By Sierra Club CA, on November 1st, 2011 SACRAMENTO – Most California Democratic legislators voted consistently to protect our air, water and wild places, while the vast majority of their Republican counterparts continued to be obstacles to environmental progress, Sierra Club California’s annual Legislative Report Card finds.
Sierra Club California tracked the votes of California’s Assemblymembers and Senators, recording each Earth-friendly vote as a positive score. From clean energy to water conservation to protecting state parks, the measures addressed many of California’s most urgent 2011 environmental priorities.
“Overall, . . . → Read More
By Kathryn Phillips, on September 20th, 2011 I’ve been thinking a lot about the endangered California desert tortoises and wondering what lessons they might reveal. These very private creatures have been making news lately even though their natural approach to attention is more in tune with Greta Garbo’s.
First there was the revelation that construction of the Ivanpah large-scale solar plant proposed in the Mojave Desert would wipe out nearly 550 juvenile tortoises. Then there was Governor Brown’s wink-wink quip to a Fresno audience that, by siding with large-scale solar development, he planned to take care of the tortoise. “We’re going to give it a lot of shade,” Brown said, according to press reports.
California desert tortoises have managed to adapt to some of the most brutal summer conditions on the continent and survive as a species for eons. Human activities ranging from off-road vehicles to mining and development have carved away their quiet home and their numbers have dwindled. Large-scale solar development, and a governor who seems bent on crushing environmental review, are just their latest challenges.
. . . → Read More
By Sierra Club CA, on July 22nd, 2011 The end of July finds the Capitol in a legislative lull with legislators away from Sacramento until August 15th. In most years past, legislators and the Governor spent the summer, and sometimes into the fall, haggling over numerous issues in order to pass a budget with a 2/3 majority vote. This year, however, was different. The Democrats used their new authority under Proposition 25, approved by the voters last year, to pass a state budget with a simple majority vote. . . . → Read More
By Sierra Club CA, on July 21st, 2011 Last session, the Legislature wrote a law to give a private developer complete immunity from a lawsuit filed by neighboring community members for a football stadium in the City of Industry. The wealthy developer claimed he needed to block the legal CEQA challenge from the local communities because he was going to get an NFL football team right away and build the stadium so there was no time for the suit to be heard. Sierra Club CA opposed it strongly on the substance and on the fact that it would set a terrible precedent and sending the message to the local community –“Don’t try to enforce your rights to weigh in on local land use decisions against deep pocket developers because they can hire lobbyists to get a “Get out of Court Free” law in Sacramento.” . . . → Read More
By Sierra Club CA, on July 18th, 2011  Take Action! This summer, the House of Representatives will consider legislation (H.R. 1837) that would overturn the Congressionally-approved Settlement to restore the San Joaquin River, radically undermine Endangered Species Act protections for salmon and other species in California’s Bay-Delta estuary, and preempt California law.
H.R. 1837 is designed to guarantee water deliveries to politically-connected agribusinesses at the expense of other farmers, salmon fishermen, the environment, and California’s water users. This legislation is opposed . . . → Read More
By Sierra Club CA, on June 24th, 2011 Leonardo DiCaprio, Yao Ming, Megan Fox, Flea, Edward Norton, Paul Rudd and many more celebrities have joined Sierra Club California in support of Assembly Bill 376, which would ban the sale of shark fins in California. The celebrities wrote a joint letter to the members of the California State Senate asking them to support shark conservation and end the sale of shark fins in California. Read the letter here.
Up to 73 million sharks per year are slaughtered . . . → Read More
By Sierra Club CA, on June 13th, 2011 Today, Sierra Club California is pleased to announce the release of the 2010 California Coastal Commission Conservation Voting Chart. This chart, entering its 23nd year, is a combined effort of various coastal environmental groups, and measures the pro-conservation scores of the Commission. The 2010 chart examines 21 separate votes, which were selected in consultation with coastal conservation activists, based on their likely impact on coastal resources and their potential to set statewide precedent.
“We are disappointed . . . → Read More
By Sierra Club CA, on June 1st, 2011 
By Bill Magavern
The California Environmental Quality Act, or CEQA, is the centerpiece of California’s economic democracy. Since 1970, when it was signed by Ronald Reagan, this law has given all citizens a voice in what happens in their communities, allowing them to take action to protect their health and local environments. CEQA makes sure that those who will be . . . → Read More
By Sierra Club CA, on May 16th, 2011 Re: Need to Re-Evaluate AB 32 Cap-and-Trade Rule
Dear Governor Brown:
Sierra Club California was an early and active supporter of the California Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006 (AB 32), and we have participated frequently in its implementation process. We also strongly opposed Proposition 23, which would have suspended the law and obstructed the development of our clean energy economy. We thank you for your strong commitment to clean energy, as . . . → Read More
By Sierra Club CA, on May 11th, 2011 Join us in Sacramento for our annual Lobby Day! Sunday and Monday August 28th and 29th Become part of a team that will help Sierra Club California pass our priority legislation during the most exciting and challenging time of the year at the State Capitol! You will have opportunities to interact with other activists and our professional lobbying staff, as well as with legislators and their staff. . . . → Read More
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Developers thumb up new bay lands policy amendments
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Bay area could become first region to plan for sea level rise in long-term development
(October 6, 2011)
BCDC approves amendment to the bay plan addressing sea level rise
(October 6, 2011)
California Watch: With drought long passed, will voters back pricey water bond?
(October 5, 2011)
KALW News: One man’s trash is Arthur Boone’s recycling
(October 3, 2011)
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