The Newsletter of the Conservation Committees
of the Angeles Chapter, Sierra Club, on the web at http://www.angeles.sierraclub.org/
Email items, articles, graphics to Publisher/Webmaster: Lori Ives - Editor: Robin Ives

Deadline for Awards Nominations:
December 4, 2008

http://angeles.sierraclub.org/about/AwardsChairLetter.asp

Quote of Note

We could very well be in that quick slide downward in terms of passing a tipping point. It's tipping now. We're seeing it happen now.
—Mark Serreze, senior scientist at the National Snow and Ice Data Center

OCTOBER 2008

About Sarah Palin: An E-Mail from Wasilla

 

Action Information

 

Agenda - Angeles
Agenda - Orange County

 

ExComm Cons Resolutions Passed

 

Cadiz Vly Desert Water-Storage Plan

Renewed

 

Prop 1A, the High-Speed Rail Bond Act

Prop 7: Can't Deliver Renewable Power

Prop 10: The Wrong Road to
Cleaner Vehicles

 

Feds to Remove More Protections
for Desert Plant Threatened With Extinction

 

Governor Caps This Year's Budget
Debacle With More Cuts to Essential
Public Services

 

Help Needed in Nevada

 

Hikers Needed to Help Protect San Gabriels

 

Mosquitos Breed More Predominantly
in Still, Stagnant Waters

 

Senate Advances Wilderness Proposal

 

Smog Cartoon

 

Wilderness Bill Passes House,
Senate Committee

 

 

 

Prop 7 Can’t Deliver Renewable Power
Serious Flaws Threaten Delivery of Clean Energy
by 2025

 

Proposition 7 promises to put California out in front of the clean energy market — but actually contains serious flaws that would set back our state’s ability to generate green power.

 

The Sierra Club opposes Proposition 7 on the November 2008 ballot, since it will almost certainly fail to deliver on its promise that half of California’s energy will come from renewable sources by 2025.

 

“We definitely want to ramp up California’s renewable energy market,” said Jim Metropulos, Sierra Club California’s Senior Advocate. “But trying to generate more clean power by passing Proposition 7 is like trying to win a footrace with your shoelaces tied together.”

 

Proposition 7 contains loopholes for compliance and lacks a steady source of funding for renewable power development. Instead of creating a funding stream that power generators could tap into, the measure creates an uncertain system of penalties that may or may not provide enough money to fund new renewable sources of energy. The proposition even lowers some current penalties.

 

Further dampening any potential market for clean power, Proposition 7 locks in energy rate raises to just 3 percent annually — even though power generators that use fossil fuels don’t face such limits. It also continues energy regulators’ current practice of tying renewable prices to natural gas prices, a practice that has proven ineffective.

 

Proposition 7 also sets a dangerous precedent by removing local control over energy policy. The Sierra Club’s energy experts know there’s a lot of potential in “community choice,” a practice that consolidates a community’s energy-purchasing power in the same way co-op grocers have more power to buy produce because they work together.

 

Sierra Club California supports current efforts underway by the Legislature and the Governor’s office that would reform California’s Renewable Portfolio Standard Law and increase the current goal for renewable power generation in California to 33% by 2020 from 20% by 2010.

 

We didn’t take the decision to oppose Proposition 7 lightly, but we saw no other way to ensure California’s clean-energy future,” said Metropulos.

Proposition 10: The Wrong Road to Cleaner Vehicles
Measure Fails to Deliver the Right Energy
and Fiscal Policies

Proposition 10 promises alternatives to our current gas-guzzling, carbon emitting vehicles, but actually would block the path to cleaner technology and end up digging the state further into debt. It also fails to help California meet its ambitious goals under the Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006 to combat global warming.

 

The Sierra Club opposes Proposition 10, because it fails to promote the development of true alternative fuel vehicles and protect California taxpayers. It offers little for better and cleaner fuel alternatives like battery-electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids.

 

“The Sierra Club has favored alternative fuel vehicles for years, but we just cannot support this shaky proposition,” said Jim Metropulos, Sierra Club California’s Senior Advocate. “We want to see much cleaner alternatives to the cars and trucks we’re driving now.”

 

Although its supporters claim the proposition promotes energy independence and clean air, the measure would offer taxpayer money in the form of rebates to consumers that have purchased vehicles that create “no net material increase in air pollution.” That sets the bar too low to reduce the pollution that causes global warming and that affects the health of Californians living near freeways and high-traffic areas.

Taxpayers would subsidize the purchase of these vehicles via expensive borrowing, since Proposition 10 doesn’t offer a way to pay back the general fund for these rebates. Instead, it relies on future state tax collection to pay back these bonds.

Traditionally, bond funds pay for large public works projects that would normally be too expensive for the state to afford. The Sierra Club questions the use of state issued bond funds for rebates to the purchasers of cars that would do little to combat global warming.

