Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Important Meetings
The Surfrider Foundation is very busy these day...and we need your help at two meetings next week!
On Monday June 1st, the California State Lands Commission is considering significant items related off shore oil-drilling in Santa Barbara and our Raise Above Plastics campaign.
Come out and voice your support!
At the meeting, we need people to testify in support of the following agenda items:
Agenda Item 69. This is a resolution that would support legislation to reduce litter and marine debris by imposing a fee on single-use carryout bags. We all know about the damage plastics are causing in our oceans. Go here: http://www.riseaboveplastics.blogspot.com/ to learn more information that will help you with your testimony.
Agenda Item 70. In January, the State Lands Commission denied an oil-drilling project in Santa Barbra and we need to make sure that decision is not overruled! Item 70 is a resolution opposing the Governor's Budget Revision to override the State Lands Commission denial of the PXP oil-drilling project. Help ensure the decision to protect Santa Barbra coastline is upheld. Go here: http://www.nottheanswer.org to gather more information for talking points during your testimony.
MEETING DETAILS: CALIFORNIA STATE LANDS COMMISSION
MEETING STARTS at 10:00am
City Of Santa Monica
City Hall Council Chambers Room 213, Second Floor
1685 Main Street Santa Monica, Ca 90401
We also need voices at the Marine Life Protection Act (MLPA) meeting on Thursday, June 4--in LA. The Blue Ribbon Taskforce is a panel of experts helping implement the MLPA by establishing a network of protected areas that will help restore our impaired ocean.
We need people to testify in support of marine protected areas! The State is on a timeline to implement the MLPA and it's critical that they hear from the public about how important marine protected areas are to you and you local community.
Go here to learn more about why marine protected areas are so important and what you can say at the MLPA at the meeting on June 4th. http://www.surfrider.org/policy_mpa.asp To learn more about MLPA go to: www.dfg.ca.gov/mlpa
MEETING DETAILS--MLPA, JUNE 4th
Public comment starts at approximately 9:40am
Where: Sheraton Gateway Los Angeles Hotel
6101 West Century Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA 90045
Over the summer we will also be hosting MLPA trainings where you can learn more about Surfrider's efforts and get trained on how you can be part of the MLPA process. There are upcoming MLPA meetings this summer and fall where we need your help! To learn more about MLPA and how you can get involved, contact Stefanie at: SSekich@Surfrider.org
On Monday June 1st, the California State Lands Commission is considering significant items related off shore oil-drilling in Santa Barbara and our Raise Above Plastics campaign.
Come out and voice your support!
At the meeting, we need people to testify in support of the following agenda items:
Agenda Item 69. This is a resolution that would support legislation to reduce litter and marine debris by imposing a fee on single-use carryout bags. We all know about the damage plastics are causing in our oceans. Go here: http://www.riseaboveplastics.blogspot.com/ to learn more information that will help you with your testimony.
Agenda Item 70. In January, the State Lands Commission denied an oil-drilling project in Santa Barbra and we need to make sure that decision is not overruled! Item 70 is a resolution opposing the Governor's Budget Revision to override the State Lands Commission denial of the PXP oil-drilling project. Help ensure the decision to protect Santa Barbra coastline is upheld. Go here: http://www.nottheanswer.org to gather more information for talking points during your testimony.
MEETING DETAILS: CALIFORNIA STATE LANDS COMMISSION
MEETING STARTS at 10:00am
City Of Santa Monica
City Hall Council Chambers Room 213, Second Floor
1685 Main Street Santa Monica, Ca 90401
We also need voices at the Marine Life Protection Act (MLPA) meeting on Thursday, June 4--in LA. The Blue Ribbon Taskforce is a panel of experts helping implement the MLPA by establishing a network of protected areas that will help restore our impaired ocean.
We need people to testify in support of marine protected areas! The State is on a timeline to implement the MLPA and it's critical that they hear from the public about how important marine protected areas are to you and you local community.
