SUSTAINABLE WELLESLEY IS SHARING AN IMPORTANT MESSAGE FROM THE SIERRA CLUB MA:
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- We’re approaching the end of this legislative tug of war between House/Senate and Governor and we need your help. On Sunday, February 7, Baker (to no one’s surprise) vetoed the bill AGAIN. In the second veto he scaled back a few of his earlier criticisms and instead proposed a series of amendments that would weaken and water down key aspects of the bill, specifically...
Tell Your Legislator: Don't Water Down The Climate Roadmap Bill! The legislature now must choose one of three options to move forward and they have no timeline in which they are required to act:
After you've sent your message, please also take a moment to call your legislator's office. You can use the following phone script: Hello, this is {ADD YOUR NAME HERE} calling from {ADD YOUR TOWN/CITY HERE}. I am calling today to thank you for your leadership on climate and environmental justice issues this past year. I am calling today to ask you to request that [House/Senate] leadership move urgently to reject any of the Governor’s amendments to the climate bill (S.9) that would weaken the legislation. It is critical that the legislature preserves the following parts as originally passed:
Thank you for your action! Sincerely, Jacob Stern Deputy Director, Sierra Club Massachusetts Chapter Wellesley's Annual Election is Tuesday, March 2, 2021. Residents will vote on Town-wide officials, Town Meeting members, and a referendum on Indigenous Peoples Day.
The deadline to register to vote in this election is Wednesday, February 10 at 8:00 p.m. Residents who are 18-years-old and older may register online or may drop off a voter registration form in-person at Town Hall by appointment only. Appointments can be scheduled by email or by calling 781-431-1019 ext. 2252. Voters may request a Vote by Mail ballot by completing the application and returning it to the Town Clerk's office by email or by using the Town Hall ballot and payment drop box. The last day to request a Vote by Mail ballot is Wednesday, February 24. To allow time for mail processing, voters should request ballots as early as possible. Ballots for the Annual Election will be mailed by February 16 to all voters who have requested them. Join Sustainable Wellesley’s Conversation with the Candidates on Wednesday, February 24 from 7:30 – 9:00pm.
Meet the candidates running for the many important town positions and hear where candidates stand on issues specifically related to sustainability. Send in questions in advance to info@SustainableWellesley.com. Mark your calendars for this event and make sure to get your ballots and vote in this election. Get your spot on the Zoom call by clicking here. Wellesley residents and students will mark the one year anniversary of standing up peacefully for the climate on Friday, February 5th and encourage you to join them.
Residents of all ages, and their colorful signs, stand on the lawn in front of the Wellesley Town Hall, on Washington Street/Rt.16 every Friday from 3-4pm. A year ago Wellesley resident Ken Batts, inspired by Greta Thunberg’s Fridays for the Future movement, decided he would personally stand out every Friday to bring awareness to climate change issues. He wasn't alone. “It's really a highlight of the week when a variety of community members come together, having interesting discussions, networking and simply having a relaxing, non technology hour in the week,” Batts said enthusiastically. “Plus, the waves, honks and cheers from people driving, biking and walking by are really encouraging. Everyone is welcome and encouraged to attend any Friday at 3pm outside the Wellesley Town Hall. There is a Facebook group called FRIDAYS FOR FUTURE-WELLESLEY, MA with photos and more information. Bring friends, family and neighbors to stand socially distanced and masked. Feel free to bring a sign or use one in the collection. There is still a chance to get Massachusetts’s Next-Generation Roadmap Climate Bill passed in this session.
Our legislators swiftly refiled the bill, and now it's up to us. Get your representatives to support the passing of this bill, without amendments, by reaching out BEFORE FRIDAY. What an impactful first act of the new legislature this could be. This Climate Act, which represents five months of negotiations in conference committee, offers Massachusetts an organized, forward moving path to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions. Bill S.9 offers an opportunity to create jobs and a thriving economy, while protecting our health and ensuring protections for overburdened communities. Send an email or call your representatives TODAY communicating that you want them to pass the climate bill, S.9. Put your social media to good use by sharing this message and be sure to tag your representatives, plus: senator, Speaker Mariano (@RonMariano) Senate President Karen Spilka (@KarenSpilka) Senator Barrett (@BarrettSenate) Representative Golden (@tomtipagolden) In the spirit of Martin Luther King Day, our community needs environmental justice. Below, please find some words from Sarah Dooling, Executive Director, Mass Climate Action Network about the Governor's recent veto of the Next Generation Roadmap Bill (S2995).
Get out there, make a change, make your voice heard. Reach out to us to learn more info@sustainablewellesley.com. ___________________________________________________________________________________________ FROM MCAN 1/15/21 NEWSLETTER Governor Baker’s veto of the Next Generation Roadmap Bill (S 2995) is deeply disappointing. The bill had overwhelming legislative support, the result of the leadership of Rep Tom Golden, Sen Mike Barrett, a broad coalition of legislators and the work of grassroots advocates who laid the groundwork for popular support. The bill was the most comprehensive climate legislation put forth in Massachusetts in over a decade. Statewide greenhouse gas reductions were established, with interim emissions reduction targets, to get the Commonwealth to net zero by 2050. The bill also directed investments in clean energy and workforce development, prioritizing minority and women owned businesses. The Governor’s veto perpetuates the burdens Environmental Justice communities have endured that benefited white, affluent communities for generations. Protecting EJ communities is the first step in supporting a holistic recovery from the overlapping impacts of the Covid pandemic, climate crisis and longstanding housing unaffordability. This past year revealed how suffering from the disproportionate effects of climate change makes Black and Brown communities more vulnerable to COVID-related deaths, because they live in neighborhoods and housing that are more toxic and more polluted compared to white neighborhoods. The bill gave communities three years to opt-in to the net zero stretch code for all new buildings, ensuring new construction is energy efficient, comfortable, and safe, and responding to the calls of municipal leaders across the state. The Governor mistakenly assumes the cost of these upgrades would hinder the construction of urgently needed affordable housing. Quite the opposite: Net zero upgrades constitute a small part of a typical project’s construction costs. The money invested upfront for upgrades is recouped in dramatically lower operating costs. This is not a cost problem – this is a political problem. The Governor’s veto is a temporary setback. The Next Generation Roadmap Bill is crucial to ensuring a just transition that protects Environmental Justice communities, transforms our building sector, and advances statewide climate solutions. We thank the advocates who worked so hard to get this bill to the Governor’s desk. MCAN looks forward to the leadership of Speaker Moriano and Senate President Karen Spilka in promptly refiling the bill. With gratitude, Sarah Dooling MCAN Ready to dip your toe into politics with an important, but limited commitment role?
The Town Meeting is the legislative body for the Town of Wellesley. 240 voting town meeting members are elected by precincts. Each precinct has 30 members elected to three year staggered terms. The Annual Town Meeting begins on the last Monday in March and meets Monday and Tuesday nights until the business of the meeting is concluded. The length of the town meeting is dependent on the number of articles on the Warrant and the complexity of the issues to be discussed. Get your papers to be a Town Meeting Member by January 22, 2021, 5 pm and turn them in (with 10+ signatures in precinct) by January 26, 2021, 5 pm. What You Need To Know:
There are seats in your district (As of 12/1/2020): Precinct A 10-3 year terms Precinct B 10-3 year terms Precinct C 10-3 year terms, 1-2 year term Precinct D 10-3 year terms Precinct E 10-3 year terms, 1-2 year term Precinct F 10-3 year terms Precinct G 10-3 year terms Precinct H 10-3 year terms For more information on how to run, click here. DATE EXTENDED
Please Call the Governor’s office at (617)725-4005 and email him.** GREAT NEWS: The Mass. Legislature is poised to approve a dramatic revision of our state climate laws. An Act Creating a Next-Generation Roadmap for Massachusetts Climate Policy (S.2995) is the strongest effort of its kind in the country. WE NEED YOUR HELP TO HELP THIS BILL CROSS THE FINISH LINE: The Governor may want to weaken it or veto it outright. Thus, he needs to hear from YOU. Please urge the Governor to sign S.2995, the new climate bill, by emailing him here or calling his office at (617) 725-4005. Let him know you want him to pass this and why it is important to you. Once you do, please share this request with friends and family in the Commonwealth via social media or anyway you can. Governor Baker has until Thursday, Jan. 14th to sign this bill, so make reaching out to him a priority. This legislation moves us forward in some important ways:
We thank the work of legislators and advocates who have gotten us this far. Advocates at Mass Climate Action have some talking points here. Thank you! ✔Health
✔Housing ✔Library ✔Planning ✔Recreation These are just a few of the spots open this election season. If you are interested in making a difference, read on. There is a spot with your name on it. The Town of Wellesley depends on community volunteers who hold elected offices in municipal government, lead boards and committees, and serve as Town Meeting members. The nomination period for all elected officials opens on Wednesday, December 2, 2020 at noon. Candidates for public office must be Wellesley residents. Due to COVID-19, nomination papers are available by appointment only at Wellesley Town Hall. Interested candidates should email the Town Clerk or call 781-431-1019 ext. 2252 to pull papers. The last day to obtain nomination papers to run for Town-wide office is January 8, 2021. The last day to obtain nomination papers to run for a Town Meeting member seat is January 22, 2021. The Annual Town Election is scheduled for Tuesday, March 2, 2021. Individuals who are curious, concerned or interested in following the direction of Wellesley’s
current projects are encouraged to consider becoming more directly involved in their community by running for Town Meeting Member or an elected board. Now’s the time to get organized for the March 2, 2021 Town Election! The League of Women Voters of Wellesley invites members of the community to learn all about the process and about Town government at a virtual presentation, “How to Run for Local Public Office” on Wednesday, December 2 at 7:30 pm. The featured speakers, Mark Kaplan (Town Moderator) will cover Town Government structure and how it works, and Kathy Nagle (past Town Clerk) will review offices on the ballot and the pragmatic nuts and bolts of running a campaign. Questions will be welcomed from the audience. Registration: https://bit.ly/howtorun2020 The 2021 Candidate Handbook will be posted on the League’s website on November 17: https://my.lwv.org/massachusetts/wellesley. The League’s Town Government Handbook (a detailed guide to Town Meeting, Wellesley’s representational form of government) is also found on the website. Both publications are updated by the League annually. |
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