Arizona Activist Defends Planning from Tea Party Assault

Greg Hanscom profiles Stacey Champion, an environmental consultant and PR specialist who uncovered, and defeated, shady efforts to ban sustainability planning in Arizona.

1 minute read

September 10, 2012, 9:00 AM PDT

By Jonathan Nettler @nettsj


Champion's heroic effort went as such: "Last spring, [she] caught wind of a bill
moving quietly through the legislature that would prevent the state,
county, or city governments from "adopting or implementing the creed,
doctrine, principles or any tenet of the United Nations Rio Declaration
on Environment and Development" - a pledge to promote eco-friendly development and eradicate poverty that was adopted along with Agenda 21. It would also ban state and local government membership in ICLEI, a nonprofit that has become the object of wing-nut conspiracy theories everywhere," explains Hanscom.

"The bill's sponsor, Republican Sen. Judy Burges, had used a special 'strike everything' amendment to sneak the bill through the state Senate
and into the House."

Through dogged lobbying, social networking, and general busy-bodyness, Champion was able to bring the potential economic (and evironmental) harm of the bill to the attention of local reporters, politicians, and the national media, before it could pass a final vote in the Arizona House.  

"The story eventually made national headlines," says Hanscom, "and the bill died after
the Arizona Chamber of Commerce and Industry came out in opposition, citing concerns about the state's image. (As [Sandy Bahr, director of the Sierra Club's Grand Canyon chapter] puts it, 'Looking crazy is not good for business.')"

 

Thursday, September 6, 2012 in Grist

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Cover CM Credits, Earn Certificates, Push Your Career Forward

Aerial view of town of Wailuku in Maui, Hawaii with mountains in background against cloudy sunset sky.

Maui's Vacation Rental Debate Turns Ugly

Verbal attacks, misinformation campaigns and fistfights plague a high-stakes debate to convert thousands of vacation rentals into long-term housing.

July 1, 2025 - Honolulu Civil Beat

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

July 9, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Map of Haussmann's redesign of Paris in the 1850s through 1870s under Napoleon III.

In Urban Planning, AI Prompting Could be the New Design Thinking

Creativity has long been key to great urban design. What if we see AI as our new creative partner?

June 30, 2025 - Tom Sanchez

View of dense apartment buildings on Seattle waterfront with high-rise buildings in background.

King County Supportive Housing Program Offers Hope for Unhoused Residents

The county is taking a ‘Housing First’ approach that prioritizes getting people into housing, then offering wraparound supportive services.

3 hours ago - Real Change

Aerial view of suburban housing near Las Vegas, Nevada.

Researchers Use AI to Get Clearer Picture of US Housing

Analysts are using artificial intelligence to supercharge their research by allowing them to comb through data faster. Though these AI tools can be error prone, they save time and housing researchers are optimistic about the future.

4 hours ago - Shelterforce Magazine

Green bike share bikes parked in a row on a commercial street with outdoor dining and greenery.

Making Shared Micromobility More Inclusive

Cities and shared mobility system operators can do more to include people with disabilities in planning and operations, per a new report.

5 hours ago - Cities Today