Friends . . . you can help convince Governor Granholm and the Michigan Land Use Leadership Council to reform Michigan's sprawl-inducing land use laws by joining in a summer-long postcard campaign to drum up support for new policies. The member organizations of the Michigan Environmental Council are working to develop a cadre of activists across the state who can encourage their lawmakers and the MLULC members to * improve statewide leadership on land use, * develop greater regional cooperation around land use and transportation planning, and * increase the number and kinds of tools available to local governments to combat sprawl. The first goal of this ambitious statewide campaign is our postcard drive. You can read the text of the postcard pasted at the end of this message. Our current partnership includes the East Michigan Environmental Action Council, PIRGIM, the Michigan Land Use Institute, the Sierra Club and the West Michigan Environmental Action Council. What You Can Do! 1. Sign a Postcard! Add your name to the list of supporters at www.onemichigan.org <http://www.onemichigan.org> 2. Twist Some Arms! Commit to collecting 5, 10, 25 or more postcards. You can get them from any of the contacts listed below. 3. Enjoin an Ally! Convince an organization you support to join the campaign. For more information, contact me, email is best: Conan Smith Land Programs Director Michigan Environmental Council 119 Pere Marquette, Suite 2A Lansing, MI 48912 p. 517-487-9539 f. 517-487-9541 mailto:conanmec@voyager.net <mailto:conanmec@voyager.net> CAMPAIGN CONTACTS MEC: Brad Garmon (bradmec@voyager.net <mailto:bradmec@voyager.net> ) 517-487-9539 LANSING Sierra Club: Dan Farough (Daniel.farough@sierraclub.org <mailto:Daniel.farough@sierraclub.org> ) 517-484-2372 LANSING EMEAC: Heather Northway (hlnorthway@aol.com <mailto:hlnorthway@aol.com> ) 248-258-5188 BLOOMFIELD HILLS WMEAC: Karla Kauffman (kauffman@wmeac.org <mailto:kauffman@wmeac.org> ) 616-451-3051 GRAND RAPIDS PIRGIM: Megan Owens (megan@pirgim.org <mailto:megan@pirgim.org> ) 734-662-6597 ANN ARBOR MLUI: Andy Guy (andy@mlui.org <mailto:andy@mlui.org> ) 616-308-6250 GRAND RAPIDS POSTCARD TEXT >From the quiet pine woods of the Upper Peninsula to the pastoral landscapes of mid-Michigan to the bustling cities of the southern half of our state, we have precious resources that need to be protected. Give us Smart Growth reforms that will protect Michigan's great places! Dear Governor Granholm/Michigan Land Use Leadership Council: Over the last two decades urban sprawl has undermined Michigan's communities, threatened the Great Lakes and caused the loss of more than a million acres of farmland. These trends must be reversed. I am joining the call for cooperative solutions across all levels of government. I urge you to support them, too. Without a clear vision for the future we cannot succeed. Statewide Leadership can guide long-range change and make sure that everyone is moving in the same direction. Give us statewide goals that protect Michigan's quality of life and an Office of Smart Growth to coordinate and secure more federal funding for planning and preservation. Regional Cooperation brings together cities, suburbs and countryside to address the problems that we cannot solve alone. We need planning tools that cross jurisdictional lines and new incentives to encourage multiple units of government to cooperate. Finally, our communities all face unique challenges in protecting our natural and cultural resources. Expand access to Tools for Local Governments to reinforce the front line against urban sprawl. Thank you!
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