of Transportation and Mobility has been working to analyze existing conditions of our transportation network, and gain an understanding of community priorities. TDTM has identified 234 projects totaling approximately $5.7 billion dollars that will make Tucson's transportation system more complete.

Tucson's Department of Transportation and Mobility (TDTM) has compiled its Move Tucson projects list based on survey feedback, and the next steps include:
(1) Asking Tucsonans to further prioritize what work should be done when. 
(2) TDTM will host a virtual town hall on Fri 23-JUL-2021 at 12:00N to gather your comments. More info at -- https://movetucson.org

Join by computer at -- https://bit.ly/MoveTucsonTownHall2

From March until August 2020, Tucsonans shared their vision for the city’s mobility future. Over 4,500 people participated in the online survey from all areas of the city.

These responses confirmed that Tucsonans want:
Roads, streets, and paths that provide safe and connected access for all modes.
Better ways to travel across town
Safety improvements for all modes, particularly for those walking and biking

Improve connectivity by closing network gaps, providing safe crossings at major roadways for all users, and supporting cross-town mobility options

Prioritize maintenance, including repaving roadways and bikeways, removing debris, repairing sidewalks, and addressing potholes across the network
Increased options for how to get around
Transportation options that support a sustainable city

Increase shade and vegetation to improve comfort of travel along roadways and paths
Improve access for persons with disabilities, particularly for trails and bridges
Slow vehicle speeds to improve safety and comfort of travel along city roadways

Catalyst Corridor projects (see pic above) are large-scale Complete Streets projects that create space for multiple modes along an entire corridor, creating significant change to the look, feel, and operations on the street. These projects improve safety and access for most modes of travel and will involve: reconstructing pavement, adding continuous sidewalks and enhanced bike lanes, and upgrading traffic signals, among others. 
$1,828,792,775 COMBINED COST
SEE PROJECT LIST (PDF)122

Move Tucson is asking Tucsonans to look over the proposed projects and indicate their priorities on a new interactive map and to share where they would like the money budgeted to go. 

Check out their online map + share your thoughts:

(1) Project map 

https://movetucsonrecommendations.altaplanning.cloud/storage/app/media/project_lists/Move%20Tucson_%20MAP_Draft%20Prioritization%20Results_20210615.pdf

(2) Project list 
https://movetucsonrecommendations.altaplanning.cloud/storage/app/media/project_lists/MoveTucson_CombinedProjectList.pdf

(3) Step through the different categories and detailed explanations of each (requires javascript) -- https://movetucsonrecommendations.altaplanning.cloud/en#/catalyst-corridor-projects

(4) Survey form (requires javascript that is already set up in most computers) -- https://movetucsonrecommendations.altaplanning.cloud/en#/overview

More Information:

Diana Alarcon shared a presentation on proposed projects and how to navigate the Move Tucson app. 

https://youtu.be/CO4cybvj1lE?t=1185

This is a key moment to help them further prioritize which of the projects is implemented first. Make sure to take the survey and share your thoughts and priorities! Your input helps shape this very important transportation initiative that will guide Tucson's growth for generations to come.

Expand Access To Nature - Urge Your Legislator To Cosponsor The Transit To Trails Act!

 If you want to take action to increase equitable access to public lands and parks, please, support the Transit to Trails Act you can do so here: https://sc.org/3jrr37G

Below is the wording in the Sierra Club petition. It is always a good idea to add a personal comment. 

Please Become a Cosponsor of the Transit to Trails Act (H.R. 2924 and S. 1461)

I urge you to cosponsor the Transit to Trails Act, a bill that seeks to reduce barriers between people and nature by providing new grant funding from the Department of Transportation for transportation systems to and from underserved communities and public lands.

Everyone, regardless of their zip code, should have the opportunity to enjoy our nation's vast network of national parks and publicly protected lands. Outdoor recreation contributes more than $750 billion to our economy, yet access to our nation's public lands is limited to people who own a car.

The positive effects of nature have been proven, and everyone should be able to enjoy our public lands. Accessible transportation options help achieve this.

Please join your colleagues in Congress to advance outdoor opportunities for all communities by co-sponsoring and supporting the Transit to Trails Act.

