Dear Sierra Club Huron Valley Group Member,

Climate change is upon us, in the form of unprecedented floods, droughts, heat waves, wildfires,  and super storms. Even the new phenomenon of the polar vortex leaving its home in the Arctic and descending to the mid-latitudes is thought to be a result of rapid Arctic warming. Globally, 2018 saw $160B in losses to extreme weather events, while in 2017 we suffered $360B in losses. In the absence of federal leadership on climate, states and cities must step in to fill the void. That is why the vote by Ann Arbor City Council on Monday, March 4 concerning the allocation of funds to climate change action is so important.

As you might be aware, in 2017 Washtenaw county voters passed a county wide mental health and safety services millage.  Ann Arbor (and other municipalities who have their own police) get a rebate from the millage to spend however they choose, so that city residents are not double-charged for police.  Ahead of the 2017 election, Ann Arbor City Council passed a resolution stating their intention to allocate the city's rebate on 3 underfunded priorities in the following manner: 40% to affordable housing, 40% to climate action and 20% to pedestrian safety.  The establishment of that fund is the single most important thing the City of Ann Arbor has done to address climate action.

On Monday, March 4, Council Member Jane Lumm is introducing a resolution to take back this promise!  We need to let City Council know that Ann Arbor residents want them  to keep their promise to fund climate action!

Please take one or more of these actions:

• Call your city council member

• Email your city council member

• Attend the city council meeting on Monday, March 4 wearing a green shirt.

• Sign up to give a public comment at the city council meeting.

For detailed background information, city council contact information, talking points, and instructions for making public comments, please see this terrific Action Toolkit put together by members of the Ann Arbor Climate Partnership.

Regardless of the outcome of resolution vote on Monday, funding for climate action will be a topic of debate over the next two months as city council works on the 2 year budget which will be finalized in May.

Thank you for adding your voice to those calling on Ann Arbor City Council to take substantial action on climate change. Please contact us if you have any questions.

Sierra Club Huron Valley Group Executive Committee