One of PBN’s newest State Alliance partners has been shaking things up out west. On June 27th, Progressive Leadership Alliance of Nevada turned in petitions with more than 28,000 signatures — about 10,000 more than the 18,093 signatures needed — ensuring that all Nevadans get a vote to require consideration of available water resources for development and land-use planning.
PLAN’s Bob Fulkerson released this statement about the initiative for sustained growth:
“On March 11, the people asked the Washoe County Commissioners to please put a water planning advisory question on the ballot. The response from the Chairman? ‘Go home and watch Oprah.’
The people didn’t go home—you rolled up your sleeves and went to work. Hundreds of you worked tirelessly for the last 90 days to collect over 28,000 signatures—more than 10,000 names over the required number. This is a record for initiative petitions in Washoe County!
The City Council said you were just the same 200 people who always complained. 28,000 of you are not complaining. You’re working proactively to inject common sense into water planning.
A sleeping giant has been awakened. We know that local governments have approved land use plans for 1.2 million people when we have water for only 600,000. We know that water planning is too important to leave to them, and to the developers. It’s up to us to organize and fight for what we know is right.
This is a wake up call to local governments and developers. The people have spoken. You’ve worked your kiesters off, and will not rest until a law is passed that bases land use planning on sustainable water supply.
Our state is blessed with incredibly beautiful wild and natural areas. This initiative will go a long way to making sure our grandkids enjoy those areas as much as we have. We are also facing $5billion in unfunded liabilities in the next decade for schools, highways, roads and other infrastructure costs. This initiative will force local governments to approve reasonable and affordable growth plans.
The fight is just beginning. The moneyed interests, to whom short-term financial gain is everything, have us in their sights. We need volunteers, money and public support to win in November.
Thank you to all the volunteers, to all the people who signed the petitions, to everyone who spoke to their neighbors about signing the petitions, and to all of you who will continue to work until we achieve victory on November 8! ”
See for more News coverage of this exciting achievement.
