http://futurewise.org daily 1 http://futurewise.org/action/2012legislative To say that this year’s legislative session was a tough one is a huge understatement. In the end, we helped secure a few minor victories and successfully defeated more than 60 bills aimed at weakening our bedrock environmental laws. Brad http://futurewise.org/action/Whatcom%20Hiring This high-energy job supports our advocacy and organizing efforts to protect Whatcom County's natural environment by working with local members and activists. april http://futurewise.org/resources/news/HUDchampion Just as our state legislative session has come to a close, things are heating up in DC. Tomorrow is a big day in the US Senate -- and our own Senator Murray is in the perfect place to be our champion. april http://futurewise.org/about/AdvocacyCorps/news_item.2012-04-03.1731287308 AdvocacyCorps is an intensive ten-week summer bootcamp for aspiring urban & environment advocates. Twelve outstanding young leaders between the ages of 19 and 26 will dedicate their summer to leadership development and political organizing to make a difference for Washington State’s communities and environment. brock http://futurewise.org/resources/news/2012-annual-dinner-and-auction During annual celebration, Futurewise will outline long-term goals and near-term benchmarks, and recognize Senator Craig Pridemore, Methow Conservancy, North Lot Development, Seattle Housing Authority and GGLO for their leadership to promote livable communities. brock http://futurewise.org/feb2012auctionupdate You are cordially invited to attend our annual fundraising dinner and auction! We are excited to have Denis Hayes, President of the Bullitt Foundation, join us as our keynote speaker. Brad http://futurewise.org/resources/news/january2012futurewire Our January electronic newsletter can now be found online. Read how we ended the year and what we're doing in 2012. Brad http://futurewise.org/resources/news/whatcomdrinkingwater On January 9, 2012, the Growth Management Hearings Board issued a 177 page opinion concluding that Whatcom County’s updated comprehensive plan policies and development regulations for the rural area failed to meet the minimum standards in the Growth Management Act. The appeal was brought by Futurewise, the City of Bellingham, and concerned community residents in response to a developer that wanted to build an intense urban style development at Governors Point on Puget Sound. Brad http://futurewise.org/resources/news/spokanecompletestreets For over three years, Futurewise worked with the City of Spokane to create an effective Complete Street Policy, writing the policy, educating the community and policy makers, and building a wide coalition of supporters from health care workers, unions, educators, and local businesses. Last week, the City of Spokane adopted the Complete Street Policy by a vote of 5-2. Brad http://futurewise.org/resources/news/legalwinsin2011 In 2011, Futurewise won cases in every forum from the Growth Management Hearings Board to the Washington State Supreme Court. One of Futurewise’s wins was even appealed to the United States Supreme Court, but as of the end of 2011, the Supreme Court had not decided to review the decision. Futurewise won 82 percent of the substantive decisions in which we participated in 2011. Brad http://futurewise.org/resources/news/futurewiseprotectslynx Stevens County had been refusing to adopt common sense protections for the lynx and other habitats shown as polygons on Washington State Fish and Wildlife GIS databases for five years. Brad http://futurewise.org/resources/news/climatebrownbag Futurewise is partnering with the Seattle Office of Sustainability and the Environment and Seattle Councilmember Mike O’Brien to host four panel brownbag discussions from December 2011 to mid-summer 2012. Brad http://futurewise.org/resources/news/hilary Futurewise is pleased to announce the appointment of Hilary Franz, an active leader in the local government and environmental arena, as its new Executive Director. april http://futurewise.org/resources/news/initiative1125 Business, labor, environmental and other community leaders are coming together again to defeat Tim Eyman’s latest initiative I-1125, which threatens vital transportation projects and economic growth across the state, including planned light rail projects like the voter approved I-90 rail project. Brad http://futurewise.org/resources/news/kittitas Kittitas County Conservation Coalition, RIDGE, and Futurewise sought to protect working farms, rural areas, and water resources from overdevelopment in Kittitas County and prevailed before the Growth Management Hearings Board on July 28th. Brad