Proposition 10 would also duplicate existing state and federal incentives for alternative fuels and alternative fuel vehicles. For example, the state already has a $200 million incentive program that promotes clean fuels. The federal Energy Policy Act of 2005 provides for a tax credit for the purchase of a new, dedicated alternative fuel vehicle.

“With little bang for five billion bucks, California cannot afford to waste money and time on technologies that won’t address global warming or promote clean air,” said Metropulos.

 

 Leading Environmental Organizations Endorse Proposition 1A, the High-Speed Rail Bond Act
by Bill Magavern

Sacramento, September 18, 2008 — Proposition 1A, the “Safe, Reliable High-Speed Passenger Train Bond Act”, has gained the endorsement of some of California’s most active environmental and good government organizations.

 

“High-speed rail is not only cleaner and faster than travel alternatives, it will also cost less to build than the highway and airport expansions we’ll need without it. High-speed rail systems are a proven technology that will reduce traffic and our dependence on oil, while simultaneously creating hundreds of thousands of new jobs throughout the state,” said Kevin Powers, Field Organizer with CALPIRG.

 

“We’re invested in making sure that the Bay Area is a place we want to live in 30 years from now,” said Carli Paine, Transportation Program Director for the Transportation and Land Use Coalition. “A high-speed train system that reduces our global warming pollution, infuses our local transit systems with thousands of new riders every day, and revitalizes downtowns is key to a sustainable California. We can't afford not to build high-speed rail!"

 

“The Sierra Club supports Proposition 1A because a zero-emission high-speed train system will cut global warming pollution and help Californians move around without getting stuck in crowded airports and congested freeways,” said Bill Magavern, the Director of Sierra Club California. “Proposition 1A will save costly fuel and promote sustainable land use and urban revitalization. The California Air Resources Board projects that a high-speed rail system would reduce greenhouse gas emissions by a million metric tons in 2020. By 2030, when the whole system is in place, high-speed rail travel is anticipated to reduce California's greenhouse gas emissions by up to 6 million tons per year.”

"Environmental voters know that viable high-speed rail connecting Northern and Southern California is an essential component of California's transportation future," said Anthony Rendon, Interim Executive Director of the California League of Conservation Voters. "A high-speed rail system throughout California would deliver an estimated 117 million travelers into downtowns well-served by local transit, all while reducing the state's greenhouse gas emissions and protecting sensitive habitats. By replacing car and airplane trips with rail trips, high-speed rail will help California achieve the greenhouse gas reductions outlined in the landmark AB 32 legislation."

Governor Caps this Year's Budget Debacle With More Cuts to Essential Public Services

September 26, 2008 — Governor Schwarzenegger ended the longest state budget stand-off in California history by signing the $103 billion budget lawmakers approved at the end of last week. This version was not much different than the budget passed by the Legislature the first time, but there were apparently enough changes to appease the Governor. The new plan continues to rely on accounting gimmicks, includes severe cuts to education and social services, and lacks any revenue enhancements that could have helped us avoid another prolonged budget battle and more cuts next year.

 

Upon signing the budget, the Governor took the opportunity to line-item veto an additional $510 million in funding, including $100 million for public transportation. (That's after the Legislature's budget diverted $1.7 billion from public transportation to other programs.) The Governor also stripped millions from the already meager budgets of the Department of Fish and Game, Coastal Commission, Department of Parks of Recreation, and cut funding for the California Air Resources Board and the Department of Toxic Substance Control.

 

With the budget fight behind him, the Governor now has until the end of the month to act on the 850 bills awaiting his signature. There are several important environmental measures in the stack, including SB 974 (Lowenthal) which helps fund air quality improvements and environmentally sound traffic mitigation measures related to goods movement. Given the significant cuts to environmental programs this year and the fiscal problems we're going to face in the years ahead, measures like SB 974 that require polluters to pay for the pollution they generate are essential if California wants to continue to improve air quality and address the health impacts of air pollution.

 

Hikers Needed To Help Us Protect the San Gabriels, Special Event October 4

Please join us next Saturday, October 4 in Pasadena to train to become one of those friendly voices who empowers others to take easy actions on behalf of our forests. During this special event you will learn how to join fun Sierra Club hikes that go into our potential wilderness areas and how to guide others while out on these hikes and to write postcards and letters in support of our mountains. It's a great way to make new friends and have a good time while you help a good cause.

 

Please let me know if you can make it by contacting me at juana.torres@sierraclub.org or at (213) 387-6528 x226. RSVP required. Enrollment is limited.

 

Sierra Club volunteer Erik Counseller will be hosting a special wilderness training on Saturday, October 4 in Pasadena

 

Help Needed in Nevada

Nevada is a swing state in the coming election. The Sierra Club, which has endorsed the Obama-Biden candidacy, is sending volunteers to Nevada to work for its endorsed ticket. If you are able and willing to travel to Nevada to work for Obama and Biden, please contact Joan Jones Holtz at (626) 443-0706, jholtzhln@aol.com.

