This week, United Nations Secretary General António Guterres stated starkly “We are on a highway to climate hell with our foot on the accelerator.” The agency’s Emissions Gap Report 2022: The Closing Window is an alarming read, finding that the adopted policies of all the world’s nations would lead to global warming of 2.8°C over this century – an apocalyptic outcome.
Author: Elena Sorokina
CSG News: A big win, a new teammate, a job opening, and having a say!
In this issue, we celebrate our big win on the Thrive 2050 General Plan, welcome a new CSG staff member, highlight progress at Metro, recap our fall events, and offer lots of opportunities for you to be involved in planning the future of your community.
PW Digital Gateway Environmental Coalition Opposition Letter
We, the undersigned thirty (30) organizations, write to you today regarding Comprehensive Plan Amendment #CPA2021-00004, the PW Digital Gateway. On behalf of our millions of members and supporters in Prince William County, the Commonwealth of Virginia, and nationwide, we urge you to vote “No” on this proposal.
In a 9-0 vote, the Montgomery County Council says YES to Thrive
After over three years of advocacy, it’s done. On October 25, the Montgomery County Council passed Thrive 2050, which is now the new general plan for the county.
CSG News: If we don’t act, who will?
We face great challenges but also have many opportunities to act locally – to make our world a better place. Every day the CSG team and our supporters speak up for more sustainable communities and transportation. So we hope you’ll weigh in this month on the important local issues highlighted below, and connect with fellow advocates at one of our Smart Growth Socials!
Voices from the Community: Pass Thrive 2050 Now!
Check out our new video showcasing four residents’ personal stories about living in Montgomery County and their hopes for the future. Gretchen, Paul, Yvonne, and Marion support Thrive 2050 and want to see the County Council embrace Thrive’s vision for the future.
COMMENTS: Serious concerns about the K Street Transitway
We are enthusiastic supporters of your bold bus priority program, and the vision for the K Street Transitway project that you shared in 2019. However, we wish to express our great concern about the changes to the K Street Transitway design reflected in the semi-final 65% design stage.
COMMENTS: Thrive Coalition Sign-on Letter (Fall 2022)
September 30, 2022
Montgomery County Council
Council Office Building
100 Maryland Ave, 6th Floor
Rockville, MD 20850
Re: Support for Thrive Montgomery 2050
Council President Albornoz and Councilmembers:
The undersigned organizations are excited for the County Council to strengthen and approve Thrive 2050 this fall. Thrive is the right direction and vision for Montgomery County.
Thrive — as currently written and with the inclusion of new chapters on equity, the economy, and the environment — will set the county on a new path toward more sustainable, inclusive policies that will help to spur our economy, lower greenhouse gas emissions, and break down the county’s east-west divide. Although it is a visionary document, that vision matters. The best way for us to grow is compactly in complete communities with a robust transit system, abundant housing for people of all incomes, and a natural environment and infrastructure that will help us to mitigate and adapt to climate change.
These are policies supported by our organizations and residents alike. In a statistically significant poll from Data for Progress, 55% of likely Democratic voters in Montgomery County expressed support for Thrive, with the strongest support from Black or African Americans, people under 45, and renters. In another poll, 61% of respondents supported the construction of duplexes, townhomes, and/or apartments in their own neighborhood and 76% supported redesigning roads to prioritize safety over vehicle speeds. Nspiregreen’s additional outreach also showed majority support across Thrive’s issues and policies.
But Thrive is only the beginning. We look forward to working with you, your successors, and the community over the next three decades to bring Thrive’s vision into reality. For now, our organizations urge you to make the amendments needed to make Thrive an even stronger document, and then to pass the plan by the end of this County Council term.
Sincerely,
Montgomery for All
Coalition for Smarter Growth
Action in Montgomery
Audubon Naturalist Society
Affordable Housing Conference of Montgomery County
Sierra Club – Montgomery County
Arlington Partnership for Affordable Housing
Montgomery Housing Alliance
HAND (Housing Association of Nonprofit Developers)
Washington Area Bicyclist Association
Enterprise Community Partners
Habitat for Humanity Metro Maryland
Action Committee for Transit
Testimony: Director of the Department of Public Works and Transportation (DPW&T) for Prince George’s County Appointment
CSG supports the appointment of Mr. Johnson as Director of DPW&T. We are excited to support the movement of DPW&T towards safer streets, more reliable and frequent transit, and access to thriving businesses and neighborhoods.