P.O. Box 1222, Madison, WI 53701 | www.prodane.org | office@prodane.org | (608) 257-4985
We think you might.
From a new release issued late this afternoon by Superisors Kyle Richmond, Pat Downing, Patrick Miles, and Denise Duranczyk, the Dane County Board will vote on Resolution 280, Creating a Sustainable Agriculture Agenda for Dane County, on Thursday evening, April 1.
Progressive Dane "Support(s) farmland preservation, family farming, sustainable agricultural practices and livable communities" and "Encourage(s) local farmers to grow food for direct human consumption and for local marketing to promote countywide economic sustainability."
You are encouraged to contact the county board in support of Resolution 280.
Here is a link to the resolution and related documents on the Dane County Food Council's Web site: http://www.countyofdane.com/foodcouncil/subcommittee.aspx
The public is welcome to comment to the Board before the vote.
Contact your supervisor directly and tell them you support Creating a Sustainable Agriculture Agenda for Dane County, here’s the list.
If you’re in a hurry, you can just e-mail all of them (remember to note the part of the county you live in): county_board_recipients@co.dane.wi.us
Posted by prodane at 09:30 PM
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Contact:
TJ Mertz, Progressive Dane, 608-215-1942
Diane Farsetta, Carbon Free, Nuclear Free Wis., 608-250-9240
Progressive Dane Opposes Weakening Nuclear Safeguards, Supports Renewables
Growing support for Carbon Free, Nuclear free, as state climate bill nears votes
MADISON – At its monthly membership meeting last week, Progressive Dane unanimously endorsed a carbon free and nuclear free energy policy for Wisconsin, becoming the third state party to do so, as a climate bill nears consideration in the state legislature.
In the resolution, Progressive Dane stated its “opposition to any weakening of current state law regulating new nuclear reactors” and support for making “Wisconsin’s energy 100 per cent renewable by 2050.” The state Clean Energy Jobs Act (AB 649 / SB 450) would remove the current requirement that there be a federal repository for the high-level radioactive waste before new nuclear reactors can be built in the state.
In their discussion of the resolution, Progressive Dane members expressed concern about the impact new nuclear reactors would have on the local economy. They also pointed to safety issues raised by Wisconsin’s aging nuclear reactors at Point Beach and Kewaunee.
The full resolution is copied below. Similar resolutions were previously passed by the Dane County and Milwaukee County Democratic Party. Carbon Free, Nuclear Free coalition members include the Wisconsin Network for Peace and Justice, Physicians for Social Responsibility Wisconsin, Peace Action Wisconsin, Nukewatch, Coulee Region Progressives and the Institute for Energy and Environmental Research.
WHEREAS since 1984 Wisconsin has had a sensible law requiring that before more nuclear power reactors can be approved there must be a federal waste disposal site in operation and a finding that nuclear power is economically beneficial to Wisconsin residents; and
WHEREAS after more than 50 years the nuclear industry has not solved the problem of how to safely dispose of high level radioactive waste, which must be kept out of the environment for hundreds of thousands of years; and
WHEREAS attempts are now underway to weaken state law and remove the requirement for a waste disposal site before more reactors can be built, with legislation expected to be introduced in the fall, as a way to combat climate change; and
WHEREAS a recent book, “Carbon Free and Nuclear Free: A Roadmap for U.S. Energy Policy,” provides a detailed analysis showing that the goal to phase out the use of both fossil fuels and nuclear power by the year 2050 is technically and economically feasible; and
WHEREAS renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies are faster, cheaper, safer and cleaner strategies for reducing greenhouse emissions than nuclear power,
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that Progressive Dane go on record in opposition to any weakening of current state law regulating new nuclear reactors, and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that Progressive Dane urge the governor and state legislators to pursue and adopt a carbon free nuclear free energy policy to make Wisconsin’s energy 100 per cent renewable by 2050.
Posted by prodane at 06:18 PM
Meet at 10:00 am on Saturday, April 3rd at 518 Cedar Street, Madison for the lit drop.
Kyle's campaign will also need people for phone calling on Monday and Tuesday, April 5th and 6th. People will make calls from their homes (so not a phone bank). We will have more details on this soon.
Questions? Please call Missy at 247-1974.
Posted by prodane at 08:53 AM
Progressive Dane General Membership Meeting
Madison Downtown Public Library
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
6:30 - 8:30 p.m.
Chairing: Jacque Pokorney, Progressive Dane Co-chair and Housing Task Force Chair
Agenda
Educational--Zoning Code Re-write--Satya Rhodes-Conway
Carbon Free/Nuclear Free Resolution - Diane Farsetta (VOTE)
Burning Issue--MMSD Budget--Arlene Silveira
Funding Elections Campaigns--Lukas (VOTE)
Resolution to kill PDDiscuss--Brenda (VOTE)
Implementation of new PD Listserve/Communications Update--Brenda/Lukas
Recap March 20 "What's Happened to the Left?" meeting--Jacque/Brenda
Announcements
PD Beer Caucus--immediately following at Nick's
A complete listing of all Progressive Dane meetings can be found at prodane.org/calendar.