 

Boxer/McKeon Wilderness Bill Passes House, Senate Committee

September 18, 2008 — The Eastern Sierra and Northern San Gabriel Wild Heritage Act has been approved by a key Senate Committee and the House Sub-Committee on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands, and is now bound for a vote by the full Senate. The Wild Heritage Act, sponsored by Congressman Howard "Buck" McKeon and Senator Barbara Boxer and supported by Senator Dianne Feinstein, went before the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee Thursday for markup on more than 465,000 acres of wilderness and more than 52 miles of wild and scenic rivers.

 

The Bureau of Land Management told Congress Thursday, it supports designating stretches of the Amargosa River in California for special federal protection. The subcommittee on national parks, forests and public lands studied a wide-ranging bill submitted by California Rep. Howard "Buck" McKeon, D-Santa Clarita, that would designate more than 470,000 acres of wilderness in the Eastern Sierras and similarly preserve 52 miles of waterway. One provision would place 26.3 miles of the Amargosa River into the "national wild and scenic river" system that seeks to conserve natural and free-flowing streams.

 

In a last-ditch effort to comment accurately on the proposed Eastern Sierra and Northern San Gabriel Wild Heritage Act, the Inyo County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday redrafted its letters to Congressman Howard “Buck” McKeon and Senator Barbara Boxer to include recent responses from McKeon. The supervisors also reiterated their concerns expressed in prior correspondence to the lawmaker, including the assertion that various areas being considered for wilderness designation do not meet the true definition of the word.

 

Senate Advances Wilderness Proposal

September 12, 2008 — A measure that would designate nearly 200,000 acres of public land in and around the Coachella Valley as wilderness areas moved forward Thursday, with supporters hopeful the Senate will approve the legislation this year. The Desert and Mountain Heritage Act designates as wilderness areas 191,000 acres of public land, including the San Bernardino National Forest, Joshua Tree National Park and Pinto Mountains. It also designates several rivers as 'wild, scenic or recreational,' including Bautista Creek, Fuller Mill Creek, Canyon Creek and the North Fork San Jacinto River.

Feds to Remove More Protections for Desert Plant Threatened With Extinction

Los Angeles, September 12, 2008 — The Bush administration recommended another reduction in protections for the endangered Lane Mountain milk-vetch by downlisting it to threatened status under the Endangered Species Act. This despite the fact that only four populations of the plant remain on the planet; that recent studies indicate that the number of individuals is declining; and at least 20 percent of the populations will be destroyed by tank maneuvers on Fort Irwin.

 

“Instead of implementing species conservation, as is their charge, the Fish and Wildlife Service under this administration continues its assault on the Lane Mountain milk-vetch — pushing it even closer to extinction,” said Ileene Anderson, a biologist with the Center for Biological Diversity. “All the facts and science point to the need for greater protection, certainly not less.”

 

The Lane Mountain milk-vetch (Astragalus jaegerianus) is only found in the central Mojave desert northwest of Barstow CA. A majority of the plants are located within the recently expanded boundaries of the Fort Irwin National Training Center, in areas that will be heavily used for desert tank training.

 

On April 8, 2005, the Fish and Wildlife Service issued a final critical habitat proposal for the Lane Mountain milk-vetch and designated zero acres for the unique pea-like plant. Agency officials admitted, however, that preservation of the remaining milk-vetch on public lands is critical to the survival of the species. On June 24, the Service settled a lawsuit with the Center regarding this flawed critical habitat designation and agreed to issue a new proposed critical habitat designation in 2010 and finalize the designation by 2011.

 

The Lane Mountain milk-vetch is a perennial plant that grows long vines up through shrubs. Like most members of the pea family, it helps enrich desert soils by converting nitrogen in the air into usable fertilizer. The milk-vetch is scattered along a 20-mile-long region in San Bernardino County. Much of its habitat is threatened with destruction by off-road vehicles, tank training, mining, and suburban development — threats that have been documented plants for years.

 

“On its way out the door, this administration is trying to undermine Endangered Species Act protections by rewriting endangered species regulations,” Anderson said. “It is unclear why it seems intent on pushing the Lane Mountain milk-vetch further towards extinction. But science is on our side, and we’ll fight to maintain and promote greater conservation for this imperiled plant.”


 

Mosquitos Breed More Predominantly in Still, Stagnant Waters
by Jeff Yann

Mosquitos breed more predominantly in still, stagnant waters, which is the condition of the current mitigation lakes at Whittier Narrows. These lakes were committed by the County as a settlement for destruction of habitat that had grown up around the former gravel quarry that County DPR developed into the north lake at Whittier Narrows Regional Park. This commitment settled a lawsuit by the Audubon Society and Sierra Club. It was intended to provide habitat for many riparian bird species, including least Bell's vireos, now being thrown into the mix by Discovery Center opponents, although it is not clear that the undocumented sightings they are citing were within the Whittier Narrows Natural Area. Amazingly, these same individuals do not seem to have any concerns that the mitigation lakes, built more than 30 years ago, have now been dry for over five years, initially because of a pump failure. To address the mosquito problem, Sierra Club input to the Lario Creek project was that the realigned stream be routed through the mitigation lakes, such that a flow regime would be created that would be less conducive to mosquito breeding. This is how the lakes in the regional park are operated. I have not heard any concerns from Vector Control about these lakes.

