Letter from Sacramento: Maintaining Focus During Recall Distraction

Earlier this year, three standing committees of Sierra Club California voted to oppose the current recall effort against Governor Gavin Newsom. Our opposition was announced in March, alongside three other statewide environmental and environmental justice organizations. 

For many, this might have come as a surprise. Among environmental organizations, Sierra Club California is one of the Governor’s most vocal critics and has been since he took office. 

We’ve called out his muddy water policy on multiple occasions. We brought attention to his Park’s Department abandonment of its mission. We criticized his legislative deficiencies in both 2019 and 2020. And we’ve often expressed disappointment in his actions relating to oil and gas.

Why then, despite this history, are we steadfastly opposed to the recall effort?

First, it is clear the recall effort is motivated by nativist and anti-government sentiment, both of which are antithetical to Sierra Club California’s values. 

The text of the recall petition faults Newsom for pursuing policies that we, along with many Californians, support, including protecting and supporting immigrants, requiring water conservation, and suspending the use of the death penalty. 

Policy differences alone should not be the basis of a recall effort. Recalls should be reserved for elected officials who demonstrate an incapacity to serve or who commit bribery, treason, or other high crimes and misdemeanors. That obviously isn’t the case here. 

Even if policy differences were a valid reason for a recall, the positions expressed in the recall petition are contrary to Sierra Club California’s values and our dedication to social and environmental justice. 

We unequivocally oppose any and all efforts to disrupt and distract from California’s journey to becoming more inclusive and just—and this recall effort is exactly that.

Which leads me to the second reason: California, and the planet, don’t have time to be distracted.

The recall is a distraction campaign dead set on undoing the progress we have made on progressive issues, including the environmental and climate wins we have fought so hard for in recent years. It is aimed at diverting our attention from the bold policy goals that we know are essential to recovering equitably from this pandemic, accelerating our progress on climate, and protecting our environment. 

And to do that, those driving the recall effort have placed the Governor in a vulnerable position that has driven him to shy away from strong environmental leadership that could be viewed as “controversial”—even though this is precisely the kind of leadership we need right now. 

For example: Governor Newsom has stalled the development and implementation of the Bay-Delta Water Quality Control Plan - a key protection measure that would limit water exports from the Bay-Delta and require more water to flow through the Delta and out the San Francisco Bay to the benefit of the Delta’s communities and its ecosystem.

Unsurprisingly, large agricultural entities and water agencies that would receive less water from the Delta oppose the policy. Stalling the measure has allowed more time for opponents to develop alternative plans that offer less protection for Delta communities and for conditions in the Bay-Delta to worsen.

There are other examples: failing to issue an oil well setback policy to protect those living near fossil fuel operations, failing to phase out all gas in new homes and buildings, and failing to protect ecologically sensitive lands from off-highway vehicle use. In every one of these instances, it is clear that Governor Newsom is fearful of taking bold actions that take on special interest industries and risk political retaliation. 

But bold, decisive, and sweeping action is exactly what California needs right now—we simply do not have time for timid, incremental approaches. 

Sierra Club California recognizes a distraction when we see one. And we won’t let it deter us from being that loud and bold voice for the environment that we’ve always been. 

We will continue pushing loudly for the bold leadership our state needs to address our compounding crises affecting the state. But we will also stand strong in opposing the recall effort, because we know just how much is at stake for our communities.

Recall or no recall, we won’t stop pushing the envelope to benefit the environment. 

Lastly, the alternatives to Governor Newsom on the recall ballot could be an environmental disaster. 

Over the next few months, as the media circus around the recall drowns out the more important drumbeat of environmental policymaking, we will stay hard at work pushing for the strong environmental and climate policies we need to meet this moment. 

Our work as activists and advocates is more important now than ever. We have a duty to speak up and be critical of leaders who do not take the necessary action to meet the urgency of the moment. And we have a duty to call out the distractive recall effort for what it is: a racist, political opportunity.

We will push for bold, protective policies because it’s the right thing — but we also believe that strong climate and environmental leadership is the politically savvy decision for the Governor.

Californians want a leader who will stand up and address the challenges of the climate crisis head on. And that is what we will keep pushing for. 

We won’t be distracted.

Sincerely,