SPRING 1999 - ISSUE NUMBER 47

Making Government Work:
A Citizen's Guide To Conquering Cynicism

Sidebars: [ Connecting on State Environmental Issues ] [ A Checklist For Citizen Activists ] [ Michigan Action Project (MAP) ]

It's not easy being a concerned citizen in Michigan these days. Especially if you care about clean air, clean water, and healthy ecosystems.

You may have to drive hundreds of miles to get to a legislative hearing that can be cancelled at a moment's notice. If it proceeds as scheduled, you'll probably find yourself sitting in the well of a committee room with legislators looking down at you from above. You're limited to a few minutes of testimony. If you have a long story to tell, your audience of lawmakers may either leave the room &emdash; sometimes never to come back &emdash; or develop glazed eyes. Most discouraging of all, you may realize the votes were cast before the meeting began. Nothing you could have said would have changed the outcome.

If your target was not the Legislature but one of the state's two environmental agencies, the Department of Natural Resources or the Department of Environmental Quality, you will find that the citizen-run boards and commissions that once made decisions in public about key policies and permits are either extinct or ineffective. While there are two ombudsman offices in state government to help businesses cut red tape, there's no ombudsman to help citizens bewildered by the maze of divisions, districts and offices in the environmental agencies. You may be bounced around on the phone from state employee to state employee just to get basic information about a pending decision on an air or water pollution permit &emdash; which more often than not will be made silently, with the stroke of a pen.

Time to give up? No way. Not according to the dozens of concerned citizens who, despite all the obstacles thrown in their path, have managed to shape positive environmental and natural resources policies in Michigan this decade.

Choosing persistence over cynicism, these advocates have helped raise a public outcry about oil and gas drilling under the Great Lakes, forced the suspension of plans to develop minerals under the spectacular Jordan River Valley, won passage of the state's first childhood lead poisoning prevention and treatment law, and added over $100 million in funding for critical environmental needs.

Their actions &emdash; and the results they've won &emdash; prove that while it's not a simple thing to make government respond to the public's wishes for a healthy environment, it's also not impossible.

The Language of Customer Service

If you believe the slogans of our state agencies, you're in luck if you want to ask for something from them. Adopting the new language of customer service, both the DEQ and DNR say they're in business to help people.

Unfortunately, there's evidence that some customers are more equal than others. For example, an audit of the DNR's Land and Water Management Division found that while applicants to develop (or destroy) wetlands benefited from aggressive efforts to reduce processing time, approximately 80% of all citizen complaints about potential wetlands violations were never tracked down.

Speaking of the DEQ, Saginaw environmental activist Michelle Hurd Riddick says, "Their true customers are industry and industry's lobbyists. The individual citizen as a customer is viewed with a measure of contempt. Underlying this attitude is DEQ's fundamental indifference to public ownership of Michigan's natural resources and the democratic process. Their arrogance has been encouraged by this governor and tolerated by the legislature."

But Riddick herself is a prime example of how to get things done. Choosing to focus some of her efforts at the county level, she helped organize a successful effort to enact fees on solid waste disposal that pay for recycling programs. And when it comes to talking to local state representatives and senators, no one outperforms her in not only building a relationship, but also following up whenever they vote right, or wrong, on a critical issue.

"Know your issues and attach a human element to it," she advises potential citizen activists. "Don't be afraid of politics and never take anything personally. Communities, and the issues in and around them, are all somehow linked. That's why it's called a community. You can never have too much information or too many resources. It's often a thankless job to advocate for the environment &emdash; until you win."

John Hummer, executive director of Friends of the Jordan River, can also teach a few lessons about citizen activism. His organization successfully prevented oil and gas development of the Jordan River Valley. Statewide publicity and massive citizen turnout at public hearings helped persuade state decisionmakers not to authorize a proposed drilling site. Like some others, Hummer draws a distinction between the DNR, which he says has some regard for conservation of natural resources, and the DEQ.

"In the case of the Jordan Valley, the DNR's attitude appeared to be to defend the natural resources. They heard that from citizens at several public hearings and did their best to hold their ground on the feet they had to stand on. The DEQ based its decisions for the most part on economics. They didn't appear overly concerned about environmental issues. Citizen comments to the DEQ on environmental issues were probably more background noise."

Hummer's recipe for winning environmental battles which involve government is simple: work, work, work.

