GULP Petition

From CFI

Greater Ukiah Localization Project (“GULP”) Petition

Doing what we can to support and strengthen our community just makes sense. It is no more controversial than choosing to actively support our friends, neighbors, and family. In a natural disaster or a man-made crisis (such as a major oil shortage), our well-being or even our lives may depend on the vitality and strength of our community connections.

There are a wide range of actions that we can and should take to make this a stronger, more complete and self-sufficient community. In particular, we can actively support and patronize local food production, protect local water sources, invest in our local infrastructure, and spend time building our local community connections and economy.

Among the many benefits of doing so are the following:

A More Robust, Less Vulnerable Local Economy

• Our local economy ought to be as strong as possible - after all, this is where we live, as do our children. Money spent at an independent, local business “multiplies” locally relative to a business controlled by an out of area owner or corporation.

• Mendocino County residents (and, indeed all Americans) need to reduce our dependency on fossil fuels (which are non-renewable resources). Fossil fuels are running out and we may or may not ever find a workable substitute. Yet, we currently rely exclusively on fossil fuels to bring in resources from distant locations.

• Depending on goods transported long distances makes prices nearly as volatile as fuel prices. Purchasing locally-produced goods allows for a more stable local economy. Moreover, using a local resource (as opposed to one imported from a distance) requires less energy of any type.

• Developing local sources for major needs such as energy would plug the “leak” of large amount of local capital from our community.

• Competing local businesses spur innovation that reflects local needs. Moreover, locally-owned businesses provide a means for other local entrepreneurs to develop their own businesses. If you create a great new line of locally produced jams, it is not plausible to get national chains to stock it, but the local co-op might very well do so.

• Producing original goods locally provides local jobs and provides training and skills that are inherently valuable to the community.

Better Health, Healthier Food and a Cleaner Environment

• Traveling to places under our own power (i.e., walking, biking, or skating) makes us healthier at the same time that it saves resources and keeps the air and atmosphere cleaner.

• Food grown locally does not need to be selected or engineered to be harvested early or bathed in preservatives and bundled in layers of packaging to endure shipping for hundreds or thousands of miles. Fresh, locally-grown foods taste better and are more nutritious than foods grown to supply distant markets.

• People employed locally do not need to commute and thus are likely to have more free time to enjoy life and contribute to the community.

• Local businesses do not tend to saturate the media with advertisements designed to influence our children to eat unhealthy foods and consume unneeded products.

• The decision-makers in a locally-owned farm, restaurant or other business are neighbors and community members. They experience the consequences of their decisions along with the rest of the community.

A Stronger Community and Better Support Network

• Development planned by the community itself—including things like land use, building density and infrastructure requirements—is far more likely to reflect community needs than will developments designed by out-of-area entities based on what they have done everywhere else.

• Locally owned businesses contribute more to local non-profit organizations than do those from out-of-area. More community connections make a stronger community.

• With more of our needs met locally we will be better able to sustain ourselves in a disaster should outside help be delayed or not available.

• Learning how a local product is created is easy to do and can also be fun.

• Unique, local businesses create a more interesting and stimulating environment. People travel to Mendocino County because of our unique natural environment and services.

I urge my follow residents, including particularly community leaders, business persons, County and City government employees, civic board members and elected officials to seek out ways to strengthen and support a strong, self-sufficient local economy and community as expeditiously as possible. I am informed that the Greater Ukiah Localization Project (“GULP”) is engaged in this effort and I urge you to lend them your support.

Signature: _______________________ Date: ______________

Print Name: ________________________ Zip Code: _________

Business or Organization Represented: ____________________________________________________