Quote of the Day

There are three kinds of people - those who can count and those who can't. — Yogi Berra

Sierra Club California Adopts Instant Runoff Voting

by Gordon LaBedz

The Sierra Club California Convention took place in the rolling hills of Livermore, just outside of Oakland. Representatives from California Chapters elected new executive committee members and started the process of changing the way Sierra Club voting is carried out. The delegates approved Instant Runoff Voting, the same process that will be used in San Francisco municipal elections. The convention adopted the procedure for a change in its bylaws.

Instant Runoff Voting is a process where, when there are many candidates, voters will rank their choice of candidate in order of preference. Each delegate only fills out and turns in a ballot once.

The elections committee receives all ballots, counts them, and determines the threshold number that will elect a candidate: {(number of ballots)/[(number of positions to be filled) + 1]} + 1. The elections committee then shuffles the ballots and pulls them out randomly, one at a time. Each ballot that is pulled out is placed in the pile of ballots that all have the same first choice candidate as it has. As soon as a pile contains the threshold number, the candidate listed first for that pile is declared a winner and no more ballots will be added to that pile.

Ballots continue to be drawn and winners are declared as appropriate. When all the ballots have been drawn, either all the winners have been determined, or some (or all) of the positions still need to be filled. In that case look for the smallest pile and redistribute the ballots for that losing candidate to other active piles. (If there is a tie for the losing candidate, select one losing candidate at random.) Each ballot to be redistributed goes to the first candidate on its list who has not yet won or lost.

If one or more candidates now have enough ballots, declare them winners, and as above, if more winners are needed, find a losing candidate with the smallest remaining pile, redistribute the ballots in that pile, and continue until all the positions have been filled.

There are a number of advantages to this system. One advantage of Instant Runoff Voting is that only one vote needs be taken. In the previous system, the vote needs to be repeated over and over until someone gets a majority. Another, perhaps more important advantage, is that Instant Runoff Voting will elect a more representative executive committee (or council) because second choice candidates are considered. For instance, if we used Instant Runoff Voting during the recent presidential election, most likely Nader voters would have chosen Gore as their second choice and Gore would have been elected.

The convention debated a proposed national policy that would require national Sierra Club approval of local opposition to a school or a hospital being built to serve a poor community. The convention overwhelmingly rejected the idea. The delegates felt that Chapters and Groups did not need National oversight.

Alan Carlton from San Francisco ran unopposed for chair. Re-elected to the California Executive Committee were former Sierra Club California Chair Julia Bott from San Mateo, Marge Macris from Marin County and Vicki Lee from Sacramento. Newly elected were former Sierra Club California and former Angeles Chapter Chair Bonnie Sharpe, and Roy van de Hoek, Chair of our Chapter’s Ballona Wetlands Task Force.

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Sierra Club Opposes Recall of Governor Davis

By Howard Strauss

The Sierra Club has officially taken a position opposed to the recall of Governor Gray Davis. The motion to oppose the recall effort was passed at the March CNRCC meeting. The wording of the motion that passed was: It is resolved that Sierra Club California opposes any effort to hold a gubernatorial recall election in 2003.

Background Information: If a recall election is held, the replacement election will be on the same ballot as the recall, with no primary or runoff. The turnout is likely to be dominated by those motivated by people who want to remove Davis, which is likely to bring a more conservative turnout than a general election. Democrats will have difficulty sending a clear message, because it will be hard to oppose recall and to campaign for a successor at the same time.

There would likely be multiple candidates, meaning that the vote for Davis' replacement will be fractured, with unpredictable results. One possibility: the candidates with name identification could include three Democrats and two Republicans. In that scenario, one of the Republicans would be the likely winner, and the more conservative of the two would have a good chance of being the one that came out ahead because the more moderate one would not pick up many Democratic crossover votes with three Democrats to choose from. An energetic campaign by a Green could divide the moderate to progressive vote even further.

In addition, even if Davis is recalled and a better candidate is elected in the same election, we are unlikely to burn any bridges with the eventual winner by opposing a recall at this point, unless the eventual winner is someone we can't stand anyway. At this point the heart of the recall movement is the grass roots conservative wing of the Republican Party (as distinguished from either the moderates or the conservatives favoring a more professional party organization; even Assembly minority leader Dave Cox opposes the recall).

Also, should a recall succeed, the candidate with the most votes wins so we would likely have a right winger with only a plurality. Instead of a clean slate in 2004 we would face a conservative with the advantages of incumbency. Should a recall succeed the Republicans would have momentum going into 2004—bad for Boxer and the Presidential election. Also the top tier of Democrats likely to run in 2006 are unlikely to challenge Davis. So we lose the excellent field we would have had in 2006 and the open seat.

It should be pointed out that among his major accomplishments on the environmental front are the fact that Davis called a special session of the legislature to protect the Coastal Commission and signed the bill strengthening it, promptly. Also, he signed the Pavley Bill and made a big deal about it calling on other states to follow suit.

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Underground Water Storage May Alter Ground-Water Quality

As alternative approaches to increasing water supply and availability in southern California, such as injecting and storing treated water underground are explored, water managers need to be aware of potential impacts on water quality, according to a new study by the US Geological Survey (USGS).