More information:

Closing the Nature Equity Gap with Public Transit

COMMENTS NEEDED TODAY to protect the San Pedro River!

photo by G. Anderson, WWP 

Comments Needed 

The San Pedro Riparian National Conservation Area was set aside by Presidential Proclamation in 1988 to conserve, protect, and enhance the unique and fragile San Pedro River and the public lands along its banks. This was the first Riparian National Conservation Area ever designated, and it is truly a special and ecologically important place. Because of this designation, the Bureau of Land Management has a heightened duty to “protect the riparian areas and the aquatic, wildlife, archeological, paleontological, scientific, cultural, educational, and recreational resources of the public lands surrounding the San Pedro River in Cochise County.”

Unfortunately, the Bureau has failed to meet their burden in protecting this riparian desert treasure, and for decades has allowed livestock grazing to continue to damage wildlife habitats, the uplands, the riparian areas, and the river itself. Right now, the Bureau is proposing to issue 10-year grazing leases to a small group of ranchers who will be able to graze their cows at rock bottom prices (just $1.35 per cow-calf pair per month), while at the same time turning their backs on mountains of evidence clearly indicating that livestock do not belong on these conservation lands.

We need your help, to let the Bureau know that we expect them to faithfully do their job.

Urge the BLM to conserve, protect, and enhance the San Pedro Riparian National Conservation Area by eliminating livestock grazing from the entirety of the area.

You can send your comments to the BLM via email: blm_az_tfo_sprnca_rmp@blm.gov.

We’ve read through nearly 400 pages of documents and developed these talking points to get you started on your own letter to the agency:

• The BLM must recognize that a proposal to authorize four 10-year leases in a Riparian National Conservation Area requires the full review and analysis of an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), rather than the abbreviated analysis and timeframe for public comment allowed in an Environmental Analysis (EA).

• The agency must analyze at least one alternative that eliminates livestock grazing from all portions of all allotments that fall within the boundaries of the San Pedro RNCA.

• The public deserves to know how much the fencing, stock tanks, troughs, and other livestock infrastructure will cost, and how much money the ranchers will be required to pay for the privilege of grazing these publicly owned lands.

• The agency must analyze the impacts on recreational users of their plan to put cows, fences, gates, and huge gap fences across the Babocomari River, as well impacts of livestock on educational and cultural resources.

• The agency must develop a plan to address the ongoing and longstanding problem of cows trespassing into the San Pedro RNCA and must disclose how these new 10-year leases will exacerbate that problem.

• Ask the agency to protect the Outstandingly Remarkable Values of the Babocomari and San Pedro Rivers and not to compromise the ability of these rivers to be designated as Wild and Scenic Rivers.

• The agency must be held accountable for failing to protect public health by allowing livestock to contaminate the San Pedro and Babocomari Rivers with E. coli, violating Arizona’s clean water standards.

• Finally, the agency needs to explain how allowing livestock in a national riparian conservation area during a period of extraordinary drought, and in light of climate change impacts to rivers and wildlife, meets the agency’s duty to conserve, protect, and enhance these lands.

The BLM will release an environmental analysis (EA) document for the next step in this process. Given that the Land Health Evaluations and scoping packet were almost 400 pages, we expect the EA will be huge, but no matter how much paperwork the BLM does, it is likely to again miss the mark on actually ensuring grazing conserves, protects, and enhances the special resources of the San Pedro Riparian NCA

If you have visited the San Pedro RNCA, you can send photos, stories, drawings, songs or poems about your visit in your comments and let BLM know how important these public lands are to you.

Thank you for taking the time to speak out for this precious place! For more information, contact Cyndi Tuell, cyndi@westernwatersheds.org

- WWP

More information: 

BLM considers renewing cattle grazing along San Pedro River with new conditions

https://tucson.com/news/local/blm-considers-renewing-cattle-grazing-along-san-pedro-river-with-new-conditions/article_c9252d72-d37e-11eb-9edb-f765d9cc65cd.html?fbclid=IwAR3-GqiS89LyFX2YtXiIoAWl16XQ26DNYqzxYblOqLjbJ-7b_kKRH0UwA8M

TELL PAG & RTA: ENACT AN INCLUSIVE & GREEN TRANSPORTATION PLAN

Please, call on the Pima Association of Governments (PAG)'s Regional Council & The Regional Transportation Authority (RTA)'s Board of Directors to have an inclusive, green, and just mobility agenda. The people who live and pay taxes in the City of Tucson deserve fair funding & representation, and a regional mobility plan that is reflective of our needs as residents of Tucson. We know that investments that make sense for Tucson and our region include a mobility system that is safe and accessible for people walking and biking; a transit system that includes an electrified fleet and rapid transit; and maintenance of our aging road infrastructure.

