Dear City Council Members, 

In March of 2019, we wrote to you in support of the “40/40/20” allocations from the 2017 Mental Health & Public Safety Millage towards climate action, affordable housing, and pedestrian safety, respectively. As you finalize the budget for the upcoming fiscal year, we are writing today to reiterate that support.  

The Ann Arbor community has begun making significant strides towards implementing the policies, processes, and infrastructure necessary to address anthropogenic climate change. Though the Covid-19 pandemic has brought significant challenges, and the city’s understanding of the financial impacts of the pandemic is in flux, it’s important that we stay the course to reach our climate action goals. The pandemic has highlighted just how much work needs to be done to increase our community’s resilience while decreasing our contribution to the climate crisis. 

Recent analysis from the International Energy Agency has highlighted that the global energy market is facing its own crisis due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Demand for oil has decreased 70% since February. This will be catastrophic for the parts of our country’s economy reliant on its production, transportation, and sale – including organizations and individuals who have investments in the fossil fuel industry. Conversely, the IEA found that demand for newables grew and is predicted to continue doing so. That’s better for the environment and better for jobs. The more that communities shift their infrastructure to renewable energy, and decrease reliance on fossil fuels, the more resilient they will be in the face of this change – both environmentally and economically.   

We very much appreciate that city council has been working so diligently this past year on vetting locations for affordable housing. As you know, a key component of addressing climate change is providing housing that is close to jobs, education, and healthcare, thereby minimizing Single-Occupant Vehicle Miles Traveled. The Covid-19 pandemic has exacerbated the housing crisis. Mass transit is also suffering. The AAATA has announced a shortfall in ridership, leading to decreased bus runs and 42 workers being laid off. There will be a necessary increase in SOV travel as workers have to drive further to the few remaining jobs. Increased housing for workers in our community can mitigate this trend. Dedicated funding for housing in our community can have the direct effect of minimizing CO² emissions. 

Along the lines of mobility, each day, we can see more and more people walking and biking in our neighborhoods (as opposed to the decreased foot traffic downtown). This is a positive change, both in terms of the environment and human health. However, for this trend to continue beyond the pandemic, members of our community will need to be kept safe. They will need improved infrastructure to expand walking and biking into their daily tasks once the pandemic has subsided. Dedicated funding for pedestrian safety is crucial to addressing climate change. 

With all of the above in mind, we find the “40/40/20” millage allocation to be a necessary component of the city’s climate action plan. While the city does have the ability to pull funding from other sources to address climate action, housing, and pedestrian safety, that should be in addition to what council outlined to voters in advance of the 2017 ballot question. We appreciate that newer council members may not have been part of the body at that time. However, voters spoke their wishes for how the money should be used when they passed the millage.    

We thank you for all the hard work that you’re doing, particularly during these unprecedented times. If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out. 

Wishing you good health and well-being, 

Executive Committee

Sierra Club Huron Valley Group