Needs
FUNDING: PROGRAM
POLICY WORK --
ECOS studies and takes positions on issues at play at the regional and local levels -- climate change, land use, transportation, green building, habitat, and water. We seek funding for policy analysis and for part-time staff. At this time, we would like to participate in a regional infill (transit-oriented development) planning effort but need funding to do so.
SUCCESSION PLANNING --
ECOS seeks to build its next generation of leaders. Consider joining us and work on climate change, land use, transportation, green building, environmental justice, habitat preservation, and water. We seek the knowledgeable and those who want to learn, especially younger people who recognize the dangers of climate change and want to do something about it.
LEGAL ACTION --
ECOS seeks funding for legal counsel and action. ECOS needs funding for ongoing legal actions at this time.
We recently had a legal analysis done of the Sacramento County Climate Action Plan (CAP) that shows “the CAP only effectuates a small amount of GHG reductions.” The Supervisors plan to vote on a final CAP this summer and ECOS may take legal action then. As another example, last year ECOS filed a lawsuit against Caltrans for piecemealing (under CEQA) the widening of the Capital City Freeway American River Bridge.
ECOS has achieved good results from its past litigation activities. ECOS sued SACOG for lack of conformity with the federal Clean Air Act: its pro-sprawl transportation plan would have exacerbated our region’s serious air pollution. This led to the nationally touted “Blueprint” for land use and transportation, which SACOG's board adopted in 2004. Subsequently, ECOS twice sued Caltrans over its plans to widen the US 50 freeway. Both settlements resulted in SacRT receiving millions of dollars for transit capacity improvements.
Litigation activities are a recognized component of 501c(3) organizations like ECOS that are dedicated to the preservation of the environment (IRS Rev. Rul. 80-278 -- https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-tege/eotopicd84.pdf).
FUNDING: UNRESTRICTED
PERSONNEL, OPS & COMS --
ECOS needs funding for staff salaries and benefits, office rent and supplies, and communications systems. Over the past few months we completed a “refresh” of the ECOS website and other communications systems, to reflect our new organization and make our interactions more effective.
COVID --
Although Sacramento Earth Day on April 24, 2022 was successful, and a great time for all, we still need to make up for the past two years when the event was not held due to COVID. Sacramento Earth Day is ECOS' largest fundraiser.