Let Your Voice Be Heard In Washington January 7, 2009
Posted by history in : Advocacy, Lobbying, Public Policy , add a commentThe following message was posted by Kristen Harbeson, the State Services Director with the National Conference of Historic Preservation Officers (NCSHPO).
It is very timely, I was listening to the radio this morning about our state budget crisis. Funding cuts are coming. Despite the massive body of evidence that attests to the power of preservation to revitalize communities, historic preservation is often one of the first programs on the chopping block. I remember testifying before the budget committee a few years ago in Wisconsin. It was pretty grim and that was before the economy’s latest downturn. It is important that we let all our elected officials know how important preservation is. In addition to fill out the survey below, I encourage you to visit the Web site of Preservation Action, the historic preservation. You can also become one of their supporters on Facebook. In the meantime, let your voice be heard.
In the week between Christmas and New Year, I sent out an e-mail to this and a few other lists to encourage people to participate in the www.change.gov open forum. Since then, there has been a good response, including the addition of many other excellent questions in favor of Historic Preservation (as well as at least one that is very anti-preservation).
If you have not yet voted, please do so and spread the word to all your preservation networks to encourage them to do the same.
If you have voted, please check back and vote on any questions that have appeared since your last check.
WATCH OUT, though, for the sneaky question that talks about Historic Preservation as a “Land-Grab” to benefit the rich.
Here are the steps to take:
I encourage you to make the Preservation voice heard by taking just a few minutes to do the following:
1) Go to http://change.gov/page/content/openforquestions20081229/
2) You may need to sign in or create a username.
3) There is a box that allows you to “Search Questions.” Type in
“Historic Preservation.”
4) Click the check on each of the questions to indicate that you
think they are important questions.
It takes just a few minutes, and may make a difference in the reception of your preservation advocates when they approach the new administration. If you submit preservation questions, you may want to let us know so that we can continue to spread the word to make sure your issues are addressed on Capitol Hill and in the White House.