[Communications] (no subject)

[Lorraine Kells]

Sean,

Yes to putting CCGA as a signatory, and yes to having us circulate the
letter to our subscribers.  We will make the growers guide and form to
request funding available as well.

Then we'll be in touch.

Lorraine

On Tue, Jul 14, 2020 at 1:57 PM Sean Ruane <director at auachicago.org> wrote:

> Lorraine,
>
> Thanks for your email. We've been reaching out to someone at CCGA about
> this issue over the last few months but haven't heard much back, so I'm
> glad you reached out.
>
> There's a few things you could do to support:
>
> 1. We are getting ready to circulate this sign on letter
> <https://www.change.org/p/chicago-mayor-water-access-for-food-security?recruiter=929203420&utm_source=share_petition&utm_medium=copylink&utm_campaign=share_petition>
> this evening or tomorrow morning to garner more public support for this
> issue. Would CCGA like to be listed as a signatory at the bottom of the
> letter? Additionally, we would love it if you could help us circulate the
> letter on your social media and communication channels. However, please
> wait until we start circulating the letter. Should be by tomorrow morning
> at the latest.
>
> 2. We've put together a growers guide
> <https://auachicago.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/AUA-Updated-Chicago-Growers-Guide-.pdf> to
> help farmers/gardeners navigate the updated policy.
>
> 3. We've received funding to support growers with these exorbitant costs.
> If you know of any gardens or farms in need of funding support for hydrant
> permit related costs, have them fill out this form to request funding
> <https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdsmQDza7yVxXXf7qK0B5YeGMkqb4IyKQkeV_jVq_Vy4RROyw/viewform>.
> It will be administered on a first come first serve basis.
>
> 4. We are starting to connect with alder about pursuing an ordinance that
> would support more equitable policies for urban agriculture, including
> zoning, water, etc. We would love to have a representative from CCGA be a
> part of these conversations moving forward.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Sean
>
> On Tue, Jul 14, 2020 at 1:36 PM Lorraine Kells <lxkells at gmail.com> wrote:
>
>> Dear Sean,
>>
>> Over the last two months CCGA has heard from it's community gardeners
>> that the new rules that the Department of Water Management has now set for
>> water access at fire hydrants is crippling our gardeners. Acquiring,
>> installing, and certifying a Reduced Pressure Zone (RPZ) unit  for any
>> community garden is cost prohibitive. In an article in this morning's NBC
>> news the issue may have been given wider reach, (see:
>> https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/gardeners-say-access-to-water-limited-by-new-chicago-rules/2304394/) but
>> other than pointing out a serious issue facing community gardens that we
>> are already aware of, what more can we say or do? CCGA would like to put
>> this issue into our upcoming Summer Newsletter. Is there something more you
>> can say to our gardeners?  Would a letter drafted by and for community
>> gardeners to DWM be useful.  Is it possible that alds in the city could
>> come up with  some waiver or discount?  It would have to be a deep discount
>> or serious waiver, but at least it could be matched by gardeners seeking
>> grants if they had a head start.
>>
>> Hoping to hear from you
>>
>> Our Best from the Communications Team,
>> Lorraine Kells
>> Amy Olson
>> JW Glass
>>
>
>
> --
> Sean Ruane
> Executive Director
> Advocates for Urban Agriculture
> he/him/his
> director at auachicago.org
> 815-931-1743
> auachicago.org
>
>
>
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