LOCAL GREEN PARTY ENDORSES CHAMPAIGN AND URBANA REFERENDUMS

CONTACT:
Joe Futrelle
328-7853
futrelle@prairiegreens.org

Tom Abram
(847) 814-6947
tom.abram@ilgp.org

URBANA, IL - The Prairie Green Party endorsed the five referendums that will appear on the primary ballots of voters in Champaign and Urbana this Tuesday. The endorsed referendums include the Urbana Park District property tax rate increase, Champaign Township General Assistance, Cunningham Township Prevent War with Iran, Call Upon Congress To Repeal Or Amend The Military Commissions Act, and Call Upon Congress to Limit Military Funding in Iraq. The latter two referendums will appear on both City of Champaign and Cunningham Township ballots.

A property tax cap has reduced the Urbana Park District's tax rate steadily since 1997. This referendum would temporarily bring the rate back above the 1997 rates, until the tax cap decrease reduces it again. The Prairie Greens expressed concerns that increased growth in Urbana Park District needs would not be met with the current rate.

"While we all enjoy the parks, many of us don't know that funding for the Urbana Park District has been failing to keep up with costs as a result of property tax caps. I opposed those tax caps because as costs rise they effectively cut needed programs," said Joe Futrelle, Urbana resident and candidate for Champaign County Board District 8. "Parks aren't free, and without increases the Park District will eventually not have the funds needed for basic maintenance, never mind capital improvements such as the Park District's comprehensive vision for improving Crystal Lake Park."

The Green Party also lent its support to the City of Champaign Township referendum to restore levels of general assistance funding for their poverty assistance programs. Budget constraints have caused the City of Champaign Township to eliminate 50% of eligible clients from General Assistance, while the remaining clients had their monthly checks reduced from $212 to today's level of $150. "Township General Assistance is the absolute last resort for many of our poorest residents. We ask Champaign voters to support the referendum returning funding levels before the budget cuts. This is not asking for anything beyond what was available to our poorest citizens in 2006. What's fascinating and disturbing about both this and the Urbana Park District Referendum, is that both of them are attempting to return to previously attained funding levels. These vital services are struggling just to maintain the status quo. Something is very wrong about this situation," said Walter Pituc, candidate for Champaign County Board, District 7.

A series of anti-war referendums will also appear on local ballots. Both City of Champaign and Cunningham Township residents will be asked to Call Upon Congress To Repeal Or Amend The Military Commissions Act and Limit Military Funding in Iraq. Cunningham Township voters will also be asked their position on preventing war with Iran.

"Though these referendums will not guarantee any of these requests, it will send a message to our elected officials on the positions of their constituents. It will be a clear message that we want no more war in Iraq, that we want Congress to stop their saber-rattling with Iran, and that we want our civil liberties restored. The Green Party embodies this message and will carry it within our campaigns," said Tom Abram, Prairie Greens Press Officer and 2006 candidate for State Representative.

In addition to the referendums, voters across Illinois will have the opportunity to vote in the state's first ever Green Party Presidential primary. Four Green Party candidates for President will be on the ballot: Cynthia McKinney, a former Congresswoman from Georgia; Kent Mesplay, a substitute teacher and Air Quality Inspector from San Diego; Howie Hawkins, a long time Green activist running as a placeholder for Ralph Nader, who has not yet decided whether he will run; and Jared Ball, a professor at Morgan State University in Maryland. Since filing to run, Ball has decided to drop out of the race and urges his supporters to vote for Cynthia McKinney.

MORE INFORMATION:

Prairie Greens of East Central Illinois
http://www.prairiegreens.org/

Illinois Green Party http://www.ilgp.org

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