 

Cadiz Valley Desert Water-Storage Plan Renewed

The owners of remote desert land have revived a $200 million plan to store water underground to send to Southern California in dry times, although the region's major water agency rejected the idea six years ago.

Cadiz Inc, owner of land and water rights in the Cadiz Valley about 40 miles east of Twentynine Palms, has secured a 99-year lease to use railroad right-of-way for a 42-mile pipeline connecting to the Colorado River Aqueduct, said Richard Stoddard, chief executive officer of a sister company, Cadiz Real Estate LLC, in a telephone interview.

Water would be diverted from the aqueduct into the Cadiz pipeline and injected into the ground for storage in an aquifer beneath the company's land. When needed, the water would be returned to the aqueduct and could meet the needs of an estimated 1.2 million people in Southern California, the company contends.

 

Cadiz Inc.'s announcement surprised officials at Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, the major buyer and distributor of water in the region. The district, which built and operates the 242-mile Colorado River Aqueduct that Cadiz wants to use, rejected a similar proposal in 2002 amid environmentalists' opposition and concerns about costs. In addition, the Colorado River didn't have surplus water to fill the Cadiz aquifer, district officials said.

 

"We don't have any plans to proceed with the (Cadiz) project, and they haven't discussed their new approach with us," said Timothy F. Brick, Metropolitan's board chairman. Metropolitan would have less involvement this time around, said Courtney Dedener, Cadiz investor relations manager. The previous deal would have made the water district a partner in the project, and the two entities would have jointly built the pipeline to the Cadiz Valley. Now, the company plans to build the pipeline without the water district and charge clients for water storage.

 

Aqueduct Rights

 

Cadiz Inc. owns 44,000 acres of land and related groundwater rights in the Cadiz, Fenner and Piute valleys of eastern San Bernardino County. It grows grape and citrus crops.

 

Stoddard said the company has been talking with several water providers that have rights or potential rights to water in the aqueduct and could benefit from the company's storage project.

 

California's "water-wheeling" laws give water providers the right to move supplies through the aqueduct, Stoddard said. The laws are similar to rules that allow various telephone companies to use the same transmission lines, he said.

Metropolitan spokesman Bob Muir said the district has not seen a proposal from the Cadiz company. To access the aqueduct, capacity must be available, he said. The Cadiz clients also would have to pay access and stewardship fees, he said. Fern Steiner, San Diego County Water Authority chairwoman, said the Cadiz venture possibly could be used to store Colorado River water the agency purchases from the Imperial Irrigation District.

"Our board should look at the Cadiz project," she said. "We should explore all possibilities to find new water sources."

Stoddard said he expects the pipeline to be operating in about three years, allowing 18 months for environmental reviews under the purview of the San Bernardino County planning agency.

 

It would take roughly the same amount of time to build the pipeline, he said.

 

Environmental Concerns

 

In 2001 and 2002, environmentalists who opposed the project said they feared that pumping from the Cadiz Valley would deplete natural groundwater that feeds area springs. The springs and groundwater are necessary to sustain desert bighorn sheep and various plants and other wildlife, they said.

 

Terry Wold, conservation coordinator for the Sierra Club's Inland chapter, said the group will continue to oppose the pipeline and storage project.

 

Wold said that besides concern about the springs, she is worried about contaminating the pure native groundwater with the saltier Colorado River water.

 

Elden Hughes, of Joshua Tree, former chairman of the environmental group's desert committee, said the environment would be damaged by construction of large-scale pumping stations.

 

"It they want to suck the aquifer dry, we will do our damndest to stop them," Hughes said.

 

Club members will write letters, lobby elected officials and, if necessary, sue to stop the project, he said.

 

Stoddard said native groundwater would be used but that levels would be carefully tracked to ensure the environment is protected.

 

He added that using the Arizona & California Railroad Co. right-of-way would be less damaging to the environment than the previous plan that routed the pipeline across public land overseen by the federal Bureau of Land Management.

 

"The more this project is examined, the more environmentally benign it becomes," Stoddard said.

 

About Sarah Palin: An E-Mail from Wasilla
by Anne Kilkenny

A suburban Anchorage homemaker and activist — who once did battle with the Alaska governor when Palin was mayor — recounts what she knows of Palin's history.