Individuals who are not members of Progressive Dane are very much encouraged to attend.
Anyone with questions or special needs should contact the Progressive Dane office at 358-2940 or office@prodane.org.
Press are encouraged to contact Progressive Dane Co-chair Jacque Pokorney at 843-9616 or juju_jacque@yahoo.com.
Posted by prodane at 07:15 PM
Help Keep Our Schools Strong!
We all know that what affects the city, impacts the schools and what affects the schools, impacts the city and our neighborhoods. Their fate is tied together. With the looming $30M hole in the school budget, now is the time to let the School Board know what we need to keep our schools, our city and our future strong. Unfortunately, the School Board has been handed terrible news from the State and are left to try to pick up the pieces. We need to find a way to manage this mess without decimating the schools and affecting our kids' futures. Saving $300 on taxes is important to many in these economic times, but we can't let our teachers have all their resources taken away and expect to be able to give every child the attention they need to succeed. Without support, our achievement gap will grow and more people will choose to leave the district. To keep the district strong, we need to support the teachers and make sure they have the infrastructure they need to be successful with our kids. We can't let this short term economic downturn impact the future of our schools.
What can you do?
1. Email the school board members and let them know we need to keep the schools strong. This address will go to all school board members, board@madison.k12.wi.us. Contact information for individual members is here.
2. Show up on Monday night.
Monday, March 22, 6 p.m.
UW Space Place in Villager Mall - 2300 S. Park St.
Bring your kids cuz if you can't stay for long, you can still stand in support of initial speakers that will ask to keep our schools strong. When you register write the statement "Invest to Keep our Schools, City and Future Strong" or something similar on your registration statement.
3. Stay and speak if you have time.
4. Join the Facebook group.
Monday night is important, because it is the first and only public hearing before the budget amendments are due. The last public hearing is after the amendments have been made and things are on the chopping block. If you need more information on the budget, it can be found here. The information about what could be cut is found here, but it's a bit overwhelming. While closing schools is likely off the table, there is still much there to look at that will have a big impact on our children's education.
Hope to see you Monday night!
TJ Mertz, Co-chair and Education Chair
Brenda Konkel, Policy Chair
Posted by prodane at 12:41 PM
Progressive Dane is a long-time supporter of regional transit solutions. While a significant step was taken when the RTA Board was formed, this is not the end of the process; there is still work to be done. Progressive Dane doesn't just support any old RTA, but rather an RTA "that provides affordable, available and accessible multi-modal public transit with subsidies for elderly, disabled, and low-income residents."
In order to achieve these worthy, but ambitious goals, we must let the RTA Board know that citizens support a fully functioning RTA. We should not let caution sabotage the RTA and prevent it from fully serving all residents of the RTA area. We should not let the naysayers, who ultimately oppose any regional transit, to dictate or delay the RTA plan. Instead, we need to mobilize behind an ambitious plan for the benefit of everyone.
The first steps will involve the decisions of the newly-formed RTA Board. As they move forward, please consider testifying or registering in support of an Ambitious RTA Plan or contacting the RTA board. We’ll keep you posted on the meeting schedule and the RTA board contact information as it becomes available.
Our Vision for the RTA:
1. The RTA should include commuter rail because it's fast and efficient. Commuter rail will take people where they want to go - quickly. At minimum, it should go from Middleton to Downtown Madison to Sun Prairie.
2. The RTA should include bicycle and pedestrian paths that connect the commuter rail stations with existing paths. These paths will make the RTA as convenient as possible. Also, walking and biking are environmentally friendly ways to travel.
3. The RTA should be affordable for all, with subsidies to elderly riders and low income riders. This will make the RTA accessible to everyone.
4. The RTA should include reliable bus or transit routes for people outside of the commuter rail area and improved bus service in those areas underserved by Madison Metro (This includes: Verona, Southwest side of Madison, Fitchburg, Waunakee, Westport, Stoughton, Blooming Grove, Cottage Grove, McFarland, Monona, Dunn, North side of Madison).
5. The RTA should take people to employment and entertainment centers. The RTA should take people to and from work regardless of what shift they work and should have weekend services.
What else can you do to help? Send an e-mail to elections@prodane.org for more volunteer opportunities. Or you can follow Progressive Dane on Facebook or Twitter or Google Buzz.
Finally, Progressive Dane is working hard on this issue and citizen support is our most important resource. However, money is a valuable resource as well. We don't like to ask for it, but we believe that good regional transit is key to the future of Dane County. If you support our plan, please make a secure donation to the Progressive Dane Elections Fund. We will use the donation to promote an ambitious RTA plan.
Lukas Diaz, Elections Chair
Posted by prodane at 01:35 PM