GivEnergy’s Post

Our impact reaches far and wide, with 1,647 Low- & Moderate-Income Households benefiting. 🌟 As our Board Chair, Bonnie Norman, aptly puts it: “Over 80% of the households we’ve reached so far are low- and-moderate income. We will continue to prioritize equity to help make Montgomery County the leader in a just energy transition.” Read more about our impact: https://lnkd.in/e9z4Eg_X

Today our Head of Policy and Campaigns Timothy Douglas is in Bournemouth at the Liberal Democrats Party Conference. We use these opportunities to meet with councillors, MPs and other political figures to not only discuss the 𝒕𝒓𝒆𝒏𝒅𝒊𝒏𝒈 issues in housing and politics, such as the fallout from last week's energy efficiency announcements and what parties are doing about it – but also to lobby on the issues that resurface 𝒂𝒈𝒂𝒊𝒏 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒂𝒈𝒂𝒊𝒏 that we need clarity and direction on to improve the sector. Expect more activity in the weeks ahead as our Policy Team attend the The Labour Party and The Conservative Party Conferences. #Renting #Landlords #BuyingandSellingHouses #EstateAgents #LettingAgents #UKProperty #PoliticalParties #LiberalDemocrats #libdem #LDConf #RenewableEnergy #NetZero #EnergyEfficiency

The language of the regional transportation measure is crucial. The legislature will decide whether the funds are raised from a progressive mechanism like a property tax or a regressive sales tax. It will set the parameters determining how much new funding the measure will produce and how it will be allocated. And, critically, the legislature can decide to allow some of the funds to be used not just for roadway repairs but to build new lanes. The expense of even one highway building project could eat through the funding, leaving little for transit or active transportation. Tell your Assemblymember and Senator: Fund public transit and not highway expansion in the regional transportation measure. https://lnkd.in/g-Dsc2PB #PublicTransit #TransitFunding #ClimateCrisis #TransportationEquity #TransitAdvocacy

AOC and Bernie Sanders are trying to push their Green New Deal again. Until you know where every dollar is going and to what... strike this down. This is another call to end fossil fuels( gas and oil) and build green jobs. ( or get funding for projects, don't know if the jobs emerge) Ending fossil fuels causes gas prices to go UP and inflation ( if they don't understand I could explain it to them) Stike this down and get someone in who wants to focus on issues for the Bronx No one voted for AOC to work on climate change. Vote them out #biden #aoc #berniesanders #biden #inflation #bronx #newyork #oilandgas #gas #trump #trump2024 #elections #election2024 #money #investing #sales #leadership #realestate.

🏡Is more genuinely affordable housing a priority for you in the city’s future development? ➡️If so, vote in our local plan top 5 priorities poll https://lnkd.in/ehRQizbJ

Helpful summary of the main parties' manifesto commitments on democratic ownership and co-operatives 👇 Big emphasis on community energy across the board ⚡ Very welcome to see Labour promising that GB Energy will invite communities to come forward and propose their own clean energy projects. With more participatory decision-making tools and frameworks out there than ever (including New Citizen Project's own RAPID Democracy framework), there's a real chance there to engage lots more citizens to participate in the shared ownership of vital clean energy assets. If it works, it could stimulate even more community ownership across the board. Also, I'm biased because I'm a Green Party member and was invited to pitch some ideas for the manifesto, but I particularly like the Greens' commitments for: 💰 a Co-operative Development Fund 🌞 A minimum threshold of community ownership in all sustainable energy infrastructure, so green energy doesn't end up entirely in private hands ➡ Making it easier for companies to become mutuals at moments of succession As always, making democratic ownership work means investing properly in building participatory skills and cultures, rather than just providing funds or generic "business support". I suggested only half-jokingly to a Green Party policy advisor that we should bring back National Service, but this time with young people forced to serve as society secretaries and membership engagement officers at their local community-owned pub 😅 (The *really* big idea is to link community-owned energy infrastructure with community-owned social infrastructure, so that the solar panels in the village fields also help sustain the village pub...) https://lnkd.in/e_d7dzTF