 

Editor's note: The writer is a homemaker and education advocate in Wasilla, Alaska. Late last week, Anne Kilkenny penned an e-mail for her friends about vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin, whom she personally knows, that has since circulated across comment forums and blogs nationwide. Here is her e-mail in its entirety, posted with her permission.

 

I am a resident of Wasilla, Alaska. I have known Governor Sarah Palin since 1992. Everyone here knows Sarah, so it is nothing special to say we are on a first-name basis. Our children have attended the same schools. Her father was my child's favorite substitute teacher. I also am on a first-name basis with her parents and mother-in-law. I attended more City Council meetings during her administration than about 99 percent of the residents of the city.

 

She is enormously popular; in every way she's like the most popular girl in middle school. Even men who think she is a poor choice for vice president and won't vote for her can't quit smiling when talking about her because she is a 'babe.'

 

It is astonishing and almost scary how well she can keep a secret. She kept her most recent pregnancy a secret from her children and parents for seven months.

 

She is 'pro-life.' She recently gave birth to a Down's syndrome baby. There is no cover-up involved here; Trig is her baby.

She is energetic and hardworking. She regularly worked out at the gym.

 

She is savvy. She doesn't take positions; she just 'puts things out there' and if they prove to be popular, then she takes credit.

Her husband works a union job on the North Slope for BP and is a champion snowmobile racer. Todd Palin's kind of job is highly sought-after because of the schedule and high pay. He arranges his work schedule so he can fish for salmon in Bristol Bay for a month or so in summer, but by no stretch of the imagination is fishing their major source of income. Nor has her lifestyle ever been anything like that of native Alaskans.

 

Sarah and her whole family are avid hunters.

 

She's smart.

 

Her experience is as mayor of a city with a population of about 5,000 (at the time) and less than two years as governor of a state with about 670,000 residents.

 

During her mayoral administration, most of the actual work of running this small city was turned over to an administrator. She had been pushed to hire this administrator by party power-brokers after she had gotten herself into some trouble over precipitous firings, which had given rise to a recall campaign.

 

Sarah campaigned in Wasilla as a 'fiscal conservative.' During her six years as mayor, she increased general government expenditures by more than 33 percent. During those same six years, the amount of taxes collected by the city increased by 38 percent. This was during a period of low inflation (1996-2002). She reduced progressive property taxes and increased a regressive sales tax, which taxed even food. The tax cuts that she promoted benefitted large corporate property owners way more than they benefited residents.

 

The huge increases in tax revenue during her mayoral administration weren't enough to fund everything on her wish list, though —- borrowed money was needed, too. She inherited a city with zero debt but left it with indebtedness of more than $22 million. What did Mayor Palin encourage the voters to borrow money for? Was it the infrastructure that she said she supported? The sewage treatment plant that the city lacked? Or a new library? No. $1 million for a park. $15 million-plus for construction of a multi-use sports complex, which she rushed through, on a piece of property that the city didn't even have clear title to. That was still in litigation seven years later — to the delight of the lawyers involved! The sports complex itself is a nice addition to the community but a huge money pit, not the profit-generator she claimed it would be. She also supported bonds for $5.5 million for road projects that could have been done in five to seven years without any borrowing.

 

While Mayor, City Hall was extensively remodeled and her office redecorated more than once. These are small numbers, but Wasilla is a very small city.

 

As an oil producer, the high price of oil has created a budget surplus in Alaska. Rather than invest this surplus in technology that will make us energy independent and increase efficiency, as governor Sarah proposed distribution of this surplus to every individual in the state.

 

In this time of record state revenues and budget surpluses, she recommended that the state borrow/bond for road projects, even while she proposed distribution of surplus state revenue: Spend today's surplus, borrow for needs.

 

She's not very tolerant of divergent opinions or open to outside ideas or compromise. As mayor, she fought ideas that weren't generated by her or her staff. Ideas weren't evaluated on their merits but on the basis of who proposed them.

 

While Sarah was mayor of Wasilla, she tried to fire our highly respected city librarian because the librarian refused to consider removing from the library some books that Sarah wanted removed. City residents rallied to the defense of the city librarian and against Palin's attempt at out-and-out censorship, so Palin backed down and withdrew her termination letter. People who fought her attempt to oust the librarian are on her enemies list to this day.

 

Sarah complained about the 'old boy's club' when she first ran for mayor, so what did she bring Wasilla? A new set of 'old boys.' Palin fired most of the experienced staff she inherited. At the city and as governor, she hired or elevated new, inexperienced, obscure people, creating a staff totally dependent on her for their jobs and eternally grateful and fiercely loyal — loyal to the point of abusing their power to further her personal agenda, as she has acknowledged happened in the case of pressuring the state's top cop.