The USGS study of a test site in the Antelope Valley of southern California, near Lancaster, found that when treated surface water was used to recharge the aquifer, by-products of the water disinfection process accumulated in the aquifer. These by products include trihalomethanes (THMs), which have been listed as carcinogenic by US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

"Injection, storage, and recovery projects that integrate surface-water and ground-water supplies are rapidly becoming important parts of California's water-supply system," said USGS scientist Miranda Fram, lead author of the study, "However, this study demonstrates that these projects may alter ground-water quality, and thus, potentially may affect the future usability of the water for some purposes."

The USGS study, in cooperation with the Los Angeles County Department of Public Works and the Antelope Valley-East Kern Water Agency, examined the water quality effects of an injection, storage, and recovery test cycle, with a particular emphasis on the formation and fate of THMs.

The study found that THMs continued to form in the aquifer until the residual disinfectant (chlorine) present in the injected surface water was used up, and that bacteria in the aquifer would not consume significant amounts of THMs. Multiple lines of evidence indicated that THM concentrations in the water extracted from the aquifer decreased with time because the injected water was mixed with the native ground water in the aquifer. Because of this mixing, it was not possible to recover all the THMs in the aquifer.

"Consequently," said Fram, "repeated injection, storage, and recovery cycles in Antelope Valley aquifers would alter ground water quality in the aquifer. The accumulation of THMs could be minimized by removal of the residual chlorine in the water before injection, or by modification of the extraction program."

The US Geological Survey report, "Processes Affecting the Trihalomethane Concentrations Associated with the Third Injection, Storage, and Recovery Test at Lancaster, Antelope Valley, California, March 1998 through April 1999" by Miranda S. Fram, Brian A. Bergamaschi, Kelly D. Goodwin, Roger Fujii, and Jordan F. Clark, can be found on the Internet at: http://water.usgs.gov/pubs/wri/wri034062/

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McInnis Bill (HR 1904) Passed in House

Senate Likely to Act in June

The US House of Representatives approved the so-called "Healthy Forests and Restoration Act of 2003," (HR1904) on Tuesday, May 20, 2003. The bill passed on a 256-170 vote, with 42 Democrats voting for final passage and 12 Republicans voting against final passage. The so-called "Healthy Forests and Restoration Act" does nothing to protect communities from fire, guts the National Environmental Policy Act, repeals the 1993 Appeals Reform Act, rigs the courts to rule in favor of the agencies for all hazardous fuels reduction projects, allows 1,000 acre insect projects anywhere to be categorically excluded from environmental review, and provides $125 million in additional subsides to the biomass industry.

The House also rejected a democratic substitute on a 239-184 vote, offered by Representatives Miller (D-CA), DeFazio (D-OR), and Rahall (D-WV). The democratic substitute included provisions that would have required the BLM and Forest Service to spend 85% of hazardous fuels reduction funds and complete projects directly within ½ mile of communities. Projects within the one-half mile directly around communities would be categorically excluded, barring extraordinary circumstances, from the provisions of the National Environmental Policy Act. Due to the fact that over 85% of lands within the community protection zone are on State, Tribal and private lands, the democratic substitute would have provided funds directly to States, Tribes, and homeowners. The substitute would have also prohibited hazardous fuels reduction work in wilderness, roadless areas, threatened and endangered species habitat, and barred both temporary and permanent road building for all hazardous fuels reduction projects. Finally, the democratic substitute would have eliminated the dangerous "goods for services" contracting mechanism where logging companies are paid with public land trees for logging our National Forests.

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Cell Phone Recycling

What did you do with your old cell phone? Is it just clogging up your junk drawer? Well, the Sierra Club has teamed up with Staples and CollectiveGood, a socially responsible mobile electronics recycling company, for a solution. The new program makes recycling easy: simply drop off used cell phones, PDAs and pagers, as well as chargers, in collection tubes conveniently located near the cell phone displays in every Staples store nationwide.

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Arctic National Wildlife Refuge Seasons Featured in New Book

In March, a fabulous new book documenting the four seasons in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge was published by Mountaineers Books in Seattle. Since then, the book and its author have been embroiled in a controversy involving the US Senate, the Smithsonian, Senator Ted Stevens, Senators Barbara Boxer and Maria Cantwell, and numerous news stories. Subhankar Banerjee is touring on his book tour throughout the US, showing slides from his book and discussing his experiences, both wild in the Arctic and wild, in a different sense, since the release of his book and his exhibit at the Smithsonian. Also included is a syndicated column from Froma Harrop, the latest piece on the controversy.

Richly described by the LA Times in a May 2 editorial, Banerjee's Seasons of Life and Land  features images "in the tradition of landscape photographers Ansel Adams and Eliot Porter." The book also includes essays from President Jimmy Carter, Peter Matthiessen, George Schaller, Fran Mauer, David Allen Sibley, William Meadows, Debbie Miller and Terry Tempest Williams.

Please help us to publicize the events in your area. The book's release comes at a time of great importance in the debate over our nation's energy policy, including global warming, and protection of the Arctic Refuge.

