Speak Out and Show Up for Open Space

In their newsletter "At Lincoln House", the Lincoln Institute of Land Policy recently reported: "Based on the last several years of referendum voting, it appears most Americans are willing to pay for the acquisition of conservation land."

Cities such as Scottsdale and Cave Creek in Arizona are finding that they can tax to keep landscapes unfragmented, preserve wildlife, open space and cultural heritage. Read the recent Wall Street Journal article by Erica E. Phillips: In Scottsdale, a Quest to Keep the West Wild
Sprawling City Use Taxes, State Funds to Acquire and Preserve Open Lands.

Yet, here in El Paso, although we have a vehicle for preserving open space (10% of your stormwater fee), we squander it on park ponds and do nothing toward the purchase of land prioritized for preservation.

And here's the kicker: yesterday, after the PSB Committee meeting, I suggested to John Balliew, Christina Montoya (VP of Communications and Marketing at EPWU) and Rick Bonart that the Chair of the Open Space Committee be included in stormwater budget meetings. Nobody from OSAB attended this fall's budget meeting and I figured that they had just been ignored.  Ms. Montoya made the point that her office sent out all kinds of notices and announcements about the meeting. I know that she did because she is consistently great about informing the public and I got her notices. Dr. Bonart said that he personally informed the Chair of OSAB about the meeting and encouraged attendance. 

What do we have to do to acquire conservation land/open space? Show up and start pushing the open space priorities and program. I'm saying this to myself as well now too.