Dear Friend:

Preservation is power. And right now, that power is at risk of being taken away.

For 60 years, Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act has required federal agencies to consider the adverse effects of their actions on historic places—and has given communities a voice before decisions become irreversible.

On July 24, the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation voted to advance a sweeping rewrite of the regulations that make that process work. The National Trust for Historic Preservation voted no, calling the proposal “an attack on our civic and cultural inheritance.” The Council advanced it anyway.

The changes are not final. But if adopted:

• Public input becomes optional. Each federal agency could decide for itself whether and how to involve you in decisions about your community.
• Your city loses its guaranteed seat at the table when a federally connected project threatens our landmarks and beloved places.
• Tribal consultation protections are weakened, while a narrowed definition of “historic property” could push sacred and culturally significant landscapes outside the review process.
• Federal agencies gain the power to decide unilaterally what harm to mitigate—or whether to mitigate it at all.

This proposal would take power away from you and your community. Here is how to push back.

1. Call your members of Congress this week.

The proposed rule has not yet been published. That makes congressional pressure especially important right now. Tell your representatives about a place in your neighborhood that matters to you. Tell them why the people who live with that history deserve a say in its future. Ask them to oppose any rewrite that weakens public participation, Tribal consultation, or local involvement in Section 106 review.

Find your representatives | Call and email scripts | Talking points

2. Join the National Trust’s free webinar—TODAY, Thursday, July 30th at 1:00 p.m. ET.

“Section 106 Regulations Under Threat” will explain what is being proposed, what is at stake, and what preservation advocates can do next.

Register here

3. Be ready for the public comment period.

Once the proposed rule is published, the public may have only 30 days to respond. CRS will send you the submission link, deadline, sample talking points, and guidance for writing an effective comment once the period opens. The Cleveland Restoration Society is preparing its own formal response and briefing our partners and community advocates.

For 54 years, CRS has helped Northeast Ohio communities protect the buildings, neighborhoods, sacred places, and cultural landmarks that hold our history. That work depends on our community having a voice. Help us defend it.

Sincerely,

Kathleen H. Crowther

President, Cleveland Restoration Society

Want the full picture?

How we got here and what comes next (NCSHPO) | A Citizen’s Guide to Section 106 (ACHP) | Defend Section 106 (Cultural Heritage Partners)

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Additional grant support is provided by: the African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund of the National Trust for Historic Preservation with support from the Lilly Endowment Inc.; Port of Cleveland; the County of Cuyahoga; The Louise H. and David S. Ingalls Foundation; the 1772 Foundation; the Underrepresented Communities grant program, administered by the National Park Service, Department of the Interior under Grant Number P24AP00205; and the African American Civil Rights grant from the Historic Preservation Fund, administered by the National Park Service, Department of the Interior under Grant Number P25AP00845-00. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed on this website are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Department of the Interior.