This is the blurb from Mountaineers Books regarding the event: A desire to photograph polar bears in the wild led Subhankar Banerjee, native of India and a former Boeing scientist, to the open ranges of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Once there he fell passionately in love with the land, the wildlife, and the native people who depend on this ecosystem for their survival. He spent 14 months in the field, traveling 3000 miles in all four seasons with his Inupiat Indian guide, Robert Thompson.

Banerjee's mission: to prove that the refuge teems with life even in the depths of subzero winter, and to show how this special place is closely connected to us all. His work, the first to document the refuge year-round, proves what is at stake in the debate over opening the refuge for oil exploration.

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San Gabriel River Gateway Project Receives MWD Grant

The MWD website, www.mwdh2o.com , contains a paragraph about each of the eleven "City Makeover Program Winners" being funded by MWD as demonstration projects of native vegetation plantings which are designed to help conserve water.

One of programs being partially funded with a $75,000 grant is the "San Gabriel River and Angeles National Forest Gateway Interpretative Center", which has an estimated total cost of $1,399,500.

For a brief summary of the project, click on "City Makeover Program Winners" on MWD's home page (look halfway down the page just under the heading "Water in the News").

MWD kicked off this concept of promoting native plants as a means of saving water with a media splash featuring actress Rene Russo last summer; two "Natural Heritage Seminars" have been conducted since then, and MWD is supporting the program with publicity and funding.

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New Club Officers

During the May Board meeting, the new members were seated and the following officers were selected:

    President — Larry Fahn

    Vice President — Chuck McGrady

    Secretary — Ed Dobson

    Treasurer — Jan O'Connell

    Fifth ExComm Member — Jim Catlin

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California Watchable Wildlife Guide Online

The National Marine Sanctuary Program announces the online release of Responsibly Watching California's Marine Wildlife: Handbook for Ocean Users.

The handbook, a collaboration between the NMSP and NOAA’s Fisheries, was

first introduced during a California Marine Wildlife Viewing Workshop held on February 27th, 2003. Through this and future workshops, the sanctuary program hopes to develop a refined wildlife viewing handbook for California and eventually a comprehensive marine wildlife viewing program for all of the sanctuaries.

Please use the following link to obtain the very first NMSP wildlife viewing handbook for California.

    Michael Murphy, Public Outreach Specialist,
    NOAA National Marine Sanctuary Program

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CNRCC Forest Committee Agenda

Saturday, June 14, 2003

Angeles Chapter Office, 3435 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 320, Los Angeles

9:00 AM Introductions, Announcements, Minutes

    A. RCC Meeting - Fred & John

    B. Meeting with Ron Pugh, May 7 - John, Joyce, Tim & Monica

    C. Outreach Plan for Forest Plan Revisions - John [This discussion will continue after lunch if needed.]

10 AM Committee Guest - Cleveland NF Supervisor, Anne Fege

12:00 PM Lunch — Please either bring a sack lunch or make a quick trip to a local take-out restaurant.

                           The SoCal Forests Committee will provide dessert.

1:00 PM California Wild Heritage Campaign - Tim & Geoff

1:30 PM Mountain Summit/San Bernardino NF - Tim

2:OO PM Forest Reports

    A. San Bernardino NF - Peter, Tom, Joyce

    B. Angeles NF - John, Fred, Robin, Don

    C. Cleveland NF - Geoff, Paul, Gene

    D. Los Padres NF - Alan, Al

3:00 PM Adjourn

Our next meeting is September 13. Please bring along your calendars so we can schedule our December meeting.

Questions for Cleveland NF Supervisor Anne Fege

1. What are some of the key problems facing the managers of the Cleveland National Forests today?

2. Can the Forest Service get involved in legislative land trades? Are Forest Rangers restricted to what is recommended in the land and resource management plans or can they suggest anything they would like?

3. What is your current position on the proposed highway through or under the Cleveland NF between Riverside and Orange Counties?

4. Could you please comment upon the current FS position on the LEAPS and associated 500 KV transmission line along the eastern edge of the Trabuco District.

5. Is the FS getting any funds from the federal Land & Water Conservation Fund for purchase of inholdings in the Forest in 2003? If so, what is your priority of purchases? An update on the private inholdings in the NW corner of the Trabuco District which TPL has brought or is trying to purchase would be appreciated. Can the FS use the purchase of "conservation easements" in appropriate inholdings? The Cienega Portrero area comes to mind.

6. The proposed legislation on the Santa Ana River Conservancy could include a small portion of the Trabuco Ranger District. Is there a FS position on this inclusion? It has also been suggested that the entire Trabuco District (Santa Ana Mountain Range) be included as this could provide funds for the purchase of inholdings, trail maintenance, etc. from funds such as Proposition 50. What is the FS position on this idea?

7. The Bush administration has announced a policy of privatizing the Forest Service [A-76 process]. What extent is this affecting the Cleveland NF?

8. The development of Santa Margarita, Cota de Caza, Las Flores, Mission Viego, Ladera, eastern San Juan Capistrano, and inland San Clemente has removed a tremendous amount of wild grassland acreage necessary for the survival of wildlife. Can the FS influence the NCCP process currently underway?

