Haven't made any New Year's resolutions? Try ours

by Mary Forgione
Southern Sierran Editor

The beginning of a new year is always a good time to reflect on the past and set goals for the future — and it’s not that hard. Here are some easy ways to start making a difference.

• Commit to green activism: Make this the year you set aside time to volunteer for one of the many campaigns sponsored by the Chapter.
• Commit to the Chapter: Make this the year you make a contribution to the Chapter that goes beyond the membership dues you paid long ago when you first joined the club.
• Commit to being active: Make this the year you sample some of the 6,000 activities and trips the Chapter sponsors each year, especially fundraising trips.

So what has the Chapter been doing lately? Here’s what we’ve been up to in 2011— and what we’ll continue to pursue in the new year.

The Santa Monica Mountains Task Force has been instrumental in blocking the Sweetwater Mesa Development in Malibu where U2 guitarist and international humanitarian The Edge wants to build a residential colony and access roads atop a pristine ridge line.

The Montebello Hills Task Force has intervened to protect the hills from a Texas oil company’s plans to build 1,200 homes on the last remaining large area of open space between the Los Angeles River and the Rio Hondo, a rare coastal sage scrub habitat that is home to the federally-threatened California gnatcatcher and red-tailed hawks that soar above.

The Banning Ranch Task Force continues to fight residential development on the 412 acres of wetlands and adjacent bluffs in Orange County, and to promote a permanent public open space, park, and coastal nature preserve that will improve air and water quality, and provide space for relaxation, education, and recreation.

The Coyote Hills Task Force is promoting a park and reserve with access for recreation and education, instead of the 760 residential units plus a commercial strip proposed by Chevron’s developer. This 510 acres is the largest remaining undeveloped wild land site in north Orange County with a host of rare and endangered species and threatened habitats.

The Santa Clarita Group Conservation Committee is working to curb the developments planned on Newhall Ranch to protect the last unpaved river in Los Angeles and preserve more of the remaining pieces of open space in the Santa Clarita Valley.

The Harbor Vision Task Force is rolling up its sleeves to take on several goods movement projects. First, wrapping-up the Clean Trucks program by gaining employee status for port truck drivers, a necessary step in locking in air pollution gains and uplifting workers’ neighborhoods. Next comes promoting greener alternatives to several freeway and rail yard expansion projects as they relate to movement of goods.

The South Bay Open Spaces Task Force is setting its sites on curbing hazards arising from the Palos Verdes Landfill. This toxic site is adjacent to homes and poses health and safety concerns to nearby communities.

And the Zero Waste Committee is striving to reduce waste going to landfills. Their tools include better recycling programs, reducing excess packaging and junk mail, and promoting longer-life products like reusable shopping bags. They are putting together a “Waste Watcher’s” selfaudit to help families and businesses kick the trash habit.

George Watland, Jennifer Robinson and Tom Politeo contributed to this story.