Six Green mayors sign letter from over 100 mayors opposing Keystone XL pipeline‏

GREEN PARTY OF THE UNITED STATES

http://www.gp.org

For Immediate Release:
Thursday, November 17, 2011

Contacts:
Scott McLarty, Media Coordinator, 202-518-5624, cell 202-904-7614,
mclarty@greens.org
Starlene Rankin, Media Coordinator, 916-995-3805, starlene@gp.org


Six Green mayors sign on to letter from over 100 mayors opposing
Keystone XL tar sands pipeline

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WASHINGTON, DC -- Six Green mayors have signed on to a joint letter to
President Obama from more than 100 mayors expressing grave concerns
about the proposed Keystone XL tar sands pipeline.

The mayors, representing communities across the US, voiced relief at
President Obama's decision to postpone the decision, as well as hope
that the permit for the pipeline will be rejected when it comes up for
review after the presidential election.

A summary of the letter, a link to the text, and a list of the mayors
can be found online here:
http://switchboard.nrdc.org/blogs/sclefkowitz/over_100_mayors_voice_concern.html

The Green mayors who signed the letter are Larry Bragman (Fairfax,
Calif.), Bruce Delgado (Marina, Calif.), David Doonan (Greenwich, NY),
Gayle McLaughlin (Richmond, Calif.), Jim Sullivan (Victory, NY), and
Jason West (New Paltz, NY).  (Mayor Bragman signed after the web site
was published.)

"The delay in the Keystone XL decision is a victory for all those who
protested and spoke out about the dangers of the pipeline," said David
Doonan.  "The small number of jobs created by the pipeline do not
justify the health risks of a pipeline carrying tar sands crude oil
from Canada to the Gulf.  We can create far more jobs through a
national public works program that includes conversion to safe, clean
energy technology.  Besides the Keystone XL pipeline, the Green Party
has called for a ban on hydrofracking, mountaintop removal mining, and
offshore oil drilling, all of which increase fossil fuel addiction and
represent serious public health risks."

Richmond, with a population of about 103,000, is the largest US city
with a Green mayor.  Mayor Gayle McLaughlin made news recently when
she enthusiastically welcomed Occupy protests to Richmond
(http://blog.sfgate.com/nov05election/2011/11/09/one-bay-area-mayor-welcomes-occupy-protests-to-her-city).

Mayor Jason West made national news in 2003 when he solemnized
same-sex weddings as mayor in defiance of state law, drawing 19
misdemeanor counts (later dismissed) and a restraining order.
Same-sex marriage was legalized in New York in July, 2011.

See also:

Tar Sands Pipelines Safety Risks
National Resources Defense Council
http://www.nrdc.org/energy/tarsandssafetyrisks.asp

"Beyond Fossil Fuels"
By Cecile Lawrence, PhD, JD, New York Green Party candidate for US
Senate in 2010
Green Papers, January 25, 2011
http://www.greenpapers.net/?p=58


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Press conferences, forums, and other events at the Green Party's 2011
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