Nearly 90 environmental organizations, nonprofits, and even some private companies have signed on to endorse a ballot measure poised to land before voters this November that would dedicate as much as $100 million a year from the sales tax generated on sporting goods purchases to expand land conservation efforts.
The coalition, unsurprisingly, includes some of the bigger names in the state focused on environmental issues: Conservation Law Foundation, Mass Audubon, The Trustees of Reservations, The Nature Conservancy, and even outdoors retailer REI.
You won’t find the Environmental League of Massachusetts on that list.
ELM, one of the state’s oldest advocacy organizations given its founding in 1898, is instead sitting this one out. The organization’s campaign arm formally endorsed Gov. Maura Healey for reelection earlier this month.
“We made the decision to not weigh in on the Nature for All ballot question due to capacity,” said Leigh Chandler, an ELM spokesperson. “We’re directing our staff hours toward closing out a strong legislative session and, on the ELM Action Fund side, supporting climate candidates.”
The ballot question has no formal opposition but met somewhat of a chilly reception from lawmakers at a related hearing earlier this year.
Published by MassINC