Farmers, environmentalists, and other uncommon coalition partners have joined together to defeat I-933 in the state of Washington and similar initiatives in the West. I-933 is a costly scheme that would force communities to choose between paying millions of dollars to special interests to obey basic city zoning ordinances and environmental and smart growth laws, or to waive these laws. A similar initiative passed in Oregon in 2004 and so far there have been about $5 billion dollars in claims filed against taxpayers there. These types of initiatives are now being run in
five other western states in 2006. However, in the state of Washington and elsewhere, a strong, extremely diverse coalition has emerged to stop the latest hijacking of the initiative process by right-wing extremists.
The crop art is below the fold.
As are hundreds of other family farmers, Aaron Flansburg is against I-933. So much so that Aaron and his parents Pat and Doug Flansburg of Whitman County, Wa., took the time during a busy harvest to combine "No 933" into their barley field. "As a farmer I am concerned about I-933 and its impact on rural areas and my ability to make a living," said Flansburg, "This initiative poses a threat to farmers across the state and will negatively change my community."
Times are hard for agriculture communities, and I-933 would likely spell doom for many family farms. As Aaron would tell you, communities would not have the tax dollars to pay developers to obey agricultural zoning laws that prohibit the residential and commercial development of farmland. Thus, counties would have to waive the zoning ordinances that protect farmland from urban sprawl that paves over farmland, drives up the cost of farmland for family farms needing to expand, and pushes up property taxes for struggling farmers.
With the help of Eastern Washington Voters , of which Aaron is a member, video footage of the Flansburgs' combine cutting "No 933" into their field of barley and a final aerial photograph was incorporated into a television commercial by the statewide "No on 933" coalition. The below link is a preview of that commercial, which is coming out later today.
Video----> http://216.150.141.179/...
As if the consequences for family farmers would not be bad enough, I-933 would make it prohibitively expensive to enforce a wide range of protections for communities. Although the wording of I-933 is vague and no one is sure of all the consequences, the following would likely be unenforceable.
Laws, rules, and ordinances that
*protect the ecological functions of wetlands and streams through buffer zones
and setbacks.
*keep development out of flood planes.
*keep development out of areas at risk from landslides.
*protect endangered species.
Zoning ordinances that
*keep industries out of residential neighborhoods
*protect property value from common nuisances such as junk vehicles
and junk yards in residential neighborhoods.
Smart growth regulations and ordinances that allow city planners to minimize sprawl, traffic congestion, and burdens on fire, police, schools, and utilities.
If these consequences sound too extreme to be believed, consider that these are already happening in Oregon due to the passage of Measure 37 in 2004.
We are confident that we can defeat I-933. In fact, we have already defeated it once before 1995 when R-48 (a similar initiative) was on the Washington ballot. Likewise, we have learned from the mistakes made in Oregon where there was a failure to properly educate the general public and as well as the progressive base about the deceptive ballot title and to build a coalition broader than just environmentalists. First, the "No on 933" coalition is has built one of the largest and most diverse coalitions in the history of the state to defeat a ballot initiative. The coalition includes conservation, business, labor, agriculture/ farming, education, Native American Tribes, faith, sportsmen, and senior citizens organizations. Second, the state-wide campaign is using its coalition for an extensive voter education program to reach hundreds of thousands of individuals.
There is a nation-wide significance to I-933 and its look-a-likes. If we don't defeat the giant environmental rollbacks in Washington and elsewhere in the West, they will come to a state near you.
Taking action: If bloggers in the State of Washington want to help defeat I-933, send me an email at bryanb@ewvoters.org . I need some help.
Donating: Two groups brought you this farmer billboard saying "No 933." The first is Eastern Washington Voters--a small grassroots organization on the red-side of the state that grew out of the local Howard Dean campaign. To the extent that you are able, please donate generously.
The second is the state-wide "No on I-933" coalition that commissioned and paid for the commercial. If you want to see more quality advertising that warns voters about I-933, toss them some cash.
Volunteering: Please sign up to volunteer with either Eastern Washington Voters or the state-wide "No on 933" coalition.
Help us stop the most dangerous assault on our environment, farmlands, tax dollars, and quality of life in the west in over a decade. Whether it's donating, handing out flyers at an event, or speaking to your favorite organization, our ability to defeat I-933 depends on people like you.
In solidarity,
Bryan E. Burke
Chair of Eastern Washington Voters