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Critical Habitat for Endangered Species to be Dropped

The Bush Administration is set to jeopardize the fate of endangered species by announcing that designation of critical habitat has no value and should be avoided. The announcement from the Administration contradicts the best available science, including the most recent data from the Fish and Wildlife Service, and violates the Endangered Species Act.

But the US Fish and Wildlife Service is running out of money to preserve areas necessary for the survival and recovery of endangered species and the Bush administration has refused to fight for proper funding. By limiting the designation of critical habitat, the Bush Administration will make it easier to obtain approval for commercial logging projects, commercial developments, livestock ranch operations, pollution discharges and other activities that threaten America's communities and natural heritage.

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Pew Oceans Commission Report on the State of America's Living Oceans

Order your copy of the Pew Oceans Report at http://www.pewoceans.org/. On June 4, the Pew Oceans Commission released its report on the state of America's living oceans, the first comprehensive review of US ocean policy (or lack thereof) in more than 30 years. This landmark report provides recommendations for restoring and protecting ocean ecosystems, rebuilding fish populations, controlling coastal development, curbing pollution, and improving ocean governance.

    Mark Massara, California Coastwatcher, May 2003

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Nature Conservancy Scandal

Do you know the richest environmental organization? For everything you ever wanted to know about the $3 billion dollar Nature Conservancy land bank, check out the multi-part series in the Washington Post at

    http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/nation/specials/natureconservancy/.

In one extremely twisted case, Mobil Oil Company gave Nature Conservancy 2300-acres near Houston, Texas as a last ditch attempt to save a highly endangered bird, the Attwater's Prairie Chicken. At the time that Mobil stopped drilling and donated the land, in 1995, there were just 36 chickens left. In what became a colossal folly, Nature Conservancy decided to become oil producers themselves in 1999, and today just 16 chickens hover near extinction. Worse, NC's oil drilling enterprise ended up violating third party mineral rights and they ultimately lost a $10 million dollar lawsuit.

    Mark Massara, California Coastwatcher, May 2003

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Crystal Cove/El Moro Canyon Inholdings

And just when you thought you'd be going to the beach at El Moro Canyon and Crystal Cove State Park, after assurances on May 1, 2003 from State Parks that trailer inholders were going to be removed and the long fought over public campgrounds would be established and opened by 2005...comes a proposal from members of the Laguna Beach City Council to support wealthy trailer owners in pursuit of 30-year leases that would prevent the public from using the spectacular Orange County beach for another 3 decades! To find out more about efforts to wrestle Crystal Cove State Beach from the El Morro luxury trailer owners, go to www.yourbeach.org.

  Mark Massara, California Coastwatcher, May 2003

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Foothills South Toll Road

For more information on Orange County beaches, check out http://www.friendsofthefoothills.org/, which tracks the nightmare proposal to build a giant toll road freeway through Orange County's premiere open foothills to the beach at San Onofre. Thousands of people have been fighting the project since it's inception, not that Orange County politicians care. Instead, the sheer size of their proposed giveaway to developers seems to be the key to the project's now almost certain failure. Called Foothills South Toll Road, the project is seen by road builders as a companion to the monumentally disgusting San Joaquin Hills Toll Road (Hwy #73). Except that as of last week, yet another Wall Street bond ratings service joined others in proclaiming the project's bonds "junk" i.e. the project is a complete loser. The existing toll road, which owes nearly $2 billion in bond debt, is lagging 73% off of projected revenues, making it one of the worst economic ventures in all of California. For the latest information, and what you can do to protect the south coast and fight dumb road ideas, check out the website.

    Mark Massara, California Coastwatcher, May 2003

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Newhall Ranch Development Approved

Los Angeles County has approved "the largest residential development in county history," the Newhall Ranch project, expected to turn "what is now a picturesque, rural river valley 30 miles north of downtown Los Angeles" into a nearly 21,000 home suburb says the LA Times 5/28. The last obstacle to the project is a lawsuit which charges the development is environmentally unsound, destroying open space and habitat for the Southwestern arroyo toad and San Fernando Valley spineflower near the ecologically sensitive Santa Clara River.

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National Forests at Greatest Risk

WASHINGTON —A nationwide coalition of environmental groups released a new report that identifies the national forests at greatest risk from logging and documents the Bush Administration's attempts to eliminate public oversight of environmental laws. Greenpeace and the National Forest Protection Alliance (NFPA) released Endangered Forests, Endangered Freedoms in response to the Administration's unprecedented attacks on America's national forests. Pulitzer Prize-winning author, Dr. E.O. Wilson of Harvard University joined the groups to call for an end to logging in these national treasures.

"Scientists have reached a deeper understanding of the value of the National Forest System that needs to be kept front and center," said Dr. Wilson. "They represent a public trust too valuable to be managed as tree farms for the production of pulp, paper and lumber. The time has come to free national forests from political partisanship, and to use their treasures to benefit all Americans."

Forests were selected based on several criteria, including water quality, road construction, the presence of endangered and threatened species, timber sale volume and economics, and the percentage of remaining old-growth and roadless areas. Chosen as the 10 most endangered forests were Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest (Ariz.), Bitterroot National Forest (Mont.), Black Hills National Forest (S.D.), Chequemegan-Nicolet National Forest (Wis.), George Washington-Jefferson National Forest (Va.), Kootenai National Forest (Mont.), Mississippi's National Forests (Miss.), Plumas National Forest (Calif.), Tongass National Forest (Alaska), and Umpqua National Forest (Ore.)

