[Advocacy-outreach] [Communications] Invitation for CCGA join the Coalition to support the Forest Preserves of Cook County/Vote Yes or No in Reply

[Mamie Gray]

Yes, Mamie

On Tue, Jul 20, 2021 at 12:14 PM Lorraine Kells via Communications <
communications at chicagocommunitygardens.org> wrote:

> Hello all,
>
> This invitation came to CCGA from Openlands, and a number of us would like
> to see the referendum supported by CCGA with CCGA as part of the
> coalition.  Motions must be made and seconded before voting.  Without a
> meeting before August, we will lose the chance to participate in the
> conversation. We could be listed as a coalition member in the upcoming Cook
> County Board meeting July 27. We're all busy in our gardens and sooo tired
> of zoom meetings.  Let's just get this done in email. ASAP, please, please.
>
> *I move that:  CCGA Supports the Forest Preserves of Cook County
> Referendum and joins the coalition supporting the referendum to provide
> funds to pay the cost of conserving and restoring land to good health,
> protecting the water quality of rivers, lakes, and streams, providing
> natural flood water storage, protecting wildlife habitat, protecting
> forests to improve air quality, improving and maintaining existing forest
> preserves and trails.*
>
> *Seconded by May Toy *(in Communications Team emails)
>
> Here's what you need to know: Urban forests are a valuable resource; they
> help to filter air and water, control stormwater, conserve energy, and
> provide animal habitat, and for Chicago community gardeners, they give us
> shade and add beauty and form to our neighborhood landscapes.
>
> The Cook County’s board of commissioners has thrown its unanimous support
> behind a proposal for a ballot referendum that would put a property tax
> increase for the forest preserves, all 70,000 acres, directly in the hands
> of voters, allowing voters to decide if they want to make an investment in
> the future of our forest preserves. This measure is expected to be placed
> on ballots in the November 2022 election, so for CCGA there is time to
> garner support among community gardeners and those who value an urban
> forest to help make an impact for the passage of this referendum.
>
>
>
> “The referendum, as it currently stands, would propose raising the
> existing forest preserve taxing rate by .025% to a total of .076%, which
> would add approximately $40 million to the district’s coffers. For a single
> family residence in Cook County with a fair market value of $100,000 at the
> time of the referendum, the increase in annual taxes would be $7.29,
> according to the resolution presented to commissioners.”
>
>
> *Please Reply with a Yes or No vote.  *More information can be provided
> upon request
>
>
>
> Read a WTTW News report
> https://news.wttw.com/2021/06/22/forest-preserve-property-tax-referendum-likely-headed-ballots-2022
>
>
> See the full referendum at
>
>
> https://fpdcc.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=4994273&GUID=34E39ACB-1C59-4CA9-A717-FB47FA073FA5&Options=&
>
>
> Lorraine
> --
> Communications mailing list
> Communications at chicagocommunitygardens.org
>
> http://chicagocommunitygardens.org/mailman/listinfo/communications_chicagocommunitygardens.org
>
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