News

SGA Coalition Call, 2/24/2011, 4:00PM EST

ATTENDANCE

• Michele Warren – Local Government Commission
• Kevin Doyle – Livable Communities Coalition
• Mary Kyle McCurdy – 1000 Friends of Oregon
• Adam Garcia – Greenbelt Alliance
• Alison Van Gorp – Cascade Land Conservancy
• Ashley Futrell – Trust for Public Land
• Ben Starett – Funders Network for Smart Growth
• Elisa Ortiz, Jessica Holmberg, Beth Zgoda, Stacey Williams, Will Schroeer, Devon Barnhart – SGA

CONTINUING RESOLUTION (CR) UPDATE (Devon Barnhart)

• A full update on the CR will be available in an email that Devon is preparing
• House passed devastating cuts to the Sustainable Communities Partnership (SCP) and other programs last week
  • Slashes CDBG funding and bars other funds from being redirected their or to HUD Regional Planning and Challenge grants
  • Rescinds unobligated funds for already-approved SCP grants: TIGER I/II, HUD Challenge, etc.
• SGA is currently working on its Senate strategy, as both chambers must agree on the bill—either by passing separate but identical cuts or by reconciling their differences through the Conference Committee process
• We will be sending out an SGA Action Alert email aimed at the Senate—please contact your Senators to let them know how much these programs matter to you
  • If you have a particularly close relationship with either or both of your Senators, now is the time to contact him/her
  • SGA will provide messaging guidelines and talking points to frame your outreach
  • We cannot overemphasize the importance of Senate outreach at this time—CALL YOUR SENATOR NOW AND PUSH HIM/HER TO SUPPORT THESE PROGRAMS
• Question: how quickly can SGA provide talking points?
  • These will be available early next week to use in contacting your Senators
• Blanket “blast” calls to your Senators, as well as targeted interaction, will both be important at this time
• Please update SGA on your activities and legislative contacts; we’d like to keep track of who is being contacted and how it’s going
• Question: when will the Senate debate the CR?
  • They are currently looking at it and we are unsure when it will be up for floor debate
  • Vague details right now as to the level/severity of proposed cuts
• Your Senators might not know that these programs are happening in your state; SGA is working to provide this information to Member offices
• Question: besides CDBG and rescinding funds, what else?
  • This is completely separate from discussion of the President’s budget.  Brownfields funding in EPA took a big hit.  Besides TIGER II, New Starts was also cut in DOT, as well as high-speed rail.  Across-the-board cuts may also affect these programs and others.
• President’s FY12 budget outlook is overwhelmingly positive.  But losing these battles in the CR will make it nearly impossible to achieve the funding levels he proposed.
• CR battle is indefinite; we are unsure how long it will take the Senate to respond or what the conference process will look like
• CR must be figured out by March 4 or else another CR must temporarily be passed to continue funding the federal government and avoid a shutdown
• Question: does this give folks time to get things signed?
  • Yes, people should have time, hopefully, to get their grant agreements signed.  But if you haven’t already done so, sign your grant agreement ASAP and return it to the granting agency.
• Question: has there been any outreach to grantees?
  • SGA has contacted all HUD and DOT grant recipients to inform them of the urgency.

OTHER SGA UPDATES (Elisa Ortiz)

• Stimulus report update with Will Schroeer
  • Good media attention in some regions, mostly in states that did well, but also Louisiana who ranked 49^th
  • Coalition members have reported using the document
  • Jobs, jobs, jobs is still the message, as well as getting the most “bang for your buck” moving forward
• Coalition meeting and lobby day update
  • We will discuss SGA’s federal policy work
  • National, regional and state partners will all discuss their policy work and share communication strategies
  • Date was moved to April 14 and 15
  • Hill day on April 14, Coalition meetings the morning of April 15
  • All coalition members are invited, registration form was included in a prior email
  • You can note particularly important Members of Congress that you’d like to meet with on your registration form
  • Agenda suggestions are also appreciated
  • Registration ends March 25; register today.
    

COMMENTS, QUESTIONS OR SUGGESTIONS; COALITION UPDATES

• Trust for Public Land information on “America’s Great Outdoors” report (Ashley Futrell)
  • President’s report had some information on urban parks and how to fund them
  • Messaging input from stakeholders (coalition members) to accompany this report will be helpful
  • Call next Tuesday, March 1 at 2pm to provide input
  • Please contact Ashley at TPL for more information
• Greenbelt Alliance report release (Adam Garcia)
  • Greenbelt Alliance just released “Green Your City’s Blueprint” report
  • Could be useful not only for professionals but also community members to provide insight into the planning process and GHG reduction strategies
  • SGA will share this report on our website as a resource
• Michele Warren: are any other organizations anticipating cuts, and what can coalition members do to impact legislative actions relevant to public health or CDC-sponsored programs?
  • This question will be put out the listserv for wider distribution
• Reminder: next coalition call is March 31 at 4pm EST