Nov. 5, 2019
WE DID IT!
Thanks to you, voters across the region today passed Nature for All, Measure 26-203, preserving water quality and wildlife habitat, and advancing equity and access access to nature. We are celebrating, and hope you are, too!
This is a huge win for all communities throughout our region, whether human, wildlife or habitat. A heartfelt thank you to our coalition for the hard and tireless work of many individuals and organizations who made this Nature for All victory a reality. Our success is the direct result of coming together across sectors and issues to form partnerships that benefit everyone.
As election results rolled in, Metro Council President Lynn Peterson expressed gratitude to voters for seeing the value of investing in water quality, parks and open space. "I am excited for the results tonight," she said, "and look forward to continuing the work so many of us started when assembling this parks bond, making sure the investments we make improve the lives and communities of the people we serve."
Metro Councilor Juan Carlos Gonzalez emphasized that the parks bond was designed to maintain the investments Metro has always made in water, parks, forests and habitat, as well as to address long overdue equity and access disparities.
"We brought in partners not always included in conservation work to help inform Metro of past barriers and current needs," Gonzalez said, "and how Metro can not only say the right things but do the right things. I’m excited to begin implementing this package—and the broad-based, inclusive vision it represents."
Metro Councilor Christine Lewis expressed gratitude to the hundreds of Nature for All supporters including APANO, Portland Audubon, Verde, The Nature Conservancy, East County Rising, AFSCME 3580, Urban Greenspaces Institute, Unite Oregon, The Intertwine Alliance, 1000 Friends of Oregon, and Willamette Falls Trust.
"Thank you to all of the community organizations and groups representing families across the region that worked tirelessly to pass this measure," Lewis said. "Without you, we couldn’t have done it."
Even tonight as we celebrate, The Intertwine Alliance is looking to the future and what's needed next. One of our strategic goals is to work with local and regional communities to secure $1 billion in equitable investments for the region’s parks, trails and natural areas by 2024. The $475 million that the Nature for All bond brings into our communities is just the start.
"The Intertwine Alliance is committed to leading the regional conversation about the need for additional funding," said Board President Kathleen Brennan-Hunter, "and to working with elected officials and a broad and diverse coalition to create equitable funding solutions."
Thank you again to Alliance partners and friends for your commitment to a bright shared future for all.
Onward!
Warren Jimenez
Executive Director