First Washington State Tree Sit Since 1999!
BREAKING: First Washington State Tree Sit Since 1999!
Chiara D’Angelo blockades environmental destruction on Bainbridge Island
Contact: 206-940-5082 or 425-495-5320
10060 High School Rd NE, Bainbridge Island, WA 98110
**UPDATED 10:32am** NOW VIDEO FOR DOWNLOAD HERE. ​Images for download HERE & HERE
Visconsi has just threatened to press charges if she doesn’t come down by 4pm today (8/18) – she plans on staying indefinitely.
VIGIL AT 5PM-8PM TODAY (Monday 8/18) look for red banner on left road down PROBuild’s drive way past their green and white sign at 10060 High School Dr, across the street (NORTH) of McDonalds enterance.
BAINBRIDGE ISLAND – Bainbridge High School graduate Chiara Rose D’Angelo is sitting 70 feet up on a platform among the canopy of an evergreen. The tree is one of 830 approved to be clear-cut for the KeyBank/Visconsi Mall where a Walgreens, among others, is expected to be built. Chiara is demanding a halt to the project and looking to raise awareness about the environmental devastation setting the stage for our future. She is calling citizens to send 830 letters and post cards to Key Bank in opposition to the development – one for each tree cut. 
“The tree sit is an effort designed to create more time for the community of Bainbridge to move into action and voice their opposition to this unsustainable development. There will be an ongoing presence at the site as well as a letter writing campaign and sign ons for boycotting the mall. I am hoping this sit leads to expanded dialog about what we want this Island to look like in our future.”
Chiara’s roots are here on Bainbridge. Her Grandfather Art Patricio was a Ferry Boat captain for 50 years. Her grandmother Lora Hart worked at Streamliner Diner to raise her children. Chiara was raised by her mother on the island.
A formal boycott has been initiated and is growing in size as residents express their intention to never do business in the new shopping center.
According to Kent Bridwell, Lead boycott organizer “A new shopping center is wholly unnecessary on Bainbridge. Too many local businesses have already failed and there are vacant storefronts everywhere. This includes the former Union Bank building, which remains available for lease or purchase.”
Saturday, August 16th, Chiara, accompanied by 80 residents of all ages,spokeat an on site vigil to acknowledge the loss that will occur from thisproject.Now Chiara sits in a tree to hold space for more community action andsupport.
“The ‘expedited approval and development’ that Visconsi, an Ohio based developer, brags about on there website, seems to be manifesting itself onto the Island. Bainbridge has the potential to serve as a healthy watershed, helping to preserve the Puget Sound. For the well being of the Sound, and future generations, we need to turn the tide on the status quo by bringing a halt to this unwanted and unneeded development,” says Chiara.
Please support Chiara’s efforts and send your letter to Key Bank’s Chairperson and CEO: Beth Mooney, Chairperson and CEO; KeyCorp; 127 PublicSquare; Cleveland, OH44114-1306
Call at 800-625-3256
And sign the pledge at
http://environmentalbainbridge.org/stop-unwanted-development-on-bi/
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email: info@backbonecampaign.org
web: http://backbonecampaign.org/
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