In This Month's June Edition
• More Development in Natomas Continues, Impacting Wildlife Conservation
• Our 2024 General Election Endorsements (completed to date)
• Join Us in Taking Action!
“There must be a better way to make the things we want, a way that doesn’t spoil the sky, or the rain or the land.” - Paul McCartney
|
|
Sacramento County to consider another major Natomas development
By Brad Branan
Yet another major project in the ecologically sensitive Natomas Basin will go before local officials this summer. The Sacramento County Board of Supervisors should receive an environmental impact report about the proposed Upper Westside plan, which intends to put nearly 10,000 housing units near Garden Highway. That area is next to important nesting areas for the state-protected Swainson’s Hawk, and is part of the Natomas Basin Habitat Conservation Plan, which is aimed at protecting the hawk and other species.
|
A Swainson’s Hawk perched on a power line on property owned by the Natomas Basin Conservancy.
The Sacramento City Council and the Sacramento Local Agency Formation Commission are considering another major project in the Natomas Basin called Airport South that would putindustrial and commercial development south of Interstate 5. That makes two major projects actively under consideration in the basin, while two other major projects are also in the planning stages.
The Upper Westside project raises several environmental issues, perhaps most significantly its threat to the Swainson’s Hawk and