And there are a growing number of new and willing partners out there. The polls are telling us. Last election day the Trust was involved in 15 measures around the country, either through polling or campaign strategy and management, help with media or other aspects of campaigns. And some of these measures were in very conservative states and counties. On a local level, individuals are showing an increasing willingness to dig into their pockets and come up with conservation funding - whether through bonds or sales or real estate transfer taxes or assessments districts.
People care more now than ever.
And its not just the same old faces. We have trapped in to a much larger group for whom the loss of the landscapes that define their communities, traffic congestion, and the quality of air and water are top priority issues. And it's not surprising that this new support is non-partisan. For we have all observed that love of place bears no political stripe. This local concern is having its influence on the federal funding level, too.