Conservation

Parks and Public Lands Win at the Polls

November 10, 2018 by Angela Minor 2 Comments

Voters across the country support environmentally conscious ballot initiatives.

Voters in several states had the opportunity to express their support (or condemnation) of various environmental (or anti-environmental) issues respectively in the recent election cycle. Results from November 2018 ballots indicate a large and dedicated block of voters who are concerned about the health of ecosystems, as well as the preservation of complex wilderness areas. Below are highlights from across the country where conservation and stewardship won the day!

Georgia

Georgia Outdoor Stewardship Amendment. “Without increasing the current state sales tax rate, shall the Constitution of Georgia be amended so as to create the Georgia Outdoor Stewardship Trust Fund to conserve lands that protect drinking water sources and the water quality of rivers, lakes, and streams; to protect and conserve forests, fish, wildlife habitats, and state and local parks; and to provide opportunities for our children and families to play and enjoy the outdoors, by dedicating, subject to full public disclosure, up to 80 percent of the existing sales tax collected by sporting goods stores to such purposes without increasing the current state sales tax rate.”

Election Results = PASSED with 82.87% voter support

Savannah River. Photo by © Jamie Hargis

Florida

Florida Amendment 9, Ban Offshore Oil and Gas Drilling. “Prohibits drilling for the exploration or extraction of oil and natural gas beneath all state-owned waters between the mean high water line and the state’s outermost territorial boundaries. The measure did not affect the transportation of oil and natural gas products that were produced outside the state’s waters.”

Election Results = PASSED with 68.91% voter support

American Oystercatcher. Photo by © Michael Todd

Nevada

Renewable Energy Standards Initiative. “Shall Article 4 of the Nevada Constitution be amended to require, beginning in calendar year 2022, that all providers of electric utility services who sell electricity to retail customers for consumption in Nevada generate or acquire incrementally larger percentages of electricity from renewable energy resources so that by calendar year 2030 not less than 50 percent of the total amount of electricity sold by each provider to its retail customers in Nevada comes from renewable energy resources.”

Election Results = PASSED with 59%+ voter support

Northern Harrier. Photo by © Robin Edwards

Connecticut

Legislative Requirements to Transfer State Properties Amendment. “Amendment 2 changed the process for passing conveyance legislation in Connecticut. First, Amendment 2 required a public hearing on conveyance bills, no matter which state department was to make the land transfer. Second, Amendment 2 required a two-thirds vote of each chamber of the state legislature to authorize the transfer, sale, or disposal of land under the control of the state agriculture or environmental protection departments.”

Election Results = PASSED with 84%+ voter support

Red-breasted Merganser. Photo by © Mike Blevins

Denver, Colorado

Measure 2A Parks and Open Space – Healthy Parks and Rivers for Everyone. “City and county of Denver sales and use tax…commencing January 1, 2019…(0.25%)…tax rate, that will not be collected on sales of food for home consumption or prescription drugs, to be expended solely on:
– Acquiring additional land for parks, trails, and open space;
– Developing, improving, and maintaining new and existing parks, trails and open space, including Denver’s mountain parks;
– Restoring and protections waterways, rivers, and streams;
– Purchasing, planting, and caring of trees; and
– Operating and maintaining any related additional acquisitions and capitals improvements”

Election Results = PASSED with 61.32% voter support

Clark’s Nutcracker. Photo by © Mark Schraad

Colorado

Amendment 74. “Amendment 74 has potentially far-reaching and costly consequences for taxpayers and governments. Under the measure, taxpayers will be responsible for payments to property owners for any loss in property value resulting from a change in law or regulation, regardless of whether the property retains a profitable use. The potential liability for large payouts to private property owners may discourage governments from making decisions that benefit communities and protect vital public resources, such as water, air, and infrastructure.”

Election Results = DEFEATED with 53.6% voter support

Colorado mountains courtesy of MarekWk via Wikimedia Commons

[Read more about each initiative via links on each state ballot’s name.]

(Featured image – Vote Our Planet courtesy of Dribbble via Wikimedia Commons)

Written by Angela Minor

Angela Minor’s first avian adventure involved a 1000-mile road trip just to look at hummingbirds. As a lifelong vagabond, she has lived, traveled, and birded across the continental U.S., Alaska, the Caribbean, and seven European countries over the past three decades.Freelance travel writer is her third career, following teacher and small business owner. She’s a regular contributor to several travel publications including Blue Ridge Country and Smoky Mountain Living, and writes feature articles for Ft. Myers Magazine, 3rd Act, and international cruise sites. She serves as a field editor with Birds & Blooms, the “Park Watch” Beat Writer for 10,000 Birds, and authors the state park birding series for Bird Watcher’s Digest.