"It took a lot of writing articles for newsletters, newspapers, editorials; encouraging our members and citizens to write letters to DNR, DEQ, MPSC (Michigan Public Service Commission), and the governor. Speaking out at public hearings conducted by all three agencies was critical. Oh, and getting support from both the Antrim and Charlevoix County Boards of Commissioners was key, too, as well as from other local governments, Lake Charlevoix Association, and other groups."

He adds, "Be persistent. Keep beating their doors down. Especially the key decision-makers on that specific issue. Inform as many of them at every level as possible on what your concerns are. Have facts, figures, and logic to back up your concerns. And getting local government, especially at the county level, to be on your side is a big plus. We in Antrim County have a very conservation-minded board who are in tune with the intrinsic value of natural resources. They know if they don't support the natural resources and the people who fight for them, it would not be good for the county, both environmentally and economically.

Another important point to remember, say citizen activists, is that while management of environmental agencies may be unfriendly to protection, many field staff are not. Terry Miller, chair of the Bay City-based Lone Tree Council, says his organization and others have positive relationships with DEQ staff who care deeply about environmental stewardship. Such staff can serve as a source of information on breaking issues and even provide advice on how to best interact with government.

His tips? "Fight like hell, talk to the media, other people, lawyers, the full gamut of regulatory bodies," says Miller.

How to Make State Government Work For You Now

The work of citizen activists earlier this decade is already bearing fruit. For example, Margaret Sauser, a Kalamazoo mother whose two sons were inadvertently poisoned when the family remodeled an older home with lead-based paint, has been a tireless crusader at the state and national levels to make sure it doesn't happen to others. Three years ago, in an emotional speech to a Lansing legislative reception sponsored by the Michigan Environmental Council, Sauser literally shamed the attending legislators into insisting the Engler Administration accept a federal grant for lead housing abatement to help deal with the state's 40,000 lead-poisoned children. Last year, hearing her voice, the Legislature enacted a lead poisoning prevention law and put $5 million of state money into lead abatement, the first state contribution.

Also last year, thanks in part to media outreach by environmental groups and a fax campaign conducted by the Michigan Action Project (see sidebar), Governor Engler's proposed environmental bond was expanded by $115 million to protect rivers and lakes and to foster pollution prevention, not just cleanup.

There are plenty of issues for citizens to tackle this year as well. For a comprehensive list, you may want to check the Michigan Environmental Council website at www.mienv.org. Here a few of the issues you'll find:

• Communities like Traverse City and the surrounding region, facing rapid growth pressures need additional planning and zoning tools, and state incentives for "infill" development within urban areas. Legislators are expected to develop a package of bills by the fall which would offer this assistance.

• The Legislature will have to decide how to spend a chunk of the $90 million in clean water funding included in the 1998 environmental bond. Environmental groups want to see the money used to reduce toxic substances entering Lake Superior, to protect high-quality northern Michigan trout streams, and to stop the beach closings at Lake St. Clair caused by sewage overflows.

• Michigan's economy and environment are at risk if the state doesn't support a transition by the auto industry to the manufacture of high-efficiency, alternative technology vehicles getting 50 miles to the gallon of gas or more. Environmental groups are developing a package of measures designed to reward auto companies that design and manufacture these vehicles.

Getting government at state or local levels to do the right thing for the environment requires knowing the facts, knowing the decisionmakers, educating fellow concerned citizens, and speaking truth to power. Most importantly, it requires passion. Fortunately, concerned citizens are not lacking this essential ingredient. As Jacques Cousteau said, "I want to fight until I am stricken stiff on the spot...Fight for what? For the world, for life, for happiness, for clean air, songs, birds in the air, fish in the sea." All of these and more are yours to protect in Michigan.

Electronic communication offers at least one benefit to the citizen too busy to leave home or office for a public meeting -- it promotes quick access to environmental information and your state officials. Like other e-traffic, such communication can rapidly become one-sided. If you talk to officials via the Internet, ask that they talk back, preferably within a fixed period of time. Ask them to respond to your specific question or position, not about whether they support the environment or public health (every politician does, but only in the abstract). There's no substitute for persistence or clarity.