"Endangered Forests, Endangered Freedoms provides the American public with a detailed and scientific account of the current ecological state of the National Forest system," said Jake Kreilick, Project Coordinator of NFPA. "By citing direct evidence of environmental damage in 10 particularly endangered forests, it paints a grim picture of the Bush Administration's mismanagement of our precious public lands."

The report lists specific actions taken by the Bush Administration to achieve its pro-logging agenda, namely: (1) limiting the public's right to participate in decisions affecting their public lands; (2) using stealthy administrative rule changes to undermine fundamental environmental laws, such as the National Environmental Policy Act and the National Forest Management Act; (3) using the threat of wildfires to give timbers companies access to remote intact forests for logging; (4) dismantling rules that protect forests from roadbuilding and commercial development; and turning over large tracts of National Forest land to logging companies under the guise of "Stewardship Contracting."

"This fight is not just about saving trees," said John Passacantando, Executive Director of Greenpeace. "We are fighting for the principle that some places in this country are so special that they belong to all Americans. And we are fighting for the right of the people to have a say in the future of those places."

The report also gave special mention to Allegheny National Forest (Pa.), the Medford Bureau of Land Management District (Ore.) and Sequoia National Forest (Calif.). Nine other forests were listed as "threatened:" Cherokee National Forest (Tenn.), Clearwater National Forest (Idaho), Idaho Panhandle National Forest (Idaho), Kaibab National Forest (Ariz.), Mount Hood National Forest (Ore.), Monongahela National Forest (W.Va), Ottawa National Forest (Mich.), Ouachita National Forest (Ark./Okla.) and Sumter National Forest (S.C.). Speakers at the press conference highlighted an alternative to Bush's logging plans, the National Forest Protection and Restoration Act (HR 2169), which would end the costly practice of taxpayer-subsidized logging in national forests while providing true relief to areas threatened by wildfire. Rep. Leach, a longtime advocate for protecting the nation's natural heritage, is the primary sponsor of the bill, which has gained the bipartisan support of 90 co-sponsors so far.

In a statement read at the press conference, Rep. Leach said, "These are the nations' forests, enjoyed by, but also entrusted to, all of us. Common sense dictates that fragile federal land should be appropriately protected by federal laws, but this report argues that we are moving in the opposite direction. If we are to redeem the future of our public lands, we must protect what remains of our national forests."

The National Forest Protection Alliance, which includes Greenpeace, is a coalition of 120 grassroots conservation groups from all over the US committed to ending the commercial exploitation of federal public lands, beginning with the federal timber sale program. The report's release coincides with National Forest Protection Lobby Week, in which activists from all over the country have come to Washington DC to pressure Congress to protect and restore our national forests. In late June, NFPA and Greenpeace will be holding an "action camp" in Montana, a week-long training on nonviolent tactics and methods of protecting America's endangered forests.

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San Clemente Beach Trail

by Stephanie Dorey

Groups and Organizations Need to Write Letters of Support for our Beach Trail in San Clemente

We are in the process of  getting letters written to the CPUC, in support of San Clemente's Proposed Beach Trail. This has been a long and interesting process. It is unique in that this particular trail is the result of an outpouring of opposition from the community (DeRail the Trail) because the original project was not compatable with the character and feel of San Clemente's Beach and was environmentally damaging to the coast.

Once the original trail was officially DOA "dead",  those very people fighting the original trail teamed up with the city staff to come up with a solution that worked for all. The final result is a plan for a SAFE, more natural beach trail, and one that does not harm the environment.

Currently and historically, people must cross over the tracks to access the beach, in many places where there are no under or overpasses. Then they have to climb down boulders (rip rap) with beach chairs, surfboards, children, etc. in hand. Sometimes, at high tide, there is no beach on the other side, due to erosion. This erosion has been exacerbated by the seawalls (rip-rap revetment) placed there to protect the railroad tracks.

Additionally, using the natural path that runs alongside the track is sometimes problematic due to poor drainage and migrating ballast, so people have been forced to walk ON the tracks.

This beach trail project addresses the safety issues of both in a "less is more" way. Natural vegetation, or split rail barriers, rather than steel mesh fencing; decomposed granite path, rather than asphalt; etc.

Our staff and the community oversight committee are continuing to advocate for "less is more", when dealing with each rail entity.

The battle that lies ahead is with the CPUC. Fencing and noise pollution (horn blasting at every at-grade Xing) are things we are still dealing with. We are asking for this to be declared a Quiet Zone (after all it is a BEACH, not a highway!)

OCTA has been very helpful and supportive, even giving the city a 20 year lease on the right-of-way. This is an unprecedented move.

Please write a letter of support for our community based Beach Trail, asap. Send to Jim Pechous. 

Jim Pechous, Senior Planner
910 Calle Negocio, Suite 100
San Clemente, CA 92763
Phone: (949) 361-6195
Pechousj@san-clemente.org
Fax: (949) 366-4750

Thank you for your help.

