Hello clean-air-and-climate friends: Please join us on zoom (link available via email) from 7-7:40pm MT every other Wednesday night: W May 11, W May 25, etc. All are welcome! We’ll talk about the Four P’s—Policy, Plan, Purchasing Power, and People—as we prepare to qualify for the Nov 2024 ballot by collecting signatures from February to November, 2023. (Mark your calendars, and follow the previous link if you’re new to the campaign and want to get caught up!) Until then, here’s a summary of what we accomplished spring semester and what we’re aiming to do in the summer:

Policy: Spring semester we worked with State Senator Derek Kitchen (D – Salt Lake) on SB187, the clean-air-and-climate bill he introduced in the 2022 legislative session This summer we will continue working on policy refinements and options with Senator Kitchen, who is supporting our effort! (He’s also planning to update SB187 for the 2023 legislative session.) If you’re interested in getting involved in policy development please email yoram@DarnAir.org.

Purchasing Power: Spring semester we got a $5k matching challenge from a donor who supports “small teams doing creative and strategic activism” on issues ranging from internet privacy to climate action. We are halfway toward meeting that challenge, so this summer we aim to meet and exceed that $5k matching challenge. You can help by making an online donation or by sending a check payable to Clean The Darn Air, PO Box 522468, SLC UT 84152. (Note that donations to political campaigns won’t get you a tax deduction, but they will get you our eternal gratitude!) We will also work on getting quotes for the signature sheets and other materials we will need for the campaign.

Plan: Spring semester we made terrific progress on our signature-gathering plan for 2023, with Casey Hansen focusing on the 6 state senate districts south and east of Utah Lake and Jack Podolsky focusing on the 7 state senate districts west of I-15 between SLC and Provo. (Recall that we need to hit signature targets in 26 of the 29 state senate districts to make the ballot.) This summer we will expand the plan to the remaining 16 senate districts (7 districts north of SLC and 9 districts east of I-15 between SLC and Provo) and refine the plan statewide. You can help by sending us an email flagging any recurring events (or events planned for 2023) in your area that might draw lots of foot traffic; examples include concerts, festivals, food truck rallies, and sporting events, such as the NBA All-Star Weekend coming to SLC Feb 17-19, 2023.

People: Lots of different angles here on expanding our group of supporters:

1) Team members: Spring semester we had two terrific U of U interns, Casey Hansen and Jack Podolsky. This summer Casey and Jack are staying on board part-time in a paid capacity (tentative job title: Campaign Strategist) and we are adding two additional people to the team. More on this shortly!

2) Op-eds: Spring semester we published two op-eds in the Tribune (“Do you know the facts about air pollution in Utah?” by Jan Kennington and “The Utah legislature can act to Clean The Darn Air” by Yoram Bauman) and one in the Deseret News (“These two Utah bills would help clean the air” by Dave Carrier). This summer we aim to build up a “bank” of op-eds that we can submit in 2023 (when we’ll be busy gathering signatures). Holler if you want to write one or if you have ideas!

3) Organizational outreach: Spring semester we started reaching out to groups around the state to get their feedback and ask for their support. This summer we will continue this work in preparation for formal endorsements after we file in January 2023. Leading up this effort is Dave Carrier, so if you have ideas or want to help please email dave@DarnAir.org.

3) Email list: Spring semester we expanded our email list from about 500 to over 800 people. This summer we will continue to build our list, so please forward this email to friends and colleagues with a note encouraging them to join our email list and inviting them to join you in making a donation!

4) Clean air champions: Spring semester we gathered signatures to help qualify clean air and climate champion Becky Edwards for the Republican primary election for the U.S. Senate seat currently held by Mike Lee; that primary election will take place June 28. This summer we plan to join door-knocking campaigns and otherwise do our best to help three candidates: State Senator Derek Kitchen (D – Salt Lake), who has a challenger in the Democratic primary that is also coming up June 28 (we’re sure that his challenger would also be a fine legislator, but Senator Kitchen is sticking his neck out to support clean air and climate issues in general, and our ballot measure in particular, so he deserves our support); State House candidate Patrick Belmont in Logan (posted prominently on his website: “I will be a strong advocate for the Clean The Darn Air initiative”) and State Senate candidate Nate Blouin in the South Salt Lake / Millcreek / Murray area, who is challenging incumbent Democrat Gene Davis in the June 28 primary. Please consider helping them out!