Thank you to everyone who voted YES on Question #2 on November 6th. Below is in an email we received from Eric Hammerling at CFPA. It aptly summarizes the importance of the success of Question #2 on Tuesday's ballot. However, more importantly, it is a reminder that our work is not over. It is in our hands to ensure that we utilize the rights we have earned to determine how our public lands are managed.
Thank you again to all those who voted YES to Question #2!
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You did it!! Thank YOU!!
The passage of Question #2 tonight means that your state-owned public lands are now safe from being sold, swapped, or given away by the CT General Assembly without first receiving adequate input from the public.
As you know, this is a significant change from the bad practice the General Assembly has used for many years -- giving away public lands at the end of each Legislative session through a last-minute amendment passed without any public input at all. In the future, this will no longer happen.
You have literally gained a new right in the state constitution to speak up for your public lands before the General Assembly can sell, swap, or give them away. That is a BIG deal!
But there is still work left to do to protect your public lands.
Now that you have the right to a public hearing, you also share the obligation to participate when future public hearings are held by the General Assembly regarding the fate of your public lands. As you can see with Question #2's victory, participating makes a difference!
We will do our best at CFPA to get out the word to you when these public hearings are scheduled in the future, but when that happens (probably in February/March 2019) I hope you will proudly exercise your new right and provide input when the need arises.
So, please enjoy this landmark victory (and victory for public landmarks), and thank you again for making it possible!
All the best,
Eric Hammerling, Executive Director
Connecticut Forest & Park Association