Apologies for any duplication.
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Dear friend of Sustainable, Just Communities,

So far, our voices have prevented the reauthorization of the fast-track auction
law that rushes invaluable, irreplaceable public land into the hands of the
highest bidder. But efforts to extend fast tracking - and to eliminate the
community's right to guide the use of surplus lands - continue.

As a next step in the effort, we are releasing the attached proposal, "Our Land,
Our Communities", that puts communities in charge of surplus lands within their
borders. It also provides a framework for sustainable, just development that
protects the public trust in the use of state land for the public good. The plan
can be viewed at http://www.masschc.org/OurLand-OurCommunities.pdf .

Our community-based plan stands in sharp contrast to both the fast track auctions
proposed by Governor Romney and the so-called "balanced" proposal by the
Metropolitan Area Planning Council. Yesterday's Boston Globe editorial "A Plan
for State Land" claims it's time to compromise between these two disempowering
plans. The Globe accepts the foolish premise that the rushed sale of invaluable
public assets is justified by the one-time cash infusion into state coffers. In
these developer-friendly proposals, communities are offered small payoffs in
exchange for giving up their voice in the future of surplus lands. Instead
decisions would largely be made by state agencies that are neither transparent
nor accountable, that lack local knowledge essential for truly "smart" growth,
and that are notoriously vulnerable to influence by the powerful Beacon Hill
developer lobby.

In contrast, "Our Land, Our Communities" empowers communities to be the key
decision makers through mechanisms including the traditional no-cost transfer of
surplus property from the state to the local municipality, the integration of
surplus property reuse with existing local plans and the option to create local
redevelopment authorities to support community-based reuse plans.

The Globe's cheerleading for Beacon Hill not withstanding, there's every reason
to stay the course and build on the remarkable momentum we've already gained. Our
children and their children will be well served by the care we take now to uphold
the public trust in the sustainable, just use of our scarce public lands.

Thanks so much for all you're doing for a healthy, just, peaceful future.

Upward,
Jill

Jill Stein
Mass. Coalition for Healthy Communities
http://www.masschc.org
jill@masschc.org