Tucson is the third most quickly heating city in the United States. Transportation emissions created are the largest contributor to greenhouse gases. Any regional transportation plan must address issues of climate change, adaptation and resilience. This means we need a focus on alternate modes of transportation as a priority with the following conditions addressed:

• A re-imagined and updated Citizens Advisory Committee (CAC) that is reflective of our community and includes members from a wide variety of demographics and perspectives. The current CAC sunset was at the end of May 2021.

• A clear commitment to green transit

• Equitable distributions of funds and projects to Tucson, in particular, the South side of Tucson.

• The voices of the Tohono O'odham Nation and the Pascua Yaqui be represented at every table and decision-making opportunity

• Transparency and decision-making open to the public in tangible, meaningful ways

• Increased transportation choices, improved safety, and investments in maintaining existing infrastructure

• Opportunities for the participation, input and collaboration of Tucson residents beyond the CAC

• Sharing of all public comments and input in their entirety available to all levels of PAG/RTA, administration and the public

• Flexibility and responsiveness to changing traffic patterns, land uses, and emerging technologies that will occur over the life of the plan

WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT?

Transportation, Transit and Mobility are among the most critical issues we face today. We have made and continue to make our voices heard by participating in MOVE TUCSON planning. We want a mobility plan for Tucson's future and not a distant past. We need a regional transportation plan, like the RTA Next, that is innovative and inclusive.

Please, sign this petition and share this with your friends. 

https://action.mijente.net/petitions/transporte-verde-y-popular?share=8facb505-157a-4187-910a-275cb90e1f36&source=email-share-button&utm_medium=social&utm_source=actionemail

Ask Rep. Kirkpatrick to support the "We the People Amendment."

H.J.Res 48, the "We the People Amendment," is finally listed on Congress.gov. After only a week we have 57 cosponsors, but Congresswoman Kirkpatrick is not yet one of them.

Representative Kirkpatrick took a pledge in 2018 to support the We the People Amendment but she has not yet come through on her promise. She needs to hear from more constituents.

Insistence and persistence are two key principles for being heard by our elected representatives.

Those are the goals of #WethePeopleWednesdays!

One short call. Every. Single. Wednesday.

The message: "I'm calling to ask Rep. Kirkpatrick to come through on her pledge and co-sponsor HJR 48, the We the People Amendment---the only solution that comprehensively addresses the undemocratic constitutional doctrines that political money in elections is free speech and corporations are persons with constitutional rights.”

The numbers:

DC - (202) 225-2542

Sierra Vista - (520) 459-3115

Tucson - (520) 881-3588

Stop Arizona bill that will roll back tobacco prevention laws. Contact your Arizona reps now.

The Arizona House of Representatives is about to vote on a very bad bill. Backed by the tobacco industry, HB-2682 would roll back local tobacco prevention laws across the state and ban Arizona communities from passing new ones!

We have to stop it from passing. Please contact your state representative ASAP:

In communities across Arizona, parents, teachers, doctors, and local elected officials have come together to decide what's best for their kids, passing laws that protect them from tobacco products and tobacco industry targeting. HB-2682 would undo this work, decimate local tobacco control efforts, and give the tobacco industry free reign in our state. It's truly a gift to Big Tobacco.

And it's especially egregious as Arizona faces a new youth nicotine addiction crisis, with 1 in 5 high school students now using e-cigarettes.

This bad bill just passed the state Senate! The House is now expected to vote on final passage as early as TODAY, March 10th.

This is our last chance to stop it before it goes to Governor Ducey's desk.

Send a message to your state representative ASAP today telling them to reject HB-2682 >>