There’s been great news coming from the Los Angeles River lately, following advocacy by the Central Group.

We joined numerous community and environmental organizations to raise questions about a housing development along the LA River called Casitas Lofts in the Glassell Park/Elysian Valley area. Chief amongst our concerns was the lack of planned affordable housing, potential displacement/gentrification, and decreased access to planned parks at the Bowtie Parcel and Taylor Yard. Due to this community advocacy the plan has been shelved; the developers backed away from the proposal and there is a new plan to renovate the existing industrial space into a modern, environmentally friendly studio with planned access to the adjacent parks. This is great news for the environment and the community. 

The new series of parks in the area are progressing along nicely as well. Bowtie recently secured funding to become a state park. Taylor Yard is currently undergoing nature-based pollution remediation, using fungus and native plants to remove century old contaminants from the soil at this former rail yard. The city is currently discussing funding options to turn this into a state-of-the-art LA River park centerpiece, featuring an environmental education center, wetlands, native plant and animal habitats, and trails for Angelenos to connect with nature and our river. 

Once these two parks are completed, they will connect with the existing Rio de Los Angeles State Park recreation complex to become the jewel of the LA River, showcasing what can be done in our city to re-create a better urban-nature balance that benefits all living things.
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Jason Wise is an outdoor educator who teaches environmental science and activism to kids of all ages. He has been an activist with the Central Group since 2016.

11,000,000 tons of solid waste was generated in 2020 by residents and businesses, according to L.A. County statistics. This astounding number reflects how much trash is generated in our lives; it’s an unavoidable consequence of consuming – we buy, we use, we reject – but trash is also the last episode of a long story that cannot be judged only by its economic and environmental impacts. These bottle caps might be evidence of a nice walk in a park; this plastic confetti reminds us that a birthday party may have happened here; this plastic bag was probably used to transport groceries, vegetables and fruit to make a nice dinner. Trash can be burned, hopefully recycled, buried or abandoned. They are treasures for future archeologists because they tell so much about us, even though they are pollution and an eyesore in the present. 

These are just a few examples of trash stories you can encounter in Trash Talk Saturdays! 

It’s a good sign that cleaning events are becoming more and more popular and many other groups organize their own. Indeed, the constant presence of trash in cities (and in nature) raises an ethical question: how do we care for our surroundings, our neighbors? Of course, it also raises environmental questions: how do we protect the city as an ecosystem? How do we make a city a sustainable place that is connected to a wider ecosystem? These questions are particularly relevant in Los Angeles County. We are living in a watershed; what happens between the mountains and the ocean affects both of them. Cities don't obey “natural law” but they are nonetheless part of a bigger whole – they are next to nature, not outside nature.

Trash Talk Saturday is one piece of our puzzle. Like others, we clean and grab trash, but our focus is the history and culture of parks, and it’s educational!  We want to understand, while cleaning, the complexity of the concept of trash. Elysian Park history, for example, tells us how “slums” was a concept used to clear neighborhoods that were judged inadequate. Hollenbeck Park’s story is of freeways as a source of pollution and of environmental racism. Every park is an opportunity to link social justice and environmental justice. We have already hosted 17 Trash Talk Saturdays in 15 parks or green areas. In June we went to Griffith Park, in August we go to Rio del Hundo and in September to Lincoln Park. Bring a charged phone, headphones, trash picker and gloves! Let's understand why parks are important and let's make them cleaner! Join us! 

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Mathieu Bonin is a Philosophy Teacher and a member of the Central Group’s Executive Committee. He co-organizes Trash talk Saturdays. “I want to associate visible and concrete actions with appreciation of cities through their parks. Aesthetic appreciation, cultural awareness are, in my mind, keys for the environmental cause.”

By Will McWhinney
 

The local Sierra Club sponsors hundreds of hikes a year. Visit the Schedule of Activities to find a full list.

The Central Group’s bimonthly “Newcomers Hike” is back. They’re now held on the first Sunday of even-numbered months. The first one was June 5. We’ll meet at 8:30 near the big parking lot above Fern Dell in Griffith Park. The hike climbs toward the Griffith Observatory at a relaxed pace, then descends through shady Fern Dell before ending up at Trails Cafe. No need to reserve a place – just show up. Trail leaders: Will McWhinney and Barbara Hensleigh. 

Do you like to hike and camp? Well, so do many blind and visually impaired people. The Central Group collaborates with a local non-profit, Hearts for Sight, to provide outdoor recreational opportunities for people who need help navigating trails. It’s easy to be a sighted guide, and folks really appreciate the help. Contact Racquel Decipeda to volunteer. racquelmd29@hotmail.com
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Will McWhinney is a long-time activist with the Sierra Club.  He teaches in its Wilderness Training Program.  He has been the Outings leader for the Central Group since 2017 and began its collaboration with Hearts for Sight.

By Barbara Hensleigh
 

It’s hard to find good news on the climate change these days, but L.A. may have the best news in a long time. The City’s Green New Deal (“GND”), adopted in 2019, has exceeded its goals for obtaining carbon neutrality by 2050. Among other things, the city leads the nation (and its GND goals) in the installation of electric vehicle charging stations, exceeding the target by over 8,000 chargers. Our energy grid runs on 62% zero-emission sources – ahead of schedule to reach 100% by 2035 under the GND – and we have increased our storm drain recapture capacity, exceeding the current goal by 10%. The list goes on and on. All in all, we have had a 36% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions since the City’s 1990 baseline. 

Susana Reyes, former VP of Conservation, former member of the National Sierra Club Board of Directors and current National Co-Lead for the Club’s Political Team, said of the progress: “The Green New Deal L.A. is not just an environmental plan. It is a living document that prioritizes communities most impacted by climate change. Working with partners, volunteers, staff, and Angeles Chapter leaders, the Sierra Club leads and supports initiatives of GNDLA that ensure Angelenos can breathe healthy air, have access to clean and renewable energy and clean water, and have opportunities to find quality jobs and careers. We are grateful for the leadership of Mayor Eric Garcetti and his vision of building a truly fair, just, and prosperous city where everyone experiences the benefits of a sustainable future regardless of zip codes.” 

But that’s not the only reason to celebrate. The EPA has announced that Los Angeles is number one in the country for energy star buildings, generating 35% less carbon emissions. In January, the Los Angeles City Council, with support from the Sierra Club through the STAND LA coalition, voted to phase out oil production in the city. This last month, the City Council passed a motion introduced by Nithya Raman—and supported by Paul Koretz and Mitch O’Farrell—to adopt an ordinance requiring zero carbon emissions for new buildings.  

There is still much more work to do, of course. The tree planting goals of the GND are lagging behind. But action has been taken to reorganize that work, and plant trees where they are needed most – that is, in our underserved communities in South L.A. There is more, too, that Los Angeles can do on reduction of our trash, including more composting and reducing plastic pollution. Of course, the devil is in the details on the phaseout of oil production. How long will the phaseout period be? How will we work to ensure that oil workers are retrained and have good-paying green jobs? But for a brief moment we can – and should – celebrate.
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Barbara Hensleigh is the Chair of the Central Group. She is a recovering lawyer and avid backpacker.  

The Central Group is the heart of the Sierra Club Angeles Chapter, representing the areas from West Hollywood through East LA, and Griffith Park through South LA, and several Gateway Cities.
 

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