GULF COAST CIVIC WORKS CAMPAIGN

URGENT ACTION REQUIRED:  Please consider signing on to the Gulf Coast Civic Works Campaign's letters to President Elect Barack Obama, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi and Majority Leader Reid about passing an Executive Order and necessary appropriations in the upcoming stimulus legislation to enact Gulf Coast Civic Works.

Email buchanan@rfkmemorial.org with the name of your organization to endorse. 

A first run of these letters was sent to members of the staff of President Elect Obama, Speaker Pelosi and Majority Leader Reid on January 9th, 2008.  We are still collecting endorsing organizations to present an updated version of these letters in person in the coming days.  Interested organizations should still email buchanan@rfkmemorial.org.

• Letter to President-Elect Obama
• Letter to Speaker Pelosi
• Letter to Majority Leader Reid

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Gulf Coast Civic Works Act:

"Green" Jobs to Rebuild America's Gulf Coast Communities

No region of the United States has a greater need for rebuilding its infrastructure and restoring its environment than America's Gulf Coast.  The Gulf Coast Civic Works Act funds "green" resident-led recovery projects, building on the success of community organizations in Gulf Coast recovery, to help meet the overwhelming unmet needs of the individuals, families, and communities devastated by hurricanes Katrina, Rita, Gustav, and Ike.  The program would be a pilot project administered by the Office of Gulf Coast Recovery and Rebuilding using a hybrid model to partner directly with communities in planning, overseeing and administering recovery projects to assist the survivors of these disasters, provide communities with tools to build resilience against the impact of future disasters and revitalize the region economically.  The bill would create a minimum of 100,000 prevailing wage jobs and training opportunities for local and displaced workers on projects reinvesting in infrastructure and restoring the coastal environment utilizing emerging green building techniques and technologies.  This program would empower residents to realize their right to return with dignity and create stronger, safer, and more equitable communities.

Rebuilds Vital Public Infrastructure and Restores the Environment

• Rebuilds and repairs vital infrastructure including schools, police and fire stations, hospitals, parks, roads, water and sewer systems, workforce housing, and cultural centers.
• Builds equitable flood protection and restores natural flood protection such as barrier island, marshes and wetlands that defend the livelihood of coastal families and billions of dollars of Gulf Coast commerce, including a majority of our nation's energy infrastructure.
• Enhances energy efficiency and conservation to save on energy costs and eliminate carbon emissions to better protect vulnerable populations from the effects of climate change.
• Serves as a national model for building on the strength of community action and engaging residents in disaster recovery and sustainable economic development.

Creates Good "Green" Jobs and Provides Job Training

• Creates 100,000 good wage jobs and training opportunities for Gulf Coast residents and encourages contractors to provide opportunities for apprenticeship and on-the-job training.
• Encourages cutting edge green building techniques and technologies to minimize carbon emissions and energy needs, preparing workers and businesses for this growing industry.
• Creates a Civic Conservation Corps for young workers to train a new generation to restore the coastline and provide much needed economic opportunities for area youth.

Spurs Equitable and Sustainable Community Development

• Encourages equitable development engaging community leaders and local officials to determine projects based on community needs through innovative local advisory councils.
• Focuses benefits locally through first source hiring provisions for locals and displaced.
• Engages community organizations in federal development and recovery projects.
• Strengthens workforce by providing jobs, much needed skills training and additional funding for community colleges and training facilities.
• Creates contracting opportunities for local businesses.

Requires Accountability and Community Oversight

• Works with the Office of Gulf Coast Recovery and Rebuilding to provide oversight and transparency, give logistical and administrative assistance, and allocate funding to the local communities through a resident-driven grant-making process.
• Involves communities in overseeing contractors to avoid waste and fraud.

For More Information about the Gulf Coast Civic Works Act contact:  

      Darren Fenwick, ACORN                           Jeffrey Buchanan, RFK Center                     

    (202) 547-2500 legrep5@acorn.org    (202) 463-7575 x241 buchanan@rfkmemorial.org

 
Supporting Documents:

• Campaign Overview and Endorsements
• Draft Executive Order: Establishing Gulf Coast Civic Works Council
• Draft Bill: Gulf Coast Civic Works Act of 2009
• Talking Points: Gulf Coast Civic Works
  
• New Orleans City Council Resolution
  
• Lafourche Parish Council Resolution
• Terrebonne Parish Council Resolution
• Louisiana Republican Party Resolution
• California Legislature Resolution
• California Democratic Party Resolution
• Dear Colleague Letter - DNC Platform Committee Delegates, "Support Human Rights with Gulf Coast Planks DNC Platform on Gulf Coast Rebuilding (include principles from GCCWC)
• Gulf Coast Civic Works Campaign Interfaith Statement - Human Rights and Gulf Coast
  Recovery a National Moral Priority
• Article - TwelveTen Magazine, "Campaign for Resident-Led Recovery and the Gulf Coast Civic Works Act" by Stephen Bradberry and Jeffrey Buchanan
• Center for American Progress: Second Stimulus Proposal (includes Gulf Coast Civic Works)

The Gulf Coast Civic Works Campaign is a non-partisan partnership of community, environmental, labor, student, and human rights organizations advocating for the Gulf Coast Civic Works Act. 

Support the Gulf Coast Civic Works Campaign by:

• Having your organization endorse the campaign, email buchanan@rfkmemorial.org to endorse.
• Urging members of President Elect Obama's Transition Team to support an Executive Order authorizing Gulf Coast Civic Works Projects under the Office of Gulf Coast Recovery Coordinator.
• Urging your Senator and U.S. Representatives to support the Gulf Coast Civic Works Act and appropriations for Gulf Coast Civic Works in the upcoming stimulus.

Supporters of the Gulf Coast Civic Works Campaign: