Environmental enforcement has also been weak under Governor Leavitt's Administration, and it's unlikely he'd get the job done in a Bush Administration which already has a terrible enforcement record. New criminal pollution cases referred by the EPA for federal prosecution are down more than 40 percent, and civil pollution cases are down 25 percent since the start of the Bush Administration.

With a history of cutting closed-door deals at the expense of the environment, there is reason to be concerned that Governor Leavitt can adequately play the role of environmental champion within the Bush administration. Even Governor Christie Todd Whitman, who came into office having demonstrated a concern for the environment, wasn't given the power to do the job of cracking down on polluters and protecting our families and communities.

From resisting efforts to get arsenic out of our drinking water, to weakening the clean air act and the enforcement of environmental safeguards, the Bush Administration has demonstrated a pattern of siding with corporate polluters over the health and safety of America's families.

With the appointment of Governor Leavitt for EPA Administrator, it is difficult to imagine that pattern improving.

Return to Index

California Bill Banning Toxic Fire Retardants Signed By Governor Davis

Today (August 9, 2003) Governor Gray Davis signed landmark legislation to protect Californians from harmful chemicals used in some fire retardants. At the bill signing ceremony in a Santa Monica health clinic, Assembly Majority Leader Wilma Chan (D-Oakland), who authored Assembly Bill 302 said, "This puts us on the cutting edge in providing protection for our children's health. I hope that other states will follow our example. This bill will help make all Californians, especially children, safer and healthier."

The bill—the first in the nation—prohibits the use, sale and manufacturing of certain harmful forms of PBDEs (Polybrominated diphenyl ethers) in California. The Governor's action will protect both the environment and public health. AB 302 bans two types of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) from products sold or manufactured in California. These chemicals have been found at alarming levels in the bodies of California women. Mounting evidence suggests they may disrupt proper brain development, impairing intelligence and motor skills in young children.

"With my bill we can maintain high fire safety standards in California without exposing our children to harmful chemicals," said Chan. Chan Chairs the Assembly Select Committee on California Children's School Readiness and Health.

The rise of PBDE levels in human breast milk is of particular concern because pregnant women and their fetuses are most at risk for harmful health effects. In animal studies, exposure to low levels of PBDEs have caused thyroid hormone imbalance, damage to the nervous system, and disrupted proper brain development.

Two leading environmental health organizations, Environment California and the Environmental Working Group, have issued groundbreaking reports on the health impact of PDBEs. The reports can be accessed at www.environmentcalifornia.org and www.ewg.org. PBDEs are widely used as flame-retardants in many textiles and common household products including computers, televisions, automotive interiors, and upholstered furniture, and are believed to be slowly released over the lifetime of these products.

In response to health concerns, a number of electronics and furniture companies, including Sony and Ikea, have adopted PBDE-free policies, to a number of alternatives which are considered safer for human health, cost effective, and capable of meeting stringent fire safety standards.

The bill is supported by Breast Cancer Action, Environment California, League of Conservation Voters, California School Nurses, California State PTA, Center for Environmental Health, Environmental Working Group, Learning Disabilities Association of California, Natural Resources Defense Council, San Francisco Medical Society and the Sierra Club among others. The bill was sponsored by Environment California.

Bill Magavern, the Sierra Club’s Senior Legislative Representative in Sacramento, said "We supported this bill. Its signing is a major environmental victory, the biggest so far of this year's regular legislative session."

Return to Index

Sierra Club Joins with America's Largest Grassroots Groups
To Mobilize Voters

WASHINGTON, DC -- The Sierra Club today (July 15, 2003) announced it is joining forces with America's other largest grassroots groups to register, educate and mobilize the public for the 2004 elections. The groups are linking arms under the umbrella of America Votes, a non-partisan political organization that will capitalize on the groups' strong strategic abilities and large membership bases to break new ground in electoral politics.

"In 2004, the Sierra Club, America's largest grassroots environmental organization, plans to reach more voters than ever before," said Sierra Club Executive Director Carl Pope. "In the mail, on the phone, and at the door, we will talk to voters and the public about how polluters are being allowed to jeopardize the air they breathe, the water they drink, and the lands they love—and what people can do to keep their families safe. We are honored to be a founding member of America Votes. Through our collective strength, this historic effort will reach an unprecedented number of voters to educate them about critical issues this election cycle."

America Votes will combine resources, research, and strategy to develop highly targeted, state-of-the-art methods to reach out to voters on issues that they care deeply about to encourage greater voter participation. This historic partnership joins together the most reputable organizations in the country, including ACORN, AFL-CIO, American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), EMILY's List, League of Conservation Voters, MoveOn.org, Moving America Forward, NAACP National Voter Fund, NARAL Pro-Choice America, Partnership for America's Families, People For the American Way, Planned Parenthood Action Fund, Service Employees International Union (SEIU), and the Sierra Club.

Return to Index

Announcement of Staff Changes

By Carl Zichella

Fri, 25 Jul 2003: Effective immediately, the following changes are being made to the California-Hawaii-Nevada field team:

1. Elizabeth Lambe is out until October 15 on family leave. She and her husband have adopted a child. Congratulations, Elizabeth!

2. Bill Corcoran has been appointed acting Regional Representative Manager and will assume Elizabeth's role of coordinating the Great Coastal Places program with Mark Massara, working as supervisor to Owen Bailey and Brittany McKee.

3. Brittany McKee is being assigned additional duties with the Great Coastal Places program and will continue to lead the organizing on our South Orange County project.

4. Eric Wesselman will take over supervising our Gaviota organizer, Ariana Katovich, and will lend a hand on Great Coastal Places as it applies to the Central Coast.

Carl Zichella, Regional Staff Director, California-Nevada-Hawaii Field Office Sierra Club, 1414 K Street, Suite 500, Sacramento, CA 95814 916-557-1100, 916-557-9669fax, 916-837-7127mobile carl.zichella@sierraclub.org  www.sierraclub.org

Help Promote September 6-7 CNRCC Meeting!

By John Monsen, Chair, California/Nevada Conservation Committee

As many of you know, we are hoping to attract as many newcomers as possible to our September 6-7 California/Nevada Regional Conservation Committee meeting in Rancho El Chorro, San Luis Obispo. We have expanded the program, adding special population and urban environmental issues workshops and a keynote speaker with a terrific success story to tell.

We have programs especially designed for newcomers, such as one on "How To Reduce Sprawl In Your Community." There will be updates on a variety of topic and issues, including the latest on the Davis Recall, the Boxer Senatorial Campaign, and Sierra Club plans in 2004 for regime change on the home front. Of course, we are also likely to be establishing conservation policy on a variety of important issues.

This year's keynote speaker is Kevin Hall from the Tehipite Chapter who will be leading off the proceedings with "Cleaning Up The San Joaquin Valley's Air: An Activist's Journey." With Kevin's help, Earth Justice and the Sierra Club have won four lawsuits against the local air quality management district for violations of the Clean Air Act, which put the issue of air quality in the San Joaquin Valley on the map across the state and beyond.

Everyone must register!

To register, contact Lori Ives (see below). At the time this is being published, no agenda for the meeting is as yet available. It will be posted soon on the California Activists Listserve. Lori will send to those who plan to attend information about food (Saturday dinner and Sunday breakfast) and bunk bed accommodations on campus, and directions for getting there. The preferred method for distributing this information is electronic. Please send Lori your email address or otherwise a fax number or your mailing address. To make it even easier to attend, the CNRCC will waive the $35 registration fee for newcomers and will reimburse travel expenses for anyone who needs the help.

All of this is part of larger efforts to attract a "new, more diverse generation of leaders" as envisioned in our 2003 CNRCC Workplan. But we need your help to get the news out.

John Monsen, CNRCC Chair, 818-951-7714, wildernessjfm@aol.com

Lori Ives, Registrar, 909-621-7148, ivesico@earthlink.net fax:909-624-7983

Amigos Organizer

By Jeff Yann

I am pleased to announce that we now have an organizer for our new subsidiary Amigos de los Rios. Nathan Springer is an enthusiastic self-starter with an Environmental Science background, a strong commitment to the environment and, despite being raised in Oregon, a real desire to both improve the value of the San Gabriel River and reach out to the Latino community in the River area. It was a very tough competition that required the interview committee to conduct two interviews with each of the top three candidates, but I am confident we chose well. Nathan will officially start on August 25. If he is in the area on August 22, I will invite him to our Task Force meeting, although he will no doubt be in the midst of moving during that time.

More good news. Our Peck Park/Rio Hondo study (with North East Trees) is off to a great start. In a meeting with El Monte Parks Director, we were given an opportunity to put in a proposal to develop a 1.7 acre parcel along the Rio Hondo into a 1,000 foot long river-front neighborhood park. El Monte already has $390,000 in grants for this park development. If successful, this will boost our grant commitments for Campaign-instigated projects to just over $6.5 million, not counting the great work Suzanne Avila is doing in Azusa. Not a bad accomplishment for a two-year campaign.

Return to Index

Orange County Events

THURS, AUG 14: The president is planning a trip to San Diego to attend a fund-raising reception. The White House said that during his stop in California Bush will be addressing troops and will go to the Santa Monica Mountain and Recreation Area to speak about conservation. [San Francisco Chronicle, 7/29/03; www.whitehouse.gov; National Journal's Congress Daily, 7/15/03]

FRI, AUG 15 -- Bushwhacked in Orange County. Bush is headlining a fund-raising luncheon at the Irvine Hyatt Hotel. [San Francisco Chronicle, 7/29/03;, www.whitehouse.gov; National Journal's Congress Daily, 7/15/03]

Return to Index

Benefit "Haircut-a-Thon"

Sun, Aug 31, 10 am to 6 pm—Note New Date! Sponsored by California Cultural Resource Preservation Alliance and Sierra Club OC Native American Sacred Sites Task Force, at Thomas David Salon, 1485 Glenneyre, Laguna Beach. Music, information, Native American arts and baskets sale. No appointment needed. Donation of $20 per haircut by professional hairstylists (no perms or hair coloring). Contact Rebecca Robles (949)369-0361 rrobles5@cox.net

Return to Index

Rally for the Headlands

Sat, Sep 20, 1 to 4 pm—The Dana Point Headlands Task Force will hold "Rally for the Headlands 2," with an old-fashioned hot dog BBQ, at Baby Beach in Dana Point Harbor. From Pacific Coast Highway, take Dana Point Harbor Drive to the pier parking lot, and look for "Rally 2" signs. Please RSVP to dphc@cox.net by Sept. 15. The Coastal Commission's hearing on the Dana Point Headlands Development and Conservation Plan is expected to be in early October, in San Diego. The Task Force will charter a bus from south Orange County to the hearing. Contact dphc@cox.net for date and location.

Return to Index

Sustainable Food Festival

Sun, Sep 21, 1 to 5 pm—Sierra Sage, the South Orange County Group of the Sierra Club, and San Juan Capistrano organic farmer, George Kibby, are hosting a Sustainable Food Festival at South Coast Farms, San Juan Capistrano's Organic Farm and Farmstand. The organic foodfest will celebrate sustainable farming. Fun festivities include a fabulous concert by "Conjunto Jardin", a farm tour, an heirloom tomato tasting, educational talk by Gordon LaBedz, a gourmet vegetarian feast prepared by Chef Mark Cleveland of Laguna Culinary Arts, drawings and giveaways. Mark your calendar for a wonderful afternoon on one of the last remaining farms in the area. The price of admission is $25.00 per adult and $12.50 per child twelve and under. Reservations can be made by sending a check (payable to Sierra Sage) to reservationist Gail Prothero, 29302 Sandalwood Court, San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675. Please enclose a stamped, self-addressed envelope. For further info, contact Gail Prothero at (949)347-1255. Proceeds will benefit Sierra Club conservation programs in Orange County.

Return to Index

Special Statewide Election—Tuesday, Oct 7

The question of recalling Governor Gray Davis is slated for a statewide special election to be held on October 7, 2003. The Sierra Club officially opposes the recall and urges a no vote. Two ballot measures will also appear on that ballot: Proposition 53, a legislative constitutional amendment about infrastructure finance, and Proposition 54, an initiative constitutional amendment titled Classification by Race, Ethnicity, Color or National Origin and called the Racial Privacy Initiative by its proponents. The Sierra Club opposes the Privacy Initiative.

Return to Index

USEFUL INFORMATION

Action Directory

Sierra Club Legislative Hotline: (202)675-2394
Sierra Club National : (415)977-5500
Sierra Club Sacramento Legislative Office: (916) 557-1100; fax (916)227-9669
Sierra Club World Wide Web: http://www.sierraclub.org
Sierra Club Vote Watch Website: http://www.sierraclub.org/votewatch/
White House Comment Line: (202)456-1111
White House Fax Line (202)456-2461:
  President George W Bush president@whitehouse.gov
  Vice President Dick Cheney: vice-president@whitehouse.gov
White House Address: 1600 Pennsylvania Ave, Washington, DC 20500
US Capitol Switchboard: (202)224-3121
To contact your senators: Senate Office Bldg, Washington DC 20510 http://www.senate.gov/contacting/index.cfm
To contact your representative: House Office Bldg, Washington DC 20515 http://www.house.gov/writerep
California Capitol Switchboard: (916)322-9900

The Newsletter (without upcoming resolutions) is available on the Chapter website at http://angeles.sierraclub.org/home.html

The Conservation Committee Newsletter, now electronic, is sent free automatically to all activists who hold any of the following positions in the Angeles Chapter or its entities:

• Executive Committee Member

• Entity Chair

• Entity Conservation Chair

• Conservation Subcommittee Chair

• Newsletter Editor

• Political Chair

• Also many activists throughout the Chapter a and state receive it (free), either by request or by position.

If you no longer hold the Club office with the automatic pull and wish to continue to receive it, email ivesico@earthlink.net.

Paper postal copy is available (for a fee) for those who are technically challenged or simply don’t want to be bothered. To receive The Newsletter by first class mail, send a donation of $20/year to (almost) cover printing/mailing costs (payable Angeles Chapter) to Conservation Newsletter, 112 Harvard Ave PMB 297, Claremont CA 91711.

Some aol.com subscribers have reported difficulty receiving the full text of the Conservation Newsletter. Complaints should be addressed to aol.com.

National's GoldBook provides information to chapters and groups on

  •the differences between 501(c)(3) and 501(c)(4) funds,

  •how to utilize and access charitable 501(c)(3) funds,

  •how to get a project approved,

  •fundraising

  •plus much, much, more material on the Sierra Club.

It is now available at the Clubhouse website. Go to  http://www.clubhouse.sierraclub.org; follow the instructions for obtaining the password. The GoldBook can be found by clicking on A - Z List of Materials box, then on "G" under A-Z List of Documents, then on GoldBook, Educational Project Guidelines.

California/Nevada Regional Directory (RedBook03) is now available free in electronic form (html), with extensive linking of information. The paper edition ($15 each) is available on special order. The electronic version is updated continuously, and will be re-distributed on demand. Both hard and electronic copy are available only from Lori Ives. Contact her for details at ivesico@earthlink.net.

Sierra Club California's GreenBook , the handbook of bylaws and standing rules, is available (in Word). Contact Lori for this also.

Chapter Office Parking

Weeknights: You may park free inside the building after 5:30 pm. Be prepared to show your membership card or one of our parking passes, available at the front desk in the Chapter office. Take a ticket when you enter through the gate; present it at the parking office near the elevators, and sign it. The ticket machine at the front gate may be turned off after 6 pm. If so, buzz the attendant and say you are going to a Sierra Club meeting. There is no entry after 8 pm.

Visitor parking on Saturday is limited to 8 am to 4 pm inside the building with attendant on duty. Arrangement for Sunday parking inside for Sierra Club meetings is pending at press time.  Linda Hoyer 

E-Mail Lists

There are three important discussion lists for Angeles environmental activists:
  •Angeles Chapter Cons Listserve angeles-conservation@lists.sierraclub.org
  •Angeles-Alerts Listserve angeles-alerts@lists.sierraclub.org
  • California/Nevada Listserve calif-activists@lists.sierraclub.org

Subscribe to California Activists: calif-activists-request@lists.sierraclub.org

  •your name

  •email address, Sierra Club

  •membership number

  •your position in Club (how are you active?).

Subscription is processed by one of the list owners, usually the same day.

Subscribe to Angeles-Alerts:

email listserv@lists.sierraclub.org with the message “subscribe angeles-conservation” or “subscribe calif-activists”

or "subscribe angeles-alerts" Note: it's "listserv," not "listserve."

To leave a list, send an e-mail to listserv@lists.sierraclub.org In the text of your message (not the subject line), write: “signoff calif-activists” or “signoff angeles-conservation” or "signoff angeles-alerts"  

The Angeles Chapter’s website is www.angeles.sierraclub.org

Return to Index

Motions should be submitted in advance, together with objective background material and supporting and opposing arguments, both to the Committee Chair and Newsletter Editor, for distribution with the agenda. Other motions will be postponed for action at a later meeting unless the motion is submitted in writing and unless the Committee votes an exception to ordinary procedure. Motions needing further action by the Angeles Chapter ExComm or some higher level of the Sierra Club should start out: “The Angeles Chapter Conservation Committee recommends that the Sierra Club...”

Angeles Chapter Conservation Management Committee

Angeles Chapter Grants Committee

Gordon LaBedz/Chair 562-494-6368 GlaBedzMD@aol.com

 Bonnie Sharpe/Vice Chair, Jay Matchett/Treasurer, Jeff Yann/Secretary, Robin Ives/Newsletter
Judy Anderson, John Monsen, Lynne Plambeck, Rudy Vietmeier
Lori Ives, Publisher/Webmaster/Circulation (Non-voting)

Johanna Zetterberg and Rachel Myers, Conservation Coordinators (Non-voting)

Agenda — August 20, 2003 — 7:30 pm

3435 Wilshire Blvd, Suite 320, Los Angeles CA 90010-1904

The August Conservation Committee will be devoted to a discussion of what we can do to stop urban sprawl, both on a state and local level.

One proposal, from Sierra Club California, is a statewide initiative.

Many of our Angeles urban activists feel that increased density where there is no infrastructure should be opposed.

Our population/consumption activists feel that we have to focus on root causes.

Please attend this meeting. We hope to craft a campaign.

        Next meeting is September 17

Return to Index

Orange County Conservation Committee

Gail Prothero, Chair 949-347-1255, Vice Chair: Bob Siebert; Secretary: Chuck Buck;

Rachel Myers, Conservation Coordinator (*non voting)

Location: Inn at the Park in Irvine
From the north, come down 405 to 73 and off at University. Turn left and pass Campus and turn right on Harvard. Follow Harvard as it bends; look for Marquette. The Inn is at 10 Marquette, on the corner of Harvard and Marquette behind a steel fence.
From the south, get off 405 at Culver and go left. Follow Culver past Michelson and University and turn right on Harvard. Take Harvard to Marquette. It's on your right.

Agenda — August 19, 2003

7:00 Welcome, Introductions, Approval of Agenda

7:10 Approval of Minutes

7:20 Announcements/Old Business

• Thanks! to the Sierra Sage Group for co-sponsoring the August 7th reception for the California Coastal Commission.
  Eighteen Sierra Club representatives attended the event.

• Reminder! Get your reservations in now for the September 21st Sustainable Food Festival at South Coast Farms in San Juan Capistrano. This fabulous fundraiser includes a gourmet vegetarian meal prepared by Laguna Beach chef Mark Cleveland, and a concert of high-spirited jarocho music of Veracruz Mexico by "Conjunto Jardin". Food, Fun, Education, Drawings and Giveaways. See Sept. 21st Calendar.

• News Flash! State Treasurer Phil Angelides will be the keynote speaker at an upcoming Friends Of the Foothills program on urban sprawl. See Sept 26 calendar.

7:25 Guest Speakers (Michael Hazzard and Roger Von Butow) discuss the water quality stream team program and south Orange
       County watershed conservancy, Q & A.

7:45 Staff report (Rachel Myers)

7:50 Announcement of Meeting re: Coordinated Media/Orange County Open Space Campaign (Gordon LaBedz)

7:55 130 million for Bolsa Chica/Prop 50 (Paul Arms)

8:00 Editorial Board for resurrected Orange County Newsletter (Paul Arms)

8:05 Santa Ana Mountains TF (Paul Carlton)

8:10 Dana Point Headlands (Celia Kutcher)

8:20 Saddleback Canyons TF (Rich Gomez or Gloria Sefton)

8:30 OC Native American Sacred Sites TF (Rebecca Robles)

8:40 Hobo Aliso TF (Penny Elia)

8:50 Save Coyote Hills (Angela Lindstrom)

9:00 Banning Ranch Park & Preserve TF (Everette Phillips)

9:10 Friends of the Foothills (Bill Holmes or Brittany McKee)

9:20 Adjourn

       Next meeting is September 16

Return to Index

Conservation Committees Calendar

Return to Index

The deadline for submission for a grant application is close of business day on Friday, September 26.  To request an application form or handbook, contact Johanna Zetterberg at Johanna.Zetterberg@sierraclub.org or (213) 387-4287 ext. 204