Toiyabe Southern NV Group (SNG) Executive Committee member and Executive Director of Nevada Plants - Lisa Ortega, or as we sometimes call her - Tree Lady, noticed that trees along freeway onramps were dying or had died, and not replaced. She also noted that there needs to be more trees along our freeways to alleviate pollution for people who live nearby, to help mitigate urban heat island effect, and trees take in carbon dioxide (CO2) which curbs the impacts of climate change.
Lisa looked up when the next NV Department of Transportation Board (NDOT) was meeting, for a plan to make public comment at the meeting. She rallied volunteers from Nevada Environmental Justice Coalition (NEJC), of which Sierra Club is a member, and sent out a call to our Southern NV Group Organizing Team.
Four volunteers stepped up and they worked collaboratively on their three-minute remarks for open public comment at the end of the meeting. The NDOT Board consists of Governor Steve Sisolak, Lieutenant Governor Lisa Cano Burkhead, Controller Catherine Byrne, Member Virginia Valentine, Member Stephen Ascuaga, Member Justin Kalb, Member Gary Perea.
Each volunteer spoke on a slightly different topic; health concerns, personal stories, climate change, specific areas that need attention, and the importance of urban tree budgeting for IRA grants forthcoming. After the testimony, Governor Sisolak asked to have this topic added as an agenda item for the next meeting!! Thank you Lisa Ortega, Linda Stout, Teresa Bell, and Joanne Leovy.
We just learned that the NDOT Landscape Architect said we are on the agenda for November on Landscape and NDOT Right of Ways! It worked!
NDOT has also started working on our specific requests - the Right of Way near Chaparral High School will get new trees and irrigation. Then, on to Charleston and 95.
There is also a landscape coming in where there is only currently rock on Craig!!
ONWARD!
The Transportation Board meetings are held on the second Monday of the Month - November 14 is probably when this is on the agenda.
9:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Let’s fill the room in November!!! If you would like to get involved contact Teresa Bell at toiyabe.volunteer@sierraclub.org.
Community engagement can be powerful. It increases the visibility and understanding of issues and empowers communities to have their say over decisions that affect their lives, their towns, cities and neighborhoods.