The Executive Committee of the Sierra Club Huron Valley Group expresses our deep appreciation to Ann Arbor Mayor Christopher Taylor for vetoing a section of resolution R-20-177 which would have deallocated millage funds dedicated specifically to climate action, affordable housing, and pedestrian safety. 

Anthropogenic climate change is the most significant threat humanity faces. Mitigating the climate crisis will require infrastructure and lifestyle changes that allow us to decrease our consumption of resources and decrease the amount of CO² we emit into the atmosphere. The ability to walk and bike safely in the community directly impacts their adoption as alternatives to resource-intensive Single Occupant Vehicle (SOV) trips. Likewise, increased access to housing in our community allows people to live closer to jobs, education, and healthcare – which also translates to a decrease in resource consumption and a decrease in carbon emissions. 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. The allocations from the millage guarantee a baseline of funding.

Climate change, housing, and pedestrian safety are interrelated in a complex system. We have to address them together to reach the city’s Carbon Neutrality goals. We appreciate that Mayor Taylor recognizes this and we look forward to continually working with the community, and with city council, on addressing the climate crisis.