 

As mayor, Sarah fired Wasilla's police chief because he 'intimidated' her, she told the press. As governor, her recent firing of Alaska's top cop has the ring of familiarity about it. He served at her pleasure and she had every legal right to fire him, but it's pretty clear that an important factor in her decision to fire him was because he wouldn't fire her sister's ex-husband, a state trooper. Under investigation for abuse of power, she has had to admit that more than two dozen contacts were made between her staff and family to the person that she later fired, pressuring him to fire her ex-brother-in-law. She tried to replace the man she fired with a man who she knew had been reprimanded for sexual harassment; when this caused a public furor, she withdrew her support.

 

She has bitten the hand of every person who extended theirs to her in help. The City Council person who personally escorted her around town, introducing her to voters when she first ran for Wasilla City Council became one of her first targets when she was later elected mayor. She abruptly fired her loyal city administrator; even people who didn't like the guy were stunned by this ruthlessness.

 

Fear of retribution has kept all of these people from saying anything publicly about her.

 

When then — Gov. Frank Murkowski was handing out political plums, Sarah got the best, chair of the Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission — one of the few jobs not in Juneau and one of the best paid. She had no background in oil and gas issues. Within months of scoring this great job, which paid $122,400 a year, she was complaining in the press about the high salary. I was told that she hated that job: the commute, the structured hours, the work. Sarah became aware that a member of this commission (who was also the state chair of the Republican Party) engaged in unethical behavior on the job. In a gutsy move which some undoubtedly cautioned her could be political suicide, Sarah solved all her problems in one fell swoop: got out of the job she hated and garnered gobs of media attention as the patron saint of ethics and as a gutsy fighter against the 'old boys' club,' when she dramatically quit, exposing this man's ethics violations (for which he was fined).

 

As mayor, she had her hand stuck out as far as anyone for pork from Sen. Ted Stevens. Lately, she has castigated his pork-barrel politics and publicly humiliated him. She only opposed the 'bridge to nowhere' after it became clear that it would be unwise not to.

 

As governor, she gave the Legislature no direction and budget guidelines, then made a big grandstand display of line-item vetoing projects, calling them pork. Public outcry and further legislative action restored most of these projects — which had been vetoed simply because she was not aware of their importance — but with the unobservant she had gained a reputation as 'anti-pork.'

 

She is solidly Republican: no political maverick. The state party leaders hate her because she has bit them in the back and humiliated them. Other members of the party object to her self-description as a fiscal conservative.

 

Around Wasilla, there are people who went to high school with Sarah. They call her 'Sarah Barracuda' because of her unbridled ambition and predatory ruthlessness. Before she became so powerful, very ugly stories circulated around town about shenanigans she pulled to be made point guard on the high school basketball team. When Sarah's mother-in-law, a highly respected member of the community and experienced manager, ran for mayor, Sarah refused to endorse her.

 

As governor, she stepped outside of the box and put together of package of legislation known as 'AGIA' that forced the oil companies to march to the beat of her drum.

 

Like most Alaskans, she favors drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR). She has questioned if the loss of sea ice is linked to global warming. She campaigned 'as a private citizen' against a state initiaitive that would have either protected salmon streams from pollution from mines or tied up in the courts all mining in the state (depending on whom you listen to). She has pushed the state's lawsuit against the Department of the Interior's decision to list polar bears as a threatened species.

 

McCain is the oldest person to ever run for president; Sarah will be a heartbeat away from being president.

 

There has to be literally millions of Americans who are more knowledgeable and experienced than she.

 

However, there are a lot of people who have underestimated her and are regretting it.

 

Claim vs. Fact

Why am I writing this?

 

First, I have long believed in the importance of being an informed voter. I am a voter registrar. For 10 years I put on student voting programs in the schools. If you google my name, you will find references to my participation in local government, education, and PTA/parent organizations.

 

Secondly, I've always operated in the belief that 'bad things happen when good people stay silent.' Few people know as much as I do because few have gone to as many City Council meetings.

 

Third, I am just a housewife. I don't have a job she can bump me out of. I don't belong to any organization that she can hurt. But I am no fool; she is immensely popular here, and it is likely that this will cost me somehow in the future: that's life.

 

Fourth, she has hated me since back in 1996, when I was one of the 100 or so people who rallied to support the city librarian against Sarah's attempt at censorship.

 

Fifth, I looked around and realized that everybody else was afraid to say anything because they were somehow vulnerable.

Caveats: I am not a statistician. I developed the numbers for the increase in spending and taxation two years ago (when Palin was running for governor) from information supplied to me by the finance director of the City of Wasilla, and I can't recall exactly what I adjusted for: Did I adjust for inflation? For population increases? Right now, it is impossible for a private person to get any info out of City Hall - they are swamped. So I can't verify my numbers.

 

You may have noticed that there are various numbers circulating for the population of Wasilla, ranging from my 'about 5,000' up to 9,000. The day Palin's selection was announced, a city official told me that the current population is about 7,000. The official 2000 census count was 5,460. I have used about 5,000 because Palin was Mayor from 1996 to 2002, and the city was growing rapidly in the mid-1990s.

