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March 18, 2015

Sierra Club Endorses Proposal 1

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, March 18 2015

Media contact:  David Holtz 313-300-4454 

Sierra Club Endorses Proposal 1
$115 Million in Transit Funding Addresses Critical Michigan Need


LANSING—The Michigan Chapter of Sierra Club today announced its endorsement of Proposal 1 on the May election ballot, citing a key component of the measure that increases funding for public transit.

“Proposal 1 provides essential funding for Michigan’s public transportation needs that have long been neglected,” said David Holtz, Chair of the Sierra Club Michigan Chapter Executive Committee.  “This complex proposal may not be ideal, but it is a bipartisan compromise that will increase financial support for transportation while not harming schools, cities and other important environmental priorities.  If it fails, all of these will be put at risk.”

Proposal 1 will provide $115 million a year in increased funding for public transportation throughout Michigan. This will likely allow expanded bus service for seniors, low-income workers and others while reducing the use of cars and greenhouse gas emissions.  Proposal 1 will also provide $10 million a year to the Department of Natural Resource’s Recreation Improvement Fund which provides grants for the operation, maintenance and development of recreation trails and restoration of lands damaged by off-road vehicles and inland lake cleanup.

The decision to endorse Proposal 1 was made by Sierra Club’s 18-member Michigan Chapter Executive Committee and its Political Committee and will be communicated to the group’s 60,000 members and supporters in Michigan.

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