Update: July 6, 2014. With the RTC rejecting the second call for an independent investigation on June 26, and going ahead with adoption of the $5.6 billion transportation plan, it has given me the opportunity to re-evaluate this campaign and how I can be of service. This is the conclusion I have come to: We, the public, paid for the RTC traffic pollution reduction program, and we have a right to know exactly what went wrong and why. Therefore I am going to continue to push ahead with the demand for an independent investigation. Over the weeks ahead I will be writing to all thirteen RTC transportation commissioners, continuing to provide more evidence to build the case. How many letters to transportation commissioners will be needed for an independent investigation to be agreed to? I hope you can join us. - Paul ----------------------------------------- I’m an entrepreneur / commute consultant in Santa Cruz, California who develops and implements commute programs to reduce traffic and pollution. The purpose of this petition is to bring to light actions taken over the past five years by my local transportation agency that have: - Directed public funds into known ineffective traffic reduction, pollution reduction strategies - Prevented public funds being directed into known effective traffic pollution reduction programs - Undermined, and attempted to discredit valid concerns raised - Deceived the public Brief history of events: From 2005 – 2014 I have been working with the City of Santa Cruz to develop and provide commute programs to shift single occupant vehicle (SOV) commuting to alternative commuting: biking, carpooling, transit, walk, etc., with positive results: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qePeHoSLDTs I have also worked with the County of Santa Cruz (independent from the Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission – the target of this petition), also with positive results: http://greenstartupstory.com/2012/08/28/rsclients-in-santa-cruz-county/#santacruzco In 2008 a local community college, Cabrillo College, applied for an *AB2766 traffic pollution reduction grant to use my services to reduce their largest source of CO2 – the commute. To support Cabrillo College’s grant application I provided commute services for free for six months starting April 22 (Earth Day), 2008. Again with positive results: http://greenstartupstory.com/2012/05/26/welcome-spotlife/grantadvocacyletter-small-highlighted/ [*AB2766 is a $200M/year California-wide traffic pollution reduction grant fund paid by drivers through vehicle license fees. The California Air Resources Board (CARB) oversees the AB2766 fund.] Unfortunately, rather than supporting Cabrillo’s grant application, the Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission (SCCRTC) ‘competed’ with Cabrillo’s grant application, with false and exaggerated claims of their own capabilities to achieve effective traffic pollution reduction. These false claims by the SCCRTC resulted in the Monterey Bay Unified Air Pollution Control District (Air District) denying Cabrillo’s top priority funding request, and instead funding the SCCRTC with $120,000 AB2766 public funds to serve Cabrillo College’s commute program needs, as well as the commute program needs of all other employers in Santa Cruz County. With funding being denied, Cabrillo College’s successful commute program had to be shut down in September 2008. Keeping in touch with Cabrillo College I learned that the SCCRTC program delivered no benefit from 2008 - 2012. In May 2012, the Air District (responsible for managing the AB2766 grant fund locally) were asked about the performance of the SCCRTC program. Their response: ‘The District feels that SCCRTC has made adequate progress'. June 2012: After further investigation, findings were summarized in a report calling for an independent investigation: http://greenstartupstory.files.wordpress.com/2013/09/ridespringcabrilloreportjune2012-2.pdf The report was provided to the SCCRTC and Air District. In a Santa Cruz Sentinel article in July 2012, both the SCCRTC and Air District dismissed concerns, and reiterated confidence in the SCCRTC program: “We still believe this is a great program” (with 0.16% of the projected traffic pollution reduction achieved). http://www.santacruzsentinel.com/localnews/ci_21168663/ June 2013: SCCRTC Executive Director describes report calling for an independent investigation as ‘misleading and untrue’ January 2014: Air District issues Stop Work Order against SCCRTC program. Stop Work Order confirms key concerns raised in report: http://greenstartupstory.com/2014/02/25/ad-stopworkorder-rtc/ March 2014: Attempting to bring attention to this issue at an SCCRTC public hearing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yc0pZf7FyxI What’s next… June 26, 2014: The SCCRTC is scheduled to approve a $5.6 billion transportation plan claiming priority and capabilities in effective traffic pollution reduction. Highlights from the SCCRTC plan include: Page 13 ‘Much effort on this 2014 RTP and the 2035 Metropolitan Transportation Plan has been focused on prioritizing projects that will reduce greenhouse gas emissions primarily from a reduction in vehicle miles traveled (VMT)’ Page 19 ‘With the passage of the California Sustainable Communities and Climate Protection Act of 2008 (SB 375) and the establishment of regional greenhouse gas emissions targets, a much greater emphasis is being placed on transportation plans to reduce the number of vehicle miles we travel’ Page 140 ‘The Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission is taking a proactive approach towards identifying strategies for reducing greenhouse gases in the 2014 RTP’ Page 140 ‘The 2014 RTP relies on reductions in vehicle miles traveled along with improvements in vehicle speed to achieve the five percent greenhouse gas emissions reduction’ Page 220 ‘The California Air Resources Board (ARB) requires a five percent reduction in per capita ...

Recent reinterpretation of law by a state agency has abruptly and unjustifiably eliminated the protective natural buffer along Georgia's marshlands and other contiguous wetlands. The health and productivity of Georgia's tidal marshes will be degraded by eliminating the buffer, jeopardizing coastal fisheries, recreational areas, tourism, and quality of life. To prevent such threats the buffer must be restored. Since 1997, the Center for a Sustainable Coast has represented the public interest in safeguarding Georgia's coastal resources including shorelines, waterways, wildlife habitat, fisheries and vast areas of tidal marsh.

GMOs aren't without risk - some are designed for increased pesticide use, which has been linked to serious health and environmental effects. Sufficient independent pre-market testing has not been done on GMOs to determine the long-term health effects on humans. Monsanto’s pocketbook is also hard at work to defeat GMO legislation in Massachusetts, and reports indicate that Monsanto and its allies are set to spend over $6 million to defeat a current ballot initiative in Oregon. Consumers have a right to know whether the foods we eat contain GMOs, and special interests like Monsanto should not be spending millions to leave us in the dark.

If solar rebates are ended in Massachusetts, it could badly hurt Solarize Mass, which is a group incentive program to encourage businesses and homeowners to install solar photovoltaic systems. The solar rebate now provides homeowners up to $2,000 (sometimes more) for new installations. I'm chair of the Plainfield (MA) Energy Committee and ending solar rebates would negatively impact our efforts to promote solar energy.

We all are - no one alive is exempt from Fukushima's melt down.

The petition is about our environment and land fills around the whole United States and the world. As well as about inspiring an ecologically- minded culture.

"To date, Maine has received $51 million from the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative — the vast majority of which goes to the Efficiency Maine Trust, which invests in programs designed to increase energy efficiency and lower costs for Maine’s ratepayers. The Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative also helps to reduce toxic air pollution that contributes to climate change and results in increased hospital visits and even deaths for the state’s most vulnerable, such as children and seniors who suffer from asthma. In other words, Maine’s residents have reaped the rewards of the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative’s success. Still, the Kochs and their vast network of corporate-funded front groups, such as the Maine Heritage Policy Center and Beacon Hill Institute, are doing everything in their power to dismantle this successful program in order to cater to their own self-interest. " Quote from http://bangordailynews.com/2014/04/20/opinion/how-the-koch-brothers-greenback-influences-green-jobs-clean-energy-debate/.

As a Chef and citizen concerned about the health, environmental, ethical, and socio-economic hazards of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs), I feel strongly that consumers have an inalienable right to say no to GMOs. I am deeply concerned with the stand Monsanto and other companies that deal in GMO food production have taken in the past decade with respect to sustainable agriculture and farmers' rights. Right now we are at a critical crossroads in history, and I fear that the Federal Government is not looking out for the nation's welfare with a "profits over people" attitude. Monsanto Company has embarked on a vicious campaign against family farmers in North America, as well as across the world. These hardworking farmers are the backbone of our nation's food supply and national security. The current climate of insecurity has been exacerbated by Monsantos policies of intimidation, lawsuits and defamation. Monsanto's legal actions against Percy Schmeiser, the Rodney Nelson family, and the Oakhurst Dairy for example, are deplorable attacks. The North American farm sector is becoming a veritable wasteland. Monsanto's Genetically Engineered crops have increased pesticide use, destroyed key export markets and threaten global food safety. Families have the right to purchase food without fearing health concerns from food that has not been properly tested in the United States. Farmers have the right to produce safe, sustainable food without fear of intimidation and litigation. Consumers have the right to choose food that guarantees their families' health and safety.

Solar is a renewable, non-polluting energy source, yet again the Koch Bros show their hubris by their campaigns to quash our Sun's potential. I have lived in homes with Solar, and everyone should have this choice with political support instead of suppression and taxation.

If you wonder what to tell your children or your grandchildren you did in 2104 when we still had a chance to save our planet please take action and sign this petition and support our legislators to support renewable energy and stand up to out of state meddling by arrogant coal moguls.

It's a bold move from a president who's been promising environmentalist reform without really delivering. It's also exactly what our country, and our planet, needs to battle climate change and survive the coming centuries — so of course, Republicans and the fossil fuel industry hate it.

A study in northeastern Minnesota found one in 10 children are born with unsafe levels of mercury in their blood. On June 2, the Environmental Protection Agency announced national carbon pollution standards that will help protect Minnesota children from toxic mercury while reducing carbon pollution that is changing Minnesota’s seasons. Minnesota has already taken steps to reduce carbon emissions from power plants by more than 20 percent. The new carbon pollution standards provide a huge opportunity for Minnesota to continue its transition to clean, renewable energy and protect our communities and families from pollution. Coal-burning power plants are responsible for one-third of the carbon pollution in Minnesota and more than half the mercury pollution in our lakes and rivers. This pollution poses a serious health risk to Minnesotans, responsible for premature deaths, higher risks of asthma attacks and respiratory disease, and tens of thousands of missed work days. We have an obligation to our children and future generations to act on climate now and create a strong economy built on clean energy jobs. Join us in thanking Governor Dayton for his leadership on clean energy and ask him to seize this opportunity to protect Minnesotans through strong implementation of the new carbon pollution standards.