 

Environmental Resolutions Passed by ExComm (9/28/08)

  1. Resolution in Support CNRCC Letter re: Pickens Plan

    Angeles Chapter concurs with the letter to the Sierra Club BOD from the CNRCC requesting the national Sierra Club to withdraw all public association (e.g. endorsement, public appearances, website content) with Pickens and his plan.

  2. Resolution Regarding a Change in Energy/Climate Policy
    In order for the Club to maintain its leadership in the area of policy on energy and climate change, in view of recent science indicating that the sensitivity of the earth's climate to CO2 concentrations is much larger than expected, we request that the Club reconsider its '2% Solution' policy and consider a significantly increased rate of reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, based on recent publications by Hansen, Brown, and others.

  1. Grant Approved — Montebello Hills Task Force: $200 for a booth at the Montebello fall festival

  2. Approval of the Appointment of Vice Chair of the Legal Committee: Dean Wallraff

  1. Appointment of Co-Chairs, Chapter Water Committee: Charming Evelyn, and Stephenie Frederick

  2. The Executive Committee approved the request of the Water Committee to set up a listserve for the committee and to have a webpage for the committee on the chapter website.
  1. Support Delaware Chapter Resolution Re: EnergyResolution Regarding a Change in Energy/Climate Policy
    In order for the Club to maintain its leadership in the area of policy on energy and climate change, in view of recent science indicating that the sensitivity of the earth's climate to CO2 concentrations is much larger than expected, we request that the Club reconsider its '2% Solution' policy and consider a significantly increased rate of reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, based on recent publications by Hansen, Brown, and others

Join us at the Re-Enchanting the City Conference V
Global Climate Change: The impact upon Wildlife and Wild Lands
Saturday, October 18, 2008 — Friendship Auditorium, Griffith Park
Sponsored by Sierra Club, LA Dept of Recreation and Parks, Humane Society of the United States, Canada Goose Project, others. No admission charge. Modest lunch provided for attendance at afternoon workshops.

 

See CALTRANS explain the "Wildlife Corridor Bridge over the 405 Freeway"

Participate with students from North Hollywood High School Zoo Magnet, " Our World Inherited from You"

Have Fun with Wildlife Rehabilitators and animal friends

 

Hear Nobel Peace prize recipient Dr. Danny Harvey explain "The Race to Save Our Wildlife"

 

http://www.gmnac.com/ESTFSignup.html    Reservations/Questions? 818-769-1521

 

Chapter Conservation Committee Draft Agenda
Chair: Judy Anderson <judyanderson@earthlink.net> Conference call access (866) 501-6174; Code: 1000400#

Meets at Chapter Office, 3435 Wilshire Blvd Ste 320, Los Angeles 90010-1904 Parking at Equitable Building, enter off Mariposa between Wilshire and 6th St - one block east of Normandie. Meeting will be digitally recorded for preparation of minutes.

 

Wednesday, October 15, 2008 — 7:15 pm

 

6:30 pm. Reception for our international guest, Dr. Hakob Sanasarian, chemist and president of the Greens Union of Armenia.

7:15 Conservation Committee Meeting
        Introductions and Announcements limited to FUTURE EVENTS
        Approval of the Agenda

7: 25 Brief remarks by and questions for Dr. Sanasarian (Intro: Garen Yeghpairian)

7:45 Discussion and Possible Action

8:05 Break

8: 15 Reports

A. Population Committee (John Hinz)
B. Political Committee -- Activism Centers, Volunteer Needs (Susana Reyes)

8:30 Action Items:

9:00 pm Adjourn

Orange County Conservation Committee Draft Agenda

     Patti Barnes, Chair <mezzohiker@msn.com>
     Website: http://angeles.sierraclub.org/ocosc/
Meets at the Inn at the Park, 10 Marquette, Irvine

Take the 405 to Culver and go west towards the beach. Follow Culver past Michelson and University and turn right on Harvard. Take Harvard to Marquette and turn right. It's on the corner of Harvard and Marquette on the right hand side

Tuesday, October 21, 2008 - 7 pm

 

7:00 Introductions and Announcements

7:15 Approval of Minutes — OCCC Meeting September 16, 2008

7:20 Angeles Chapter Staff Report (???) (Jennifer Robinson)

7:30 The Formation of the Orange Cty Global Warming Sub-Comm-Discussion and "Brainstorming" Session (Paul Carlton)

7:55 Emergency Resolutions (if any)-Discussion, Voting, etc.