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Streisand Sues Environmental Air Force

By Ken Adelman

I haven't had a chance to mention it, but in case you hadn't heard in the mainstream press yet, Barbra Streisand is suing me, our ISP, and Pictopia over the photo we took that includes her house. For more information, visit http://www.californiacoastline.org/ .

Here is our press release:

Barbra Streisand Sues to Suppress Free Speech Protection for Widely Acclaimed Website: www.Californiacoastline.org

Seeks Special Treatment to Remove Photo of Malibu Coastline That Includes Her Blufftop Mansion

Barbra Streisand, known for espousing pro-environmental views and criticizing those who don't, has sued the California Coastal Records Project, a landmark photographic database of over 12,000 frames of the California coast shot since 2002, asserting that the inclusion of a single frame that includes her blufftop Malibu estate invades her privacy, violates the "anti-paparazzi" statute, seeks to profit from her name, and threatens her security. Other defendants in the case are the Project's Internet Service Provider, Layer42.NET, and Pictopia.COM, who provides finished prints of the photographs. Streisand, whose address is easily accessible on any search engine web site and whose numerous estates, including her current Malibu residence, have been featured on numerous web sites that contain similar aerial shots of her estate, interior shots with James Brolin, and links to detailed driving instructions to her Malibu address, filed suit in LA Superior Court on May 20, 2003. In contrast to such other web sites, the www.Californiacoastline.org web site contains just one aerial shot, of which a small portion contains her blufftop estate and does not include the address of Streisand's estate, interior shots of the home, or driving instructions nor is the site or photo linked to web inquiries associated with the Streisand name.

The California Coastal Records Project is the brainchild of successful Silicon Valley entrepreneurs and retired dot-com millionaires Ken and Gabrielle Adelman. The Adelmans self-funded this massive and historic database of the California Coast and used their personal helicopter and the latest computer and photographic equipment to take the photos. Gabrielle pilots the helicopter while Ken leans out the side, camera in hand, taking shots roughly every three seconds. The photos are then made available to the public on www.Californiacoastline.org. The Adelmans are committed environmentalists and strong supporters of solar energy and electric vehicles. Their home is powered by the largest residential solar energy system in California and they own four electric vehicles. Within the environmental community, they are best known for their lawsuit against PG&E when PG&E refused to let them use their solar system during the energy crisis.

The Adelmans do not profit from the web site. Their single goal is to advance the cause of coastal protection by enabling the public to access "truth in pictures." The public is entitled to download pictures from the site for free. Pictures are also available for purchase, but any revenues derived from purchases of the photographs are donated to a nonprofit that is dedicated to protecting the California coast. The site has been hailed by Paul Hawken, a California-based tech entrepreneur and author of business and ecology books as a "breakthrough that will remake government planning." So far, numerous federal, state and local agencies and scientists have received permission to use the photos in their reports and scientific research, including National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), United States Geological Service (USGS), National Park Service (NPS), California Department of Conservation, California State Lands Commission, California Coastal Conservancy and others.

Streisand's actions have been met with disbelief by committed coastal activists. "It is inconceivable to me that someone who proclaims herself an environmentalist would threaten to dismantle one of the greatest high tech projects to protect the California coast in all time just because they chose to place their backyard on a coastal bluff," said Mark Massara of the Sierra Club's Coastal Program. "At some point, someone needs to sit her down and tell her the public interest is at stake here."

Streisand, who is in the process of doing extensive development on her blufftop estate may have been responding to pressure from local government officials and private property rights activists in Malibu who bristle at having to comply with the regulations that govern development along the coast of California and who object to the web site on the grounds that it would allow people to document their numerous violations. Streisand isn't alone in her concerns about the web site; the Pacific Legal Foundation's Harold Johnson said that he has received calls from oceanfront homeowners about pictures of their property on the web site complaining that the pictures invade their privacy. One resident, who is reported to have violations on her property, even downloaded pictures from the web site and mailed them to high profile Malibu residents insinuating that "big brother was watching them" in an attempt to round up support for closing down the web site. The Adelmans are considering a lawsuit based on copyright infringement and slander against this individual and others. The Adelmans refuse to be intimidated by the tactics of Streisand, whom they now view as attempting to undermine the constitutional protection of free speech and the voter-approved Coastal Act of 1976. "We are profoundly disappointed that Ms. Streisand chose to attack such an important public resource over one out of 12,000 images of the California Coast," said Ken Adelman. "Streisand moved to the California Coast because of its beauty, and now she seeks to deny the public the right to see the same coast that she enjoys."

"The California Coastal Records Project is a labor of love," said Gabrielle Adelman. "As pilots, Ken and I get a bird's eye view of the continuing environmental degradation that threatens the California coast. There used to be salmon runs on the Pajaro, abundant condors and pristine beaches anyone could walk on. Now we have irrigation ditches, channelized rivers, seawalls, sand starved beaches strewn with garbage and arrogant wealthy homeowners trying to claim that the Pacific coast belongs to them alone. Our web site documents what exists now, and unless we fight everyday to protect it, the degradation will only get worse."

