Chop Wood, Carry Texas 4/18
Hey Texas friends,
I hope you’re having a Good Friday! I wanted to send you into the weekend thinking about Earth Day (which is next week) and offer up a way to celebrate and help the fight against climate change.
We're calling low propensity environmental voters (in other words, people who already care a lot about climate but who haven't voted in odd-year elections before) in San Antonio, TX, where voters have a Mayoral Election coming up on May 3rd. San Antonio is the seventh most populous city in the US, so the mayor and city council have the potential to be major climate leaders, especially within a state with so much fossil fuel infrastructure. In case you haven't seen EVP's 2024 Impact Report yet, they had statistically significant impacts on environmental voter turnout in both the state primary and presidential general elections in Texas, so we know that these messages work for these voters.
And sometime next week, I hope you have a chance to take a few moments in nature, whether your own front yard, a park or anywhere outside, to breathe in and smell the flowers.
Happy Easter if you’re celebrating. And Happy Earth Day to all!
Jess (and Andrea who helps with state newsletters)
The bills are
Texas Senate Bill SB2623 -Schools Safety Zone
Texas House Bill HB5726 - School Safety Zone
Passage would be detrimental to twenty-two non-profits in the Houston area alone. If the bill passes, likely outcomes would be layoffs of experienced staff, closing of programs, services for homeless becoming unavailable. Impact would be on both housed and homeless clients.
I’m urging my state legislators to vote against it.
Hi! I hope Jessica and/or Andrea see this.
I’m just learning about a Texas House and Senate bill that, if passed, would cut funding for homelessness services to children. An agency (former employer and dear to my heart), Wesley Community Center, would lose millions and the ability to help children who attend school.
I was wondering if this Texas Substack could get the word out. Note, I’ve taken plenty of actions that other people set up, but never set one up myself.