 |
 |
American Voters Care About Saving the Special Places in their Communities
These results continue a powerful trend. Over the past six years, American voters have approved 76 percent of 801 state and local conservation ballot measures, creating some $24 billion for preserving important lands and natural resources. Conservation is proving to be popular almost everywhere. Last year, land conservation ballot measures won voter support from urban centers in New Jersey to rural lands in Wyoming and Colorado. Ballot measures passed easily among both Republican and Democrat voters and in neighborhoods that range from affluent to impoverished. Although some feared land conservation would suffer in tough times, more than three fourths of the measures on the ballot in 2003 passed—approximately the same winning percentage as during the late 1990s, when the economy was strong. Despite the weak economy and widespread budget deficits, Americans voted to save lands near their homes. The record carries a simple message: more communities should put issues concerning conservation funding to a vote, rather than wait for discretionary funds to become available. If citizens speak out and make land conservation a priority for political leaders, the future of our precious lands and natural resources will only be strengthened. “LandVote 2003” can be downloaded (PDF; 400MB) or a print copy can be ordered at www.landvote.org LandVote
Archive
|
This
is abundantly clear from the election results in LandVote 2003,
a report from the Trust for Public Land and the Land Trust Alliance.
Our 6th annual examination of ballot measures supporting land conservation
reviews election results from 134 communities across the U.S. where
voters were asked to support public funding to save farms and ranch
lands, buy parkland, preserve watersheds, and support other conservation
purposes. In 2003, voters again spoke loudly, approving 100 of these
measures and generating $1.8 billion for conservation.