Non-Profit Office Space for Rent in Lansing’s Old Town

For Lease:  115 sq. ft. first floor office space in Lansing’s Old Town neighborhood.   Great street frontage, hard wood flooring and exposed brick.  Fully furnished, private office space includes the following amenities:  WIFI,  free parking/ bike rack, shared kitchen (microwave, refrigerator, sink, cupboards) and restroom, security system with emergency panic buttons, central heat & air. Located near corner of East Grand River Ave. & Washington Ave. Walking distance from Capitol and downtown Lansing and a few minutes’ drive from East Lansing.  Easy access to CATA Bus lines, restaurants, shopping, fitness center, general store, farmers market and the river trail.  Utilities, single stream recycling and trash services included in rent. 

Lease terms: $300/month; Minimum one-year lease. Immediate availability.  One month security deposit required.  Nonprofit designation required.

Contact: Cecilia Garcia, 517-484-2372,ext 10 or email cecilia.garcia@sierraclub.org

Statement On Mass Water Shutoffs Impacting Detroit Residents

NEWS from Sierra Club

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                      MORE INFORMATION:
TUESDAY, JULY 29, 2014                          DAVID HOLTZ
                                                                    313-300-4454

Statement of Sierra Club Michigan Chapter Chair

On Mass Water Shutoffs Impacting Detroit Residents

The following statement was released today by David Holtz, Sierra Club Michigan Chapter Chair:

Sierra Club, the nation’s oldest and largest grassroots environmental organization, believes the waters of Michigan and all of America are held in public trust.  The public trust doctrine is the principle that water is held in common—no one made it, no one owns it—and is preserved for public use.

Detroiters—and all residents of Michigan—have a basic right to water and the mass water shutoffs in Detroit should end.  There is considerable evidence that insufficient advance notice and payment options were given prior to the water shutoffs.  Moreover, Detroiters currently pay about twice the national average for water and are among those the least able in the country to afford these rates.  It is understood that there is a cost to providing the infrastructure and delivery of water as a public service and the following actions should be taken to address the water shutoff crisis in Detroit:

• An end to water shutoffs and immediate restoration of water to all Detroit residents beyond the current 15 day moratorium.
• Detroit City Council should conduct a public hearing on the water shutoffs.
• An assessment should be made by public health officials of the impacts of mass water shutoffs on the health and mental health of those affected by the shutoffs.
• A comprehensive water affordability plan for Detroit should be adopted that includes conservation policies and a goal of providing water at rates more in alignment with Detroiters’ ability to pay.

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SIERRA CLUB COMMENDS MARK SCHAUER’S JOBS PLAN

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Wednesday, July 30, 2013

Contact:

Mike Berkowitz, Mike.Berkowitz@sierraclub.org, 248-345-9808

SIERRA CLUB COMMENDS MARK SCHAUER’S JOBS PLAN
Proposal Calls for Substantive Clean Energy Policy

LANSING - Today, the Sierra Club applauded Michigan candidate for Governor Mark Schauer’s newly proposedjobs plan. Schauer’s proposal calls for raising Michigan’s renewable energy standard to 30 percent of state’s electricity by 2035, a move that would protect the Great Lakes and create thousands of jobs at the same time. It also calls for increasing Michigan’s energy optimization standard to two percent a year to help reduce electricity costs for homeowners and businesses.

Statement from Mike Berkowitz, Legislative Director of the Sierra Club Michigan Chapter:

“Mark Schauer’s goal of Michigan getting 30 percent of its energy from renewable sources and increasing energy efficiency confronts our state’s current inertia on clean energy policy. This highlights a clear disparity between Schauer and Governor Rick Snyder, who has yet to propose a substantive energy policy or timeline.  Mark Schauer is ready to move Michigan forward.“

Statement from Anne Woiwode, Sierra Club Michigan Chapter Director:

“Michigan’s past is vested in dirty coal, that much is certain.  The direction Mark Schauer is offering will make sure that Michigan is in the lead, ensuring that as we move in a cleaner direction we also benefit from the jobs that harnessing, building and delivering clean energy bring. We applaud Schauer’s leadership and vision on an issue so important to Michigan’s future.”

