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June 22, 2009
Dear Friend,
First, good work on making those phone calls and sending emails to your State Representatives. The House Finance Committee has submitted its proposal to fill RIPTA's budget gaps by increasing transit funding by $8.8 million through a gasoline tax increase. Call your State Representative and tell them to support Budget Article 16.
Thanks also to those of you who dumped the pump last Thursday (and everyday). We can work together to save fuel, our economy, and our environment. Let's do something big next year for Dump the Pump Day!
| 1) Gasoline tax to pay for Transit |
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 Last week, after months of letters, emails and phone calls about the need to invest in our public transportation system, the Rhode Island House Finance Committee proposed a 2-cent gasoline tax increase to go pay for Rhode Island's public transit system. While the small investment of a 2-cent gasoline tax increase will add a dollar or two to our monthly fuel costs, it will also help RIPTA to better provide transportation choices to our communities. Eventually, we will need to fund public transit in another way, but for now this investment will move RIPTA out of a defense mode and toward a visionary plan to grow transportation choices in Rhode Island.
 Call your State Representative today and tell him/her to support State Budget Article 16.
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| 2) Host a House Party (with our new tool) |
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 The Sierra Club Rhode Island Chapter has a new tool to help you organize a house party.
House parties all over America have been the driving force of changing our energy future. With the advantage of Rhode Island's small size, a slew of House Parties can tip the scales to establish a green transportation system for the 21st Century.
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| 3) What are CoolCATs? |
 Cool CATs are the Sierra Club's Cool Cities Community Action Teams. Cool Cities or Cool Communities are those local governments that sign on to the U.S. Mayors Climate Protection Agreement. Sierra Club Community Action Teams are teams of volunteer activists who work together to build environmental communities by hosting house parties, going door to door with our message, or participating in phone banks. |
Thank you for signing up for Cool CATs Weekly. You can make your community "Cool" by advocating for renewable power, green buildings and transportation choices. Visit the Cool Cities website for resources and toolkits. Sincerely, Chris Wilhite Sierra Club Rhode Island Chapter |
Call your State Representative and tell him/her to support a green transportation budget! Tell them to:
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Make RIPTA whole - Ensure that transit grows with demand
- Support State Budget Article 16
Monthly Chapter Meeting
Tuesday, July 14
6:30 - 8:30 pm
Sierra Club RI Chapter Office
17 Gordon Ave., Ste. 208
Providence
Community Meeting: Aquidneck Transportation Choices
Tuesday, July 28
6:00 pm (tentative)
Channing Memorial Church
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