State Officials from the Traverse Region
Senator George McManus District 36 517-373-1725 SenGMcManus@senate.state.mi.us	Representative Jason Allen District 104 517-373-1766 jasonallen@house.state.mi.us
Senator Leon Stille District 32 517-373-1635 SenLStille@senate.state.mi.us	Representative David Mead District 101 517-373-0825 dmead@house.state.mi.us
All Senators share a mailing address: P.O. Box 30036 Lansing, MI, 48909	Representative Ken Bradstreet District 105 517-373-0829 kbradstreet@house.state.mi.us
	Representative Rick Johnson District 102 517-373-1747 rijohnson@house.state.mi.us
	All State Reps share a mailing address: P.O. Box 30014 Lansing, MI, 48909

Web Sites

Michigan Department of Environmental Quality:
http://www.deq.state.mi.us

Department of Natural Resources:
http://www.dnr.state.mi.us

Michigan Environmental Council:
http://www.mienv.org

MEC's site has links to Tip of the Mitt Watershed Council in Conway; Lake Michigan Federation, Muskegon; and Friends of the Jordan River, Bellaire.

Electronic, updated version of Michigan's chief environmental law, the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act of 1994: http://www.dnr.state.mi.us/WWW/law/law_book/pa45194.html

Michigan Legislature's web site, where you can download copies of new and old legislation and check on its status: http://MichiganLegislature.org

Dave Dempsey, Policy Director
Michigan Environmental Council
119 Pere Marquette, Suite 2A
Lansing, MI 48912
davemec@voyager.net
http://www.mienv.org

Working for a cleaner environment through government action can test the most patient of souls. The following are some simple guidelines that may make the process easier for Michigan activists. Tanya Cabala of the Lake Michigan Federation is the primary source for these suggestions.

1. Be polite and respectful and don't vent your frustration and anger over an issue onto state employees. Their agencies are understaffed. They will appreciate your civility and be more willing to help.

2 Don't be afraid to ask specific questions if you don't understand technical issues or about any of the agency's procedures. This is a good way to learn more about environmental issues and the laws that govern them.

3. If possible, avoid making requests under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), since it can be expensive and take time.

4. It's important to follow up a phone call with a letter repeating your concerns and questions. Copying your state elected officials on the letter helps to get a quick answer and one that may be more helpful.

5. Above all, keep phoning and writing. Some people call about an issue once and then let it drop, and some agency staff count on this. If you persist, it'll show you are serious and expect a satisfactory response.

6. If you don't get a return phone call or response letter after a reasonable amount of time, go to that staff person's supervisor, and explain the situation. Usually, a response will come pretty quickly. If the situation continues at that point, it's time to write a letter to the press, go to the press (and politicians) to see whether they will do a story and get the communication jam fixed. Keep the pressure on!

7. Above all, persist. Persist in phoning, writing, and developing strategies for getting what you need. When you get a reputation for persisting, you will usually have success with dealing with the DNR and DEQ.

If you are working with state legislators or members of Congress, the rules are even simpler. The most important thing is to build relationships well in advance of your need for a vote or help on a local issue. Legislators are more likely to respond if they already know and have a favorable of opinion of you. Keep the issue clear and simple; don't smother these harried people in paper and detail they'll never have time to comprehend. Ask for a specific action or response -- don't ask them to "support the environment" but to vote yes or no on an amendment or bill. And be sure to follow up. If the lawmaker votes the way you requested, be sure to thank her or him. If the vote was anti-environment, let him or her know in firm, but polite tones that you noticed and you aren't pleased. On the next issue you may get more respect.

Are you concerned about the protection and enhancement of Michigan's air, water and land but don't have much time to take action? Do you feel your efforts could be more effective and part of a strategic plan? Are you looking for another means to have your voice heard?

The Michigan Environmental Council, Michigan United Conservation Clubs, National Wildlife Federation, Environmental Defense Fund, League of Conservation Voters Education Voters and the Mackinac Chapter of the Sierra Club have initiated the Michigan Action Project (MAP), an electronic rapid response system, to enhance communication with key state and federal officials and business leaders. All you need is an E-mail address!

It's simple. MAP will send you occasional notices of critical environmental issues - about ten or twelve times a year. After you download and read MAP's short description of a state or federal environmental issue, you can personalize our preaddressed sample letter and hit "send." MAP will then convert your E-mail to a facsimile and fax your letter to the appropriate policy maker or opinion leader.

Here's what Michigan citizens have to say about MAP:

"Thank you for all your efforts -- it's really nice to have this opportunity to get involved made so easy!"

"Following the last round of letters, I received a reply from [Sen.] Joe Young, Jr. explaining how the vote went. Good to have this [form of] communication."

"Thanks for the update. It's good to know that our efforts have paid off!"

To get connected to MAP, please provide your name, address, and e-mail address, and send the information to MAP at 119 Pere Marquette, Suite 2A, Lansing, MI 48912. If you have questions, please call Joy Strawser at (517) 487-9539.

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