Southern Sierran
Newsletter of the Sierra Club Angeles Chapter
June 2020
Update from Sharon Koch, Chair of the Angeles Chapter
The multiracial, multigender, multigenerational protestors filling our streets and the highways and by-ways across the world offer a glimmer of hope that this time may truly lead to a path ending systemic racism. Some steps we can take:
FROM OUTRAGE TO JUSTICE:
by Michael Brune, Sierra Club Executive Director
By now, you’ve likely seen the video of Christian Cooper, a Black birder, being unjustly harassed by a white woman who was illegally walking her dog off leash in Central Park. Amy Cooper’s call to the police could have resulted in yet another death of an unarmed Black person at the hands of an officer -- just like George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and so many others before them.
What happened to Christian Cooper is part of a long, ugly history of racial exclusion in our parks and public spaces. Like water fountains and lunch counters, many national parks were once segregated. Black people have been killed for drifting into waters that were supposed to be for whites only. Just a few months ago, a Black person, Ahmaud Arbery, was killed for running in a neighborhood that his murderers seemed to believe was for whites only.
PROTECT LA COUNTY’S RESIDENTS HEALTH AND SAFETY -- NOT OIL INDUSTRY INTERESTS!
by the Clean Break Committee
With LA County is updating their oil and gas regs for the first time in over 40 years., but their first draft is highly problematic. Instead of the recommended 2,500' setback from homes, they only call for 500'.
Right now we have an opportunity to make our voices heard to protect our communities. Take action to urge county planners to create a better rule..
JONATHAN HOWARD HIRED AS COMMUNICATIONS COORDINATOR
The Sierra Club Angeles Chapter welcomes Jonathan Howard as the new Communications Coordinator on staff at the chapter office. He starts June 8th and will be focusing on communications, marketing, and media relations to help increase the capacity of the chapter.
Originally from White Plains, NY, Jonathan grew up exploring the trails of the Lower Hudson Valley. His mother and maternal-grandfather were both Geology majors at Bates College and instilled in him a great admiration for the outdoors. Jonathan received his bachelor's degree in Political Science from Occidental College.
As a digital specialist, he's helped clients enhance their marketing efforts and optimize their online presence. He loves finding creative ways to tell stories that boost campaign engagement using social media, email, and other online tools.
Continue Reading & Welcome Jon
COOKING WITH GAS HURTS YOUR WALLET AND YOUR HEALTH
By Mark Kresowik
You’re paying too much to cook with gas. You’re paying with your family’s health. Your gas bills are going to go up. And in some parts of the country, the gas industry is even charging you the cost of distributing their propaganda. It is time to switch to cleaner, cheaper, healthier, safer, and superior induction cooking.
I love cooking. My old roommates and I once ran an online cooking show (nice try, the link is long since vanished). My new roommates like “helping” me cook too, and it is because of them that we’re all-electric. They’re one and four years old, and we need a stove that delivers quality, healthy cooking as quickly as possible. We now have an induction stove: It is faster, more precise, comes with a much lower risk of accidents, and doesn’t poison our lungs.
WILDERNESS SKILLS USEFUL DURING THE PANDEMIC
by Angeles Chapter Members
We are all spending more time online and at home. We are learning how to hold video meetings instead of in person. We have been organizing online navigation trainings and organizing trainings. We have also been connecting with the outdoors in new ways.
We turned to Facebook to see how our members were doing with coping with the pandemic, and the responses have been delightful..
UPDATE FROM THE DIRECTOR'S DESK
by Morgan Goodwin, Senior Chapter Director
In this, the second edition of the Directors Desk update, I want to continue to share with you the most interesting bits of the job, give you a sense of what the Chapter is up to, and share a brief story about family and the mountains.
In my first two months on the job, I have spent a great deal of time on the phone and Zoom calls thinking about how we can do a better job protecting the planet. I wish that I could also be joining outings to connect with Sierra Club members on the trail. I find that conversations on the trail can be so rich.
RAMÓN CRUZ ELECTED FIRST LATINO PRESIDENT OF THE SIERRA CLUB
by the Sierra Club Media team
Ramón Cruz has been elected as the Sierra Club’s new president, becoming the first Latino to hold that position in the organization’s 128-year history. The Sierra Club’s National Board of Directors is democratically elected by the organization’s membership and serves its 3.8 million members and supporters.
“I’m honored to be elected president of the Sierra Club and excited to be the first Puerto Rican to hold that position,” said Cruz.