The Sierra Club is the nation’s largest grassroots environmental organization, with over 160,000 members and supporters in Michigan.

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Paid for with regulated funds by the Michigan Sierra PAC 109 E. Grand River Ave. Lansing, MI 48906

Annual Au Sable Cedar Restoration Outings Scheduled for September

ANNUAL MASON TRACT CEDAR PLANTING OUTING

Join the Michigan Chapter of the Sierra Club and the Anglers of the Au Sable for their Annual Au Sable River Clean Up and Tree Planting on Saturday, September 6th. We will meet at 10AM at the Au Sable Lodge, 471 Stephan Bridge Road, Grayling, MI. (M-72 east of Grayling and north of Stephan Bridge Road) to get organized and split up into assigned groups for the clean up. The Sierra Club will be working with the Cedars of the Au Sable group to weed, pick up litter, replace a few tree cages and replace a few cedar saplings on the banks of the Mason Tract of the South Branch of the Au Sable River. Bring work gloves, trowels, tree spades, etc. An afternoon barbecue at the Au Sable Lodge will follow. To RSVP your help or for more outing details (and local camping information if needed), contact Lorne Beatty at 810-632-7766 or at lorne.beatty@michigan.sierraclub.org.

UPPER MANISTEE CEDAR PLANTING OUTING

Join the Michigan Chapter of the Sierra Club, Cedars of the Au Sable and other conservation groups for a day of tree planting on the Upper Manistee River west of Frederic, Michigan on September 20th. We will meet at 9AM at the Old Fly Factory in downtown Grayling, next to the I-75 Business Loop bridge on the Au Sable River, to organize and split up into groups. Bring work gloves, trowels, tree spades, rain gear, etc. An afternoon barbecue back at the Old Fly Factory will follow the planting. To RSVP your help or for more information, contact Lorne Beatty at 810-632-7766 or at lorne.beatty@michigan.sierraclub.org.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

July 16th, 2014

CONTACT: Mike Berkowitz

248-345-9808

Mike.berkowitz@sierraclub.org

SIERRA CLUB ENDORSES MARK TOTTEN FOR MICHIGAN ATTORNEY GENERAL

Conservation Group Praises Commitment to Protect Michigan’s Environment

Kalamazoo, MI: The Michigan Chapter of the Sierra Club today announced its endorsement of Mark Totten in the 2014 election for Michigan’s Attorney General.

"Mark Totten received Sierra Club’s endorsement because Michigan needs an Attorney General who will protect our public health, our water and our air,” said Richard Barron, Political Chair of Sierra Club MI Chapter. "Mark Totten is an attorney who understands the importance of clean air, clean water and public health and understands the vital need to protect our public health as well as our forests and other natural resources.  We are confident that he will defend our natural resources and will prosecute those who criminally pollute our air, water and land.”

In the past, Totten has worked to protect rainforests and stop illegal logging in Indonesia. He also worked on environmental policy as a staffer for former U.S. Sen. Joe Lieberman. Totten also developed a report on the abuse of science by the George W. Bush administration. Mark Totten is running for the position currently held by Bill Schuette (R). Schuette has led the charge against the federal Environmental Protection Agency’s ability to keep our air, water and land clean and has been silent on fracking issues. In contrast, Totten encourages the expansion of Michigan’s renewable energy, energy efficiency, green manufacturing and maintenance jobs.

"Bill Schuette has shown a consistent disregard for the impacts of climate disruption, taking the side of industry and challenging common-sense solutions,” said David Holtz, Chapter Chair of Sierra Club MI Chapter. “Michigan needs more clean energy champions and Mark Totten has the skills, values and energy to lead on this important issue.”

Sierra Club’s endorsement means it will lend its volunteer strength to Mark Totten’s campaign from among its 160,000 Michigan members and supporters.  Totten will be seeking nomination as Attorney General at the Michigan Democratic Convention in August.