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Banning Ranch Park & Preserve

Monday, June 9, 7 pm — Banning Ranch Park & Preserve (BRPP) TF Alert! The General Plan Advisory Committee (GPAC) will meet in the Police Auditorium at 870 Santa Barbara Drive (off Jamboree) in Newport Beach to discuss the Local Coastal Plan (LCP). The LCP will dictate the future of Banning Ranch. It is very important that supporters of open space at Banning Ranch attend this meeting to urge that the final version of the LCP ensure that Banning Ranch remain as open space for perpetuity. BRPP TF has attended many of these GPAC meetings in the past and have had great success in pushing the idea of preserving the entire Banning Ranch as a viable alternative to large scale development. We must insist that the final LCP include specific protection for all Environmentally Sensitive Habitat Areas (ESHAs) on Banning Ranch and not "leave these matters to be dealt with by the developer." WE NEED A STRONG SHOWING FROM THE LOCAL COMMUNITY TO SPEAK FOR PRESERVING BANNING RANCH! PLEASE ATTEND THIS MEETING AND SPEAK (at the public comment period towards the end of the meeting) IN SUPPORT OF PRESERVING BANNING RANCH — Contact Terry Welsh (949) 548-5636.

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Surfrider Water Quality Meeting

Wednesday, June 11, 7:30 pm
Surfrider Water Quality Meeting: Water Quality Test Results are here!

Surfrider Foundation, San Clemente Chapter, is proud to feature Lisa Kerr’s class from San Clemente High School, June 11, 2003 at 7:30, San Clemente Community Center on the corner of Seville/Del Mar. The students will be presenting water quality test results they have gathered throughout the school year and discussing what they have learned by going out and testing the water first hand. Don’t miss the opportunity to hear about the quality of our ocean from students who actually know! Mark your calendars for June 11, 2003 at 7:30 and bring your questions!

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An Afternoon Reception Benefiting Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez

Sunday, June 29, 5 pm - 7 pm

The Sierra Club has been asked to be a financial sponsor of Loretta's off-year fund raising event. We have already lined up 15 individual donors who are willing to contribute $50 each, or $750 from our local members thus far, enough to send three people to this $250 per person event. Thanks to everyone who has pledged funds. Loretta has a 100 percent voting score on environmental issues. We need to keep the door open to Loretta Sanchez re: toll road, road through Cleveland, DoD exemptions, wilderness, and forests. Let Gail Prothero know if you would like to contribute.

Here is the donor list so far: Gail Prothero, Bill Corcoran, Alex Mintzer, Mike Sappingfield, Ed Schlegel, Paul Carlton, Bruce Boydston, Chuck Buck, Cathleen Brannon, Bruce Hemphill, John Kaiser, Bill Holmes, Rebecca Robles, Karl Warkomski, Teresa Sears. Each gave $50 for a total of $750.

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Reception for the California Coastal Commission and Their Staff

Thursday, August 7, 6-9 pm — Sierra Sage and other Orange County environmental groups are sponsoring a reception for the California Coastal Commission and their staff at the Hyatt Hotel Lighthouse Courtyard in Huntington Beach. Food will be catered by the Hyatt. Cost: $35 per individual. RSVP to Dennis Baker, bakerdj@mindspring.com

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Sustainable Food Festival

Sunday, September 21, 1 pm to 5 pm

Please join Sierra Sage and Farmer George Kibby for our fabulous fall fund raiser at the beautiful South Coast Farms, Organic Farm and Farmstand, in San Juan Capistrano. Step into a simpler time and enjoy Orange County’s rural heritage while dining al fresco at the picturesque 28 acre organic farm. Treat your palate to the wonderful delights of delicious fresh organic vegetables grown on the farm and roasted on the grill by farmer George Kibby. We will feast on a gourmet vegetarian meal prepared especially for the occasion by chef Mark Cleavland of Laguna Culinary Arts while enjoying a wonderful view of the historic farm at its colorful fall best with bright orange pumpkins, sweet white corn, and 60 varieties of multi-colored purple, black, pink, striped and vine-ripened red heirloom tomatoes. Our remembrance of things past will be accompanied by beautiful live music. The fall festivities will include a delicious heirloom tomato tasting. Farmer George will lead guests on a narrated farm tour to learn about the beauty of organic farming and the connection between a farm, a farmer and your food. The farm tour will include a stop by the historic 1877 Joel Congdon House, the oldest wooden structure in San Juan Capistrano. Dr Gordon LaBedz will round out our Sustainable Food Festival by discussing the wonderful health and environmental benefits of eating sustainable foods.

The price of admission to the Sustainable Food Festival is $25.00 per adult and $12.50 per child twelve and under. A food ticket with directions to the organic farm will be sent to guests on receipt of their check. Advance reservations can be made by sending your check, made out to "Sierra Sage", to Gail Prothero at 29302 Sandalwood Court, San Juan Capistrano CA 92675. Please enclose a stamped and self-addressed envelope. Call Gail Prothero with any questions at (949)347-1255 or e-mail gprothero@cox.net. Proceeds from the Sustainable Food Festival will benefit the Sierra Club’s Orange County conservation and political programs. To learn more about the South Coast Farms Organic Farm and Farmstand, check out the website at www.southcoastfarms.com .

