June 27, 2011
Dear
Fellow Sierran
Here's what's in this week's edition of CoolCATs Weekly:
1) RIPTA, now what?
2) Website Update
3) Skeptical Science
1) RIPTA, now what?
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After a
strong election cycle and countless hours of advocating for stronger support
for RIPTA, we had high hopes transit would finally be put on firm financial
footing this legislative session. To put it bluntly, those hopes were crushed
last week. The budget that passed through the House last week and which
is expected to pass the Senate on Wednesday makes no provision for fixing
RIPTA's deficit. The inevitable consequence is severe service reductions, as chronicled
by the Providence Journal.
Prospects are grim for the transit
agency, because it will be even more difficult to find funding for transit
during an election year, and the flawed formula of funding RIPTA with the gas tax,
which provides declining revenues with increasing demand, will remain in
place. Perhaps our best hope is to amend the transportation trust fund to
direct a greater percentage of funds to RIPTA. Keep your fingers crossed.
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2) Website Update
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Over the past couple of weeks, I've put a lot of time into bringing the Chapter's website up to date. You can now find all of the CoolCATs newsletters as well as Coastlines newsletters archived there. More importantly, you can find links to take action on our transportation campaigns.
I readily admit that I am not a web designer, and it is not perfect, and that is why I'd love for one of our members to come forward and volunteer to be our web master (nudge, nudge). In the meantime, I invite you to check it out and let me know what needs fixing. Also, take the time to find us on facebook, twitter, and youtube where we'll be doing all we can to share the Sierra experience.
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3) Skeptical Science
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Speaking of great websites, have you visited Skeptical Science yet? It's a must read if you want information to refute all the climate deniers in your life.
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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,
Abel G. Collins Sierra Club Rhode Island Chapter
abel.collins@sierraclub.org
work: 401-521-4734
cell: 401-207-4484
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Monthly Chapter Meeting Tuesday, July 12, 6:30 - 8:30 pm Sierra Club RI Chapter Office 17 Gordon Ave., Ste. 208 Providence, RI 02905
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