8:15 Adjourn

 

Full agenda will be posted on: http://angeles.sierraclub.org/environmental/AgendaOrangeCounty.asp.Agenda.asp

 

Action Information

Visit the Angeles Chapter's web site at http://www.angeles.sierraclub.org/

Sierra Club Legislative Hotline: (202) 675-2394
Sierra Club National: www.sierraclub.org (415) 977-5500
Sacramento Legislative Office: www.sierraclub.com (916) 557-1100; fax (916) 557-9669
Environmental News in Sacramento - Rough and Tumble www.rtumble.com
Desert Report Web Page www.desertreport.org

 

Sierra Club World Wide Web: http://www.sierraclub.org
Angeles Chapter site: http://www.angeles.sierraclub.org
Sierra Club California: http://www.sierraclub.org/ca/
Sierra Club Vote Watch Website: http://www.sierraclub.org/votewatch/
National Clubhouse activist resource site: http://www.clubhouse.sierraclub.org/

 

ACTION DIRECTORY
White House Comment Line: (202) 456-1111
White House Fax Line: (202) 456-2461
President George W Bush: president@whitehouse.gov
Vice President Dick Cheney: vice-president@whitehouse.gov
White House: 1600 Pennsylvania Ave, Washington DC 20500
US Capitol Switchboard: (202) 224-3121

To contact your senators: Senate Office Bldg, Washington DC 20510    http://www.senate.gov/contacting/index.cfm
Your representative: House Office Bldg, Washington DC 20515 - http://www.house.gov/writerep

California Capitol Switchboard: (916) 322-9900
Gov Arnold Schwarzenegger: governor@governor.ca.gov  (916) 445-2841, fax (916) 445-4633;
State Capitol Bldg, Sacramento CA 95814

Need help contacting your US representatives?
Need help in finding out about legislation?
US House of Representatives: http://www.house.gov/
US Senate: http://www.senate.gov/

California State Assembly: http://www.assembly.ca.gov/
California State Senate: http://www.sen.ca.gov/
California State: http://www.ca.gov/state/portal/myca_homepage.jsp
California Legislative Information: http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/
California Secretary of State voter information: http://www.ss.ca.gov/elections/elections.htm

 

The RedBook (California/Nevada Directory) is available online. It includes the GreenBook (Handbook of Sierra Club California Bylaws and Standing Rules) Email Lori Ives (lori.ives@angeles.sierraclub.org) for the online address and password. Send your membership number, your position in the Club, and your reason for needing the information. A paper edition ($25) is available on special order.

 

E-MAIL LISTS: There are four important discussion lists for Angeles environmental activists:

 

Angeles Chapter Conservation Newsletter Listserve  Angeles Cons-News angeles-conservation@lists.sierraclub.org

Angeles-Alerts Listserve  angeles-alerts@lists.sierraclub.org


California/Nevada Activists calif-activists@lists.sierraclub.org moderated list for announcements)

California/Nevada Activist-Forum calif-activists-forum@lists.sierraclub.org (unmoderated discussion list)

California Activists: calif-activists-request@lists.sierraclub.org
Subscribe to California Activists Forum: calif-activists-request@lists.sierraclub.org

    For either list, send your name, email address, Sierra Club membership number, your position in the Club.

    Subscription is processed by one of the list owners, usually the same day.

Subscribe to the listserve: send an email to listserv@lists.sierraclub.org with the message "subscribe angeles-conservation" or "subscribe calif-activists"  or "subscribe angeles-alerts" Note: it's "listserv," not "listserve".

To leave a list: send an e-mail to listserv@lists.sierraclub.org. In the text of your message (not the subject line), write: "signoff calif-activists" or "signoff angeles-conservation" or "signoff angeles-alerts"

Sierra Club Angeles Chapter Conservation Committee
112 North Harvard Avenue PMB 297
Claremont CA 91711-4716

RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Chapter Conservation Committees

The Angeles Chapter Conservation Committee and the Orange County Conservation Committee (click for agendas) provide forums for Club members to discuss impending conservation issues and to coordinate efforts of conservation subcommittees with groups and sections.

They meet monthly every third Tuesday (Orange County)

and third Wednesday (Angeles Chapter). Contact the Conservation Committee Chairs by the end of the previous month for a place on the agenda. Suggested deadline for newsletter submissions is 16 days before the Chapter meeting.

Motions should be submitted in advance, together with objective background material and supporting and opposing arguments, both to the Chapter Committee Chair and the Orange County Committee Chair and Newsletter Editor (Robin Ives ives@ivesico.net), 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 (by a two-thirds majrity) an exception to the 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..."

This Electronic Conservation Newsletter is emailed automatically, free by listserv, to all activists

who hold any of the following positions in the Angeles Chapter or its entities: Executive Committee Member; Entity Chair or Conservation Chair, Political, or Newsletter Editor, Conservation Subcommittee or Task Force Chair. Additionally, many activists throughout the Chapter and state receive it.

The Newsletter may be read on the chapter website: http://www.angeles.sierraclub.org/environmental/newsletter.asp.

Postal copy is available for those who are technically challenged or simply don't want to be bothered. To receive The Newsletter by first class mail, send a donation of $25 (payable Angeles Chapter, Sierra Club) to (almost) cover costs, to: Conservation Newsletter, 112 Harvard Ave PMB 297, Claremont CA 91711.