A Call to Action for January for
Pima County/AZ Citizens & Visitors!

Don’t Want Monsanto in Pima County? Use This Schedule to Attend All Important Educational Events, Board of Supervisors Meetings, and Open Public Meetings This Month

by Melissa Diane Smith

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It’s the new year, and it’s time to hit the ground running in a full-court press against Monsanto establishing a facility in Pima County.

If you don’t like the idea of Pima County rolling out the red carpet for a chemical corporation that has a notoriously bad record in the communities it takes hold in, be sure to attend as many events and meetings as you possibly can this month and make your voice heard against the outrageous idea of Pima County giving a tax incentive to the corporation.

The first week of January starts with a Pima County Board of Supervisors meeting on Tuesday, January 3rd, at 9 a.m. All the supervisors, including new Supervisor Steve Christy, will be sworn in, and we need to make sure the supervisors know we haven’t forgotten about Monsanto over the holidays. Please attend and prepare to speak for three minutes: We have a brand new supervisor to convince with our statements!

If you don’t know much about Monsanto, don’t worry: we have two important educational events on Jan. 6 and 7 to fill you in on what you need to know and help you get prepared for the open public meetings.

A few days later, on Jan. 9, the first open public meeting about Monsanto’s plans in Pima County takes place. Four other open public meetings have now been scheduled all within a two-week period. Pima County has not done a good job of letting the public know about these meetings. But it’s very important to have a full house at each of the open public meetings, so we citizens have to spread the word to our fellow citizens. I hope you’ll share this post with your networks.

As you might remember from my Call to Action for December, hundreds of people attended board meeting on November 22 and more than 60 people emphatically told the Pima County Board of Supervisors that they do not want multinational chemical corporation Monsanto in the Tucson area. The eclectic tidal wave of opposition persuaded the board to delay its vote on a tax incentive for Monsanto until February 21, 2017, and to call for open public meetings to address the many concerns raised by citizens.

We have a short time before February 21 to educate much more of the public about the looming danger of Monsanto in our community and to convince the supervisors to reject a tax incentive for Monsanto.

That means now is the time to fight to protect Pima County from Monsanto getting its claws in our community! So, please mark your calendars with the list of events below and get involved. Educational events are listed in bold, and open public meetings about Monsanto for each district are listed in bold italics. The schedule will be updated as new events are scheduled.

 

IMPORTANT JANUARY AND FEBRUARY EVENTS to “Say NO to Monsanto in Pima County”

 

Tues., 01.03.17, at 9 am – Board of Supervisors’ Meeting, 130 W. Congress Street.

Wed., 01.04.07, at 4:20 pm – Interview with Going Against GMOs author Melissa Diane Smith on the John C. Scott Radio Show on 1210 AM.

 

*Fri., 01.06.17, at 6:30 pm – The World According to Monsanto Film screening at Green Fields School Auditorium, 6000 North Camino de la Tierra. Read my blog post about the event and see the Facebook event page for more info.

 

*Sat., 01.07.17, at 2 pm – “GMOs & The Future of Tucson’s Food and Environment” presentation + short film at Tucson Waldorf School, 3605 E. River Road. Read my blog post about the event and see the Facebook event page for more info.

 

Mon., 01.09.17, at 5 pm – Open Public Meeting about Monsanto for District 1 (Ally Miller’s district) at the Oro Valley Public Library, 1305 W. Naranja Drive, in Oro Valley

 

Thurs., 01.12.17 at 7 pm – Marana Unified School District Governing Board meeting at Marana Municipal Complex Council Chambers, 11555 W. Civic Center Drive, in Marana. Nurse Janay Young and a doctor will be seeking reconsideration from the MUSD board and they are seeking additional help from community members in the MUSD.

 

Fri., 01.13.17 at 11 am – Open Public Meeting about Monsanto for District 4 (Steve Christy’s district) at Green Valley Recreation Center, Las Companas Room, 565 W. Belltower Dr., in Green Valley.

 

* Sat., 01.14.17, at 1 pm  “Stand Up Against GMOs and Pesticides” presentation + short film at Natural Grocers, 7220 E. Broadway Blvd. at Kolb. See my blog post about the event and this Facebook event page for more info.

 

*Sun., 01.15.17, at 3 pm – “What You Need to Know about GMOs & Pesticides: The Local Movement Against These Threats to Our Health” presentation + short film at the Hoff Building, 425 E. Seventh St. See my blog post about this event and the Facebook event page.

 

Tues., 01.17.17, at 9 am – Board of Supervisors meeting, 130 W. Congress Street.

 

Tues., 01.17.17 at 5 pm – Open Public Meeting about Monsanto for District 3 (Sharon Bronson’s district) at Ellie Towne Community Center, 1660 W. Ruthrauff Road

 

Wed., 01.18.17, at 6 pm – Open Public Meeting about Monsanto for District 5 (Richard Elias’s district) at the Pima County Housing Center, 801 W. Congress Street

 

Thurs., 01.19.17, at 6 pm – Open Public Meeting about Monsanto for District 2 (Ramon Valaldez’s district) at the Quincy Douglas Center, 1575 E. 36th St.

 

*Sun., 02.05.17, at 1 pm – Booth in Patio of The Loft to educate the public before the 2 pm showing of SEED: The Untold Story. Showing of SEED: The Untold Story at 2 pm, then Bill McDorman of Rocky Mountain Seed Alliance will make comments and answer questions following the movie.

 

Tues., 02.07.17, at 9 am – Board of Supervisors meeting, 130 W. Congress Street

Tues., 02.07.17, at 5:30 pm – Science Advisory Commission meeting, 130 W. Congress Street.

 

Wed., 02.08.17, at 5:30 pm – Pima Community College District Governing Board Meeting, Pima Community College District Office Community/Board Room, 4905 E. Broadway Blvd.

 

Thurs., 02.09.17 – Marana Unified School District Governing Board meeting at Marana Municipal Complex Council Chambers, 11555 W. Civic Center Drive, in Marana.

 

Tues., 02.21.17, at 8 am (before the Board of Supervisors meeting) – “Say No to Monsanto” Community Rally, 130 W. Congress Street.

Tues., 02.21.17, at 9 am – Board of Supervisors meeting, 130 W. Congress Street. DATE THE BOARD IS SCHEDULED TO VOTE ON WHETHER TO GIVE MONSANTO A TAX INCENTIVE OR NOT

 

Copyright 2017 Melissa Diane Smith

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