Holsman: Governor Signs Urban Farming and PACE Legislation, Summer Jobs Program

Governor Nixon Signs Urban Farming Bill

On July 12th, shortly after noon in Kansas City, Governor Jay Nixon signed House Bill 1848, completing the bill's long journey through the Missouri General Assembly.

H.B. 1848 was sponsored by Rep. Jason Holsman, who has represented portions of South Kansas City and Grandview since 2007.

The bill creates a Joint Interim Committee to study Urban Agriculture in Missouri. The end result will be a report on urban farming and sustainable living communities that will be the first of its kind in the nation, which could eventually be used by other states in drafting legislation and creating policy relating to urban agriculture.

At left: Governor Nixon hands a signed copy of H.B. 1848 to Representative Holsman

An old concept with new technology, urban farming is being practiced by people from different walks of life producing a wide variety of food.

Urban agriculture has been embraced by public health officials, economists, community planners, small businesses, members of the traditional agriculture community, educators, local elected officials, and even national security experts.

The benefits of growing food locally include fresher fruits and vegetables with no pesticides or preservatives, the educational aspects of introducing farming and gardening to metropolitan populations, cost-savings related to reduced transportation needs, and security benefits that come from making large cities less reliant on outside networks for their food source.

One of the focal points that attracts community leaders to the urban agriculture discussion is the abundance of abandoned lots and buildings throughout the urban core of most major cities. Urban farms can be established inside vacant buildings such as warehouses and factories or in overgrown residential lots. Their produce can be donated or sold to others within the community, or consumed by the growers themselves.

At right: Rep. Kiki Curls speaks at the House Bill 1848 signing ceremony.

"Cities like Kansas City and St. Louis have many abandoned properties where urban farms can be established in order to reverse blighting trends to improve the overall health and food options of the community, while creating good jobs that can't be outsourced," said Holsman.

At the ceremony, Rep. Kiki Curls (D-Kansas City) also touted the need for fresh, nutritious food available to the residents of Kansas City's developed areas.

Governor Signs PACE Legislation

At the same ceremony in which Governor Nixon signed the Urban Farming Bill, he also signed House Bill 1692.

H.B. 1692, sponsored by Rep. Jason Smith (R-Salem), contained several provisions, including the Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) Act originally introduced by Representative Jason Holsman (D-Kansas City) in H.B. 2178.

PACE allows political subdivisions to pass bond measures to fund programs that allow property owners to weatherize their homes and install clean-energy generation technologies.

At right: Representative Holsman and Governor Nixon celebrate the passage of PACE.

These bonds which fund these improvements will be paid off by the property owner through a surcharge placed on their annual property tax assessment. Therefore, the PACE program doesn't cost a penny to taxpayers who choose not to participate.

The program has been touted as helping the environment by reducing each property's net energy requirements, saving money for the property owners on their utility bills, and creating "green collar" jobs by putting people to work building and installing the energy generation and consumption reduction technologies associated with the program.

"This is the right bill at the right time to help create jobs, lower utility costs while protecting our environment without expanding government or spending tax dollars" said Holsman at the signing ceremony.

Nixon and Cleaver Announce Summer Jobs Program

At left: From left to right, Rep. Jason Holsman, Gov. Jay Nixon, Former Rep. Judy Baker, House Minority Leader Paul LeVota

Congressman Emmanuel Cleaver II and Missouri Governor Jay Nixon are proud to announce the "Jobs Now" Summer Jobs Program.

Jobs Now is funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) and is designed to provide short-term, full-time summer employment to area youths.

At right: Congressman Cleaver with Rep. Holsman

The program will be available to young men and women aged 16 - 24. The positions, which will be classified as 'green jobs' through ARRA, will pay $10 / hour for 40 hours a week, six weeks in duration. In total, 1,200 jobs will be available.

The program is being run by the Full Employment Council and anyone interested can apply there. Positions are still available, although income guidelines do apply.

Mama Leone's Family Italian Pizza Opens in the 45th District

The Leone family are no strangers to making a delicious pizza. Original Pizza, a longtime favorite of Kansas City area pizza lovers, was opened by Jack Leone in 1978.

Now Jack's sons, Anthony and Frank Leone are carrying on the tradition, opening Mamma Leone's New York Style Pizza & Italian Restaurant at 650 East Red Bridge Road.

Hours of Operation Are:
Mon. - Thurs.: 10 AM - 9 PM
Fri. - Sat.: 10 AM - 10 PM
Sunday: Noon - 9 PM

Mamma Leone's menu:
Whole Pizza
Pizza by the Slice
Hot Sandwiches
Deli Sandwiches
Salad
Greek Dishes
Pasta
and Italian Dinner Entrees

They will also offer custom catering for private parties and corporate functions.

According to Frank Leone, "We can make just about any authentic Italian dish, from Chicken Spiedini to Italian Steak Milanese, but I'm really a pizza guy at heart."

Holsman Tours Sweet Water

At left: President Josh Fraundorf teaches Rep. Holsman about the system

While in Milwaukee at the DLCC Midwest Leadership Conference, I had the chance to tour the Sweet Water Organics urban farm / aquaponics operation. The facility, pictured to the right, is an older industrial building, much like those that dot the landscape in the Kansas City-area.

Sweet Water is somewhat unique as, in addition to farming produce, the facility also raises fish. The fish waste is used as a fertilizer for the plants and the plants act as a natural water filter for the fish.

The concept behind Sweet Water Organics can easily be adapted for use in Jackson County, or anywhere across the county. The operation is a sustainable, job-creating resource that prevents an old building from blighting the neighborhood, and produces safe, healthy, and tasty food for local restaurants and consumers.

In my tours of Growing Power and Sweet Water, I took far too many pictures than I could include in this newsletter. However, if you would like to see for yourself how these new forms of sustainable living are put into practice, check out my Facebook photo album.

Holsman Tours Will Allen's Growing Power Urban Farm

In addition to touring the Sweet Water Organics facility in Milwaukee, I also toured Growing Power, one of the country's premier urban farming organizations. Former ABA basketball standout Will Allen purchased the Growing Power facility in 1993 and has been the key factor in the organization's success throughout the past two decades.

Growing Power isn't just an urban farm, its also an educational facility to teach agriculture, gardening, and the basics of food production. Growing Power hosts workshops and conferences -and has its own outreach program- to teach skills to both young and old alike. It is a place where urban farmers can go to network, learn new skills, and get help in making their own activities a success. A multifaceted The 'Growing Power' Urban Farm founded by basketball star Will Allen.organization, Growing Power has satellite farms and practices various types of sustainable growing, including composting, aquaponics, beekeeping, and livestock.

In my tours of Growing Power and Sweet Water, I took far too many pictures than I could include in this newsletter. However, if you would like to see for yourself how these new forms of sustainable living are put into practice, check out my Facebook photo album.

Holsman Visits Newhouse Women's Domestic Violence Shelter

At right: Rep. Holsman with the staff from Newhouse Domestic Violence Shelter

Earlier this summer, I had the privilege to tour the Newhouse Domestic Violence Shelter. Newhouse provides shelter and other critical services to women who are victims of domestic violence. Their goal is to end the cycle of abuse and provide women with the tools necessary to lead self-sufficient lives. My hosts at Newhouse were very gracious in showing me their facility and the services they had to offer. For more information, visit them online at www.newhouseshelter.org.