Go here to learn more about why marine protected areas are so important and what you can say at the MLPA at the meeting on June 4th. http://www.surfrider.org/policy_mpa.asp To learn more about MLPA go to: www.dfg.ca.gov/mlpa
MEETING DETAILS--MLPA, JUNE 4th
Public comment starts at approximately 9:40am
Where: Sheraton Gateway Los Angeles Hotel
6101 West Century Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA 90045
Over the summer we will also be hosting MLPA trainings where you can learn more about Surfrider's efforts and get trained on how you can be part of the MLPA process. There are upcoming MLPA meetings this summer and fall where we need your help! To learn more about MLPA and how you can get involved, contact Stefanie at: SSekich@Surfrider.org
Friday, May 15, 2009
California Coastal Commission Voting Chart for 2008 Released: Insight to Upcoming Appointments
Today marks the release of the 2008 California Coastal Commission Conservation Voting Chart, which measures the pro-conservation scores of the California Coastal Commission, the State’s most powerful land use agency, charged with the protecting our 1,100 mile coastline. The voting chart is produced by Sierra Club Coastal Programs, Surfrider Foundation, California Coastkeeper Alliance, Coastwalk California, Coastal Protection Network, and League for Coastal Protection, who teamed up to record, analyze and report on the most important coastal votes of 2008. The 31 votes in this year's chart involve significant coastal issues decided by the Commission during their twelve monthly meetings in 2008, including the denial of the proposed 241 toll road through San Onofre State Park, and approval of the largest desalination facility in North America. The voting chart is designed to illuminate individual Commissioners' voting records. In addition, the report illustrates the relative successes and failures of the appointments made by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, Senate Rules Committee led by Don Perata, and then Speaker of the Assembly Fabián Nuñez. The scoring information in the 2008 chart also sheds light on upcoming Commission appointments in 2009, including seats currently held by Commissioners Ben Hueso and Dave Potter.
"This year's chart reports on several critical coastal issues in California. Whereas the Commission did a wonderful job of analyzing and eventually denying the proposed toll road that would have jeopardized the Trestles surf spot, it is disconcerting that the Commission's overall conservation score has decreased," remarks Surfrider Foundation's Angela Howe. "It marks a clear and worrisome trend of declining protection for our coast, with the Commission's overall conservation score at a mere 38% in 2008, down from 44% last year and 60% in 2005."
"In these hard economic times, it is especially important that the Coastal Commission be encouraged to do all it can to protect one of the State's most important assets, the California coast. We believe these voting records will help the public understand how well Commissioners are performing," says League for Coastal Protection's Mel Nutter.
"Once again our analysis underscores the relative failure of Governor Schwarzenegger and his appointments to live up to their rhetoric regarding coastal protection, and the failure of Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez when it comes to coastal protection in the public interest," said Mark Massara of Sierra Club's Coastal Programs. "If not for the Senate Rules Committee appointments, developers and lobbyists would dictate coastal development and loss of resources and beach access in California."
A copy of the CCC Voting Chart is available by clicking here.
"This year's chart reports on several critical coastal issues in California. Whereas the Commission did a wonderful job of analyzing and eventually denying the proposed toll road that would have jeopardized the Trestles surf spot, it is disconcerting that the Commission's overall conservation score has decreased," remarks Surfrider Foundation's Angela Howe. "It marks a clear and worrisome trend of declining protection for our coast, with the Commission's overall conservation score at a mere 38% in 2008, down from 44% last year and 60% in 2005."
"In these hard economic times, it is especially important that the Coastal Commission be encouraged to do all it can to protect one of the State's most important assets, the California coast. We believe these voting records will help the public understand how well Commissioners are performing," says League for Coastal Protection's Mel Nutter.
"Once again our analysis underscores the relative failure of Governor Schwarzenegger and his appointments to live up to their rhetoric regarding coastal protection, and the failure of Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez when it comes to coastal protection in the public interest," said Mark Massara of Sierra Club's Coastal Programs. "If not for the Senate Rules Committee appointments, developers and lobbyists would dictate coastal development and loss of resources and beach access in California."
A copy of the CCC Voting Chart is available by clicking here.
Labels: CCC, Coasta Commissioner, Governor, Voting Chart
