Big turnout, plenty of elected officials at Angeles Chapter’s fundraiser for California Sierra Club PAC

From left, Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon, L.A. City Councilman Paul Koretz, Siera Club Executive Director Michael Brune, Rep. Lou Correa, with award, Rep. Brad Sherman, Angeles Chapter Chair Sharon Koch and Political Committee Co-Chair Frank Gruber at the Aug. 25 event.  Photo credit Erte DeGarces.

More than 100 Sierra Club members, elected officials and environmental activists gathered Aug. 25 on the banks of the Los Angeles River to raise awareness of the link between environment and social justice when it comes to the rivers of Southern California, and to raise money for the California Sierra Club PAC, funds that will be used to support candidates the Club endorses in state and local races in California.

The theme “A River for All” focused on equity and justice, and the inclusive values of the Sierra Club. The location was the former industrial building on the east bank of the Los Angeles River that landscape architect Mia Lehrer converted this year into the home of her firm, Studio-MLA. The keynote speech was delivered by none other than Michael Brune, executive director of the Sierra Club, who flew down from Club headquarters in Oakland for the event. He described the powerful role that the Club will play in this year’s elections, to bring the environment to the forefront of politics.

Honored at the event with Sierra Club awards for political leadership were five elected officials who have been champions for the environment: Congressmen Jimmy Gomez (34th District) and Lou Correa (46th District), California Assemblywoman Eloise Reyes (47th District), Los Angeles City Council Member Mitch O’Farrell, and Vice Mayor of Culver City, Meghan Sahli Wells. Lehrer, Fellow of the American Society of Landscape Architects, President of Studio-MLA, and the Lower Los Angeles River Working Group, were honored with Sierra Club L.A. River Equity Champion Awards for their work in planning for the restoration of the Los Angeles River.

Three members of Congress -- Correa, Chu, who presented the award to Gomez (which was accepted by his friend and President of River L.A., Omar Brownson), and Rep. Brad Sherman, who presented the award to Correa -- attended and spoke at the event.

Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon, left, and Culver City Vice Mayor Meghan Sahli-Wells.  Photo credit Erte DeGarces.

Members of the Assembly who were present, in addition to Reyes included California Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon (63rd District), who presented the Equity Champion Award to the Lower Los Angeles River Working Group, Laura Friedman (43rd District) and Miguel Santiago (53rd District), who presented the award to Reyes. Accepting the award on behalf of the Lower L.A. River Working Group was Mark Stanley, Executive Officer of the Rivers & Mountains Conservancy.

Mark Stanley, Executive Officer of the Rivers & Mountains Conservancy. Photo credit John Monsen.	The Equity Champion Award was presented to the Lower Los Angeles River Working Group.  Mark Stanley accepted the award on behalf of the 40 coalition partners involved.  Photo credit Lower LA River Working Group.

Friedman and L.A. City Council Member David Ryu presented the award to O’Farrell.  L.A. City Councilman Paul Koretz presented the award to Wells. L.A. Deputy Mayor Barbara Romero, acting on behalf of Mayor Eric Garcetti, Presented the Equity Champion Award to Lehrer and Studio-MLA.

State Senator Anthony Portantino (25th District) also attended, to show his support for the Sierra Club and his friends and colleagues receiving awards.

Rep. Judy Chu was an award presenter at the PAC fundraiser.  Photo credit Erte DeGarces.

All the presenters and awardees not only spoke eloquently of the environmental challenges that face us in these times, but also reminded us of the great successes leaders have had in the past.

The event was catered by Kitchen 12000, whcih featured ice cream sandwiches from Coolhaus, who served a customized flavor called “Cara Mia” to honor Mia Lehrer. Volunteers from the Angeles Chapter Political Committee, led by National Sierra Club Vice President Susana Reyes, and including an event committee of Sandra Cattell, Howard Strauss, Joan Holtz, Jason Islas, John Monsen, Marlene Esquivel, Betzabel Estudillo, Ann Doneen, Garen Yegparian, and Frank Gruber, along with Ray Hiemstra, Angeles Chapter Political Committee co-chair, organized and made arrangements for the event. They received invaluable assistance from George Watland, Angeles Chapter Executive Director, and the Chapter staff and volunteers. Sharon Koch, Chair of the Angeles Chapter Executive Committee, handed out the awards, and Frank Gruber, Co-Chair of the Political Committee, emceed.

The event could not have been such a success without the many sponsors who funded it. In particular, Bird Rides, Los Angeles City Council Member Paul Koretz, and Santa Monica City Councilwoman Sue Himmelrich were generous River Equity Advocates.

The event raised more than $30,000 for the PAC, which will go to support Club-endorsed candidates in the 2018 mid-term elections. Contributions to the PAC are still being accepted; go to https://angeles.sierraclub.org/political_action/donatePAC to contribute. 

Now all Club members need to get out and vote, and get all your friends and neighbors to vote!

Frank Gruber is co-chair of the Angeles Chapter's Political Committee.