TransForm celebrates legislative victories supporting transit, housing, and safety, including unbundling parking, shared parking, and infrastructure tax threshold reduction. However, some bills stalled or were vetoed, and TransForm anticipates continued efforts to improve public transit and housing funding in the future. https://lnkd.in/gm5aeg3X #TransFormLegislation #TransitHousingSafety #LegislativeSuccess #CaliforniaTransit #AffordableHousing

Yes, I'm going for it. I'm tired of the lack of choice and nobody else has provided a way forward that we can all get behind. That's why I've decided to stand as an Independent candidate for Tunbridge Wells in the July 4th general election. Our political system is fundamentally broken and outdated. We need to restore our democracy. We need bold action to properly address the many crises we're facing today. And only we, together, can keep our politics honest and make it work for local communities and our environment. It's only a matter of time until this change takes place – so why wait and bet on the lesser of two evils again? It's time to #BreakTheCycle of the same old tired politics. Vote to get your voice in Parliament. Learn more about my campaign for real change: http://hassankassem.org

It’s that time again to cast for your votes! I have always taken an interest in politics (I’ll emphasise that’s politics, not politicians!), all my life and find the mechanics of government interesting. Today is the opportunity to voice your opinion through the democratic system. Whilst turnout in such things is often moderate and no way near that of the intensity and focus of a general election, each local, council and by-election allows the government and opposition to gauge public mood and opinion, directly and indirectly from the results outcome. The creation of the North East Mayor however may cause somewhat of a spike in turnout and interest. The North East opinion polls run 1st and 2nd at a 1 – 2% gap. There are some who may tow a particular party line or allegiance, others voting tactically to beat another, and some may simply just vote against the government of the day. It’s your democratic right to do so. I try to do a bit of research into the ones I can vote for in my area. Listen to some of the debates or hustings and consider their key policies. As an individual, there are things that may be key to me that may be irrelevant to others and vice versa. This could include Transport, Environmental Policies and Local/Regional Investment decisions.  I try to look at track record if applicable and also, vainly, Do I like them? Do I feel I can rely on them? Can I trust them to deliver and/or be held accountable for their promises? Can I trust them? The North East has the opportunity to vote for a Mayor for the first time whilst Ben Houchen is running for re-election in Teesside. To learn more about their powers and remit: https://lnkd.in/d5H-gMuB But in short, the local authorities will gain a regional figurehead with more power, influence and money from Westminster. There are some limitations and local councils will still exist. Crime isn’t covered by the North East Mayor due to the crossover into Darlington of the two forces in the area. There are also many out there who probably wont bother. Those who think what’s the point, nothing ever changes, they are all the same, etc, etc. I feel many fall into this ambivalence or why bother mindset. But the glory of democracy is you have as much right to vote as you do, not to vote or participate (we don’t live in Australia where voting is legally mandatory). But always consider this…spoiling your ballot and creating a box and adding a tick next to the Flying Spaghetti Monster is a valid exercise in the democratic process! #election #voting #democracy #localelections #election2024

#LDConf has just voted to keep the national housing target of 380,000 despite the leadership's motion looking to scrap it. I'm sure #EdDavey will be fuming as that creates a problem with messaging in those target Blue Wall seats at the next GE. The original motion was accompanied by a 66-page policy paper which is so light on any actual detail it could've just been written on the back of a fag packet. While I always endorse 'Meaningful Consultation', the below extract doesn't account for the reality that a number of councillors refuse to engage with applicants or promoters at an early stage, instead hiding behind claims that they're not allowed to (they are) or that stating any sort of comment will mean they are conflicted or pre-determined (they won't be). This is exactly why building a much broader base of advocates for projects is important. That's what Infrastructure Matters does for clients across #property #transport and #energy. Get in touch if you think we can help.