"Getting Totten elected as Michigan’s next Attorney General is a priority for us," said Mike Berkowitz, Political Director of Sierra Club MI Chapter.  "Sierra Club volunteers will conduct outreach to our members and other voters and let them know that Totten is committed to protecting Michigan’s environment.”

The Sierra Club is the nation’s largest grassroots environmental organization, with over 160,000 members and supporters in Michigan.

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Paid for with regulated funds by Michigan Sierra PAC 109 E. Grand River Ave. Lansing, MI 48906

Sierra Club Says Proposed Fracking Rules Leave State At Risk

Citizens To Challenge State’s Proposals At Public Hearings This Week

More Information: David Holtz, 313-300-4454

LANSING—As state environmental regulators hold two days of public hearings this week on new rules to regulate natural gas fracking, Sierra Club today said the proposals fall far short of what’s needed and will put Michigan’s waterways at continued risk unless the state halts the controversial practice. 

“The proposed rules won’t make fracking safe in Michigan,” said Nancy Shiffler, chair of the Michigan Chapter’s Beyond Natural Gas Committee.   “The closer you look the more you see that the state is taking an industry-friendly, hands-off approach toward regulating the use of dangerous chemicals and protecting our waters.  These weak rules just reinforce the need to turn away from fracking and fossils fuels and toward safe, renewable energy sources.”

Shiffler acknowledged that the state Legislature is unlikely to adopt a moratorium on fracking, so Sierra Club will be proposing ways to strengthen the proposed rules when the state Department of Environmental Quality holds public hearings Tuesday, July 15, in Gaylord and Wednesday, July 16, in Lansing.   

Among the rule changes the club is proposing are:

·        Stronger protections for rivers, streams and groundwater from large-scale water withdrawals related to high-volume fracking.  For example, the state’s proposed rues fail to take into account the impact of withdrawals on wetlands, lakes and headwaters.  Access to groundwater — the primary source of drinking water for 44 percent of Michigan residents and nearly all irrigated farms — is becoming a critical issue in several areas of the state.

·        The regulations being proposed do not take into account the cumulative impacts of water withdrawals.  Water used in fracking is permanently removed from the watershed yet the state has no conservation plan in place and is not proposing that water withdrawals be evaluated over any extended period of time to measure the effects on local waterways and groundwaters.

·        Water testing requirements, although improved under the proposed rules, need to be stronger.  They still fall far short of what is needed to protect rivers, streams and groundwaters. 

·        Full public disclosure is needed of all chemicals used in fracking prior to drilling. This would not be required under the proposed rules, creating potential problems for first responders in case of an accident and leaving the public in the dark about risks related to chemicals used in fracking.

Rebecca Estelle-Skeels lives in Kalkaska County and plans to attend the hearing in Gaylord.

“I live next door to a huge fracking site and know first-hand how they operate,” said Skeels, who chairs the Sierra Club’s Clearwater Committee.   “The state’s proposed rules like using swiss cheese for a roof.  They are full of holes and when your safety of your drinking water is at stake that’s just not good enough.”

Sue Kelly, who lives in Brighton, plans on attending the hearing in Lansing.  She and her neighbors have been fighting to keep fracking out of their community.

“It’s not safe,” said Kelly, “and nothing they propose will make it so.  But they didn’t really even try.   It’s pretty clear that the gas industry is in charge in Lansing.”

NEWS: Sierra Club releases endorsements for MI State Legislative and Local races

NEWS: Sierra Club releases endorsements for MI State Legislative and Local races

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

July 2, 2014

CONTACT:

Mike Berkowitz

248-345-9808

mike.berkowitz@sierraclub.org

Sierra Club Endorses Candidates in State Legislative and Local Races

Nation’s Largest Grassroots Conservation Organization Backs Climate and Clean Energy Leaders in Michigan election

LANSING, MI  -The Michigan Chapter of the Sierra Club announced over 50 candidate endorsements in Michigan’s upcoming state legislative and local elections.        