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Environmental Resolutions Passed (6/1/2003)

Opposition to National Guidelines for Environmental Justice Projects

The Chapter Executive Committee opposes the National guidelines on schools/hospitals/etc. Our Chapter should advise the National Board that all environmental decisions be the jurisdiction of the local Chapter or Group unless there is an obvious break with existing Sierra Club policy. We further recommend that the National Legal Committee restrict judgments to legal matters only. If the Legal Committee has political issues, they must consult the local elected Sierra Club leadership.

Emergency Grant Request for Table at MacArther Park Community Event

The Executive Committee authorizes $100 for an outreach table at a MacArthur Park Community Event. These funds will be short-term funds.

Banning Ranch Task Force  Foundation Account

The Angeles Chapter requests that the Sierra Club Foundation establish an account for the Banning Ranch Task Force. The purpose of the account is to allow the Banning Ranch Task Force to deposit 501(c )(3) eligible contributions. Upon termination of the Task Force, all remaining funds revert to Angeles Chapter accounts at the Sierra Club Foundations.

Airport Marina Group Foundation Account

The Angeles Chapter requests that the Sierra Club Foundation establish an account for the Airport Marina Group. The purpose of the account is to allow the Airport Marina Group to deposit 501(c )(3) eligible contributions.

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USEFUL INFORMATION

Motions should be submitted in advance, together with objective background material and supporting and opposing arguments, both to the Committee Chair and Newsletter Editor, for distribution with the agenda. Other motions will be postponed for action at a later meeting unless the motion is submitted in writing and unless the Committee votes an exception to ordinary procedure. Motions needing further action by the Angeles Chapter ExComm or some higher level of the Sierra Club should start out: “The Angeles Chapter Conservation Committee recommends that the Sierra Club...”

Angeles Chapter Conservation/Grants Committee

Gordon LaBedz/Chair 562-494-6368 GlaBedzMD@aol.com

 Bonnie Sharpe/Vice Chair, Jay Matchett/Treasurer, Jeff Yann/Secretary, Robin Ives/Newsletter
Judy Anderson, John Monsen, Lynne Plambeck, Rudy Vietmeier
Lori Ives, Publisher/Webmaster/Circulation (Non-voting)

Johanna Zetterberg and Rachel Myers, Conservation Coordinators (Non-voting)

Agenda — June 18, 2003

3435 Wilshire Blvd, Suite 320, Los Angeles CA 90010-1904

7:30 Introductions, Announcements

7:45 Review of Agenda

7:50 Conservation Coordinators’ Reports

8:10 Conservation Grants Approval

9:10 Last Minute Items

9:45 Adjourn

     Next meeting is July 16

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Orange County Conservation Committee

Gail Prothero, Chair 949-347-1255 gprothero@cox.net, Vice Chair: Bob Siebert; Secretary: Chuck Buck;

Rachel Myers, Conservation Coordinator (*non voting)

Location: Inn at the Park in Irvine
From the north, come down 405 to 73 and off at University. Turn left and pass Campus and turn right on Harvard. Follow Harvard as it bends; look for Marquette. The Inn is at 10 Marquette, on the corner of Harvard and Marquette behind a steel fence.
From the south, get off 405 at Culver and go left. Follow Culver past Michelson and University and turn right on Harvard. Take Harvard to Marquette. It's on your right.

Agenda —  June 17, 2003

7:00 Welcome, Introductions, Approval of Agenda

7:10 Approval of Minutes for 4/15/03 (Attached) and 5/20/03

7:20 Announcements/Old Business

*Per OCCC request, the Sierra Sage approved up to $200 to sponsor the dinner for Coastal Commission and Staff in August 2003. 

*Can you advise? An Agency staffer is working on a Water Quality Certification (401 Certification) for a proposed development of five acres on Euclid Ave just south of Laguna Park. The developer is impacting .2 acres of waters of the United States so we are looking for a site preferably in the vicinity where riparian habitat could be restored, created, or enhanced. Do you know of a site where that could occur? Laguna Lake Park is already being restored so another area would be preferable.

7:25 Staff Reports (Rachel Myers)

7:35 Fund raising Workshop Announcement (Jay Matchett)

7:45 Friends of the Foothills (Bill Holmes or Brittany McKee)

7:55 Saddleback Canyons TF (Rich Gomez or Gloria Sefton)

8:00 Orange County Native American Sacred Sites TF (Rebecca Robles or TF Member)

8:10 Santa Ana River Conservancy (AB496) update (Bonnie Sharpe?)

8:20 Dana Point Headlands (Celia Kutcher (Absent)) Will submit written Report

8:20 Hobo Aliso TF (Penny Elia)

8:30 Chino-Puente Hills TF/Aera Energy Development update (Mike Popovec)

8:40 Transportation — Request for Letter of Support for OCTA/CalTrans Grant App for Car Sharing Program at Orange, Tustin, Anaheim Train Station (Roy Shabazian)

8:50 San Clemente Beach Trail — Request from Stephanie Dorey for letter of support. (see article)

9:00 Adjourn

Next Meeting is Tuesday, July 15, 7 pm

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Conservation Committees Calendar

PLEASE! Send correction or additions about your calendar dates to the editor, preferably by email: ivesico@earthlink.net

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