“These Sierra Club endorsed candidates have demonstrated strong leadership in promoting clean air, clean water and cleaner energy for a healthier Michigan,” said Mike Berkowitz, Political Director of the Sierra Club Michigan Chapter.

Michigan Sierra Club endorsed the following candidates for State Senate:

David Knezek for State Senate District 5

Ryan Fishman for State Senate District 13

Bobbie Walton for State Senate District 14

Curtis Hertel for State Senate District 23

Dawn Levey for State Senate District 24

Lance Penny for State Senate District 29

Sierra Club endorsed the following candidates for State Representative:

Alberta Tinsley Talabi for State Representative District 2

Erika Geiss for State Representative District 12

Tony Trupiano for State Representative District 13

George Darany for State Representative District 15

Jeremy Moss for State Representative District 35

Joanna VanRaaphorst for State Representative District 45

Sheila Barr for State Representative District 51

Brenda Pilgrim for State Representative District 64

Annie Brown for State Representative District 66

Winnie Brinks for State Representative District 76

Margaret Guerrero DeLuca for State Representative District 82

Tom Stobie for State Representative District 101

Grant Carlson for State Representative District 108

Sierra Club also endorsed the following for local state races

Vic Celentino for Ingham County Commission District 1

Rebecca Bahar Cook for Ingham County Commission District 2

Kara Hope for Ingham County Commission District 7

Penelope Tsernoglu for Ingham County Commission District 8

Carol Koenig for Ingham County Commission District 9

Brian McGrain for Ingham County Commission District 10

Teri Banas for Ingham County Commission District 11

Deborah Nolan for Ingham County Commission District 12

Randy Schafer for Ingham County Commission District 13

Val Cochran Topps for Jackson County Commission District 3

John Polacyk for Jackson County Commission District 8

Julie Rogers for Kalamazoo County Commission District 5

Bryant Nolden for Genessee County Commission District 1

Andrew Everman for Genessee County Commission District 7

Pegge Adams for Genessee County Commission District 9

Phil Reid for Oakland County Commission District 4

Ethyl Rivera for Oakland County Commission District 6

Colleen Crossey for Oakland County Commission District 9

Martha Black for Oakland County Commission District 11

Mike Lewis for Oakland County Commission District 12

Marcia Gershenson for Oakland County Commission District 13

Nadine Harvey for Oakland County Commission District 15

Phyllis Noda for Oakland County Commission District 16

Helaine Zack for Oakland County Commission District 18

Gary McGillivray for Oakland County Commission District 20

Bill Barnwell for Macomb County Commission District 1

Fred Miller for Macomb County Commission District 9

Ilona Varga for Wayne County Commission District 4

Ray Basham for Wayne County Commission District 14

Richard Hawkins for Clinton County Commission District 4

Terrance Augustine for Eaton County Commission District 3

Jack Finn for Eaton County Commission District 5

Jane Whitacre for Eaton County Commission District 6

“Sierra Club volunteers from among the organization’s 150,000 Michigan members and supporters will work with endorsed candidates in their own communities, identifying and recruiting other likely voters who are concerned about the state’s environmental and energy policies,” said Richard Morley Barron, Political Chair of the Sierra Club Michigan Chapter

The Michigan Chapter’s Political Committee conducts thorough reviews of all candidates based on their environmental history, voting records and policy positions through candidate interviews and responses to candidate questionnaires.

A full list of candidates endorsed by the Michigan Sierra Club, including federal, state and local candidates, is available at the following website: http://michigan.sierraclub.org/politics/articles/2014Endorsements.html

About the Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with more than 2.4 million members and supporters nationwide, and over 150,000 in Michigan. In addition to creating opportunities for people of all ages, levels and locations to have meaningful outdoor experiences, the Sierra Club works to safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and litigation. For more information, visit http://www.sierraclub.org.

Paid for by Michigan Sierra PAC (109 E. Grand River Ave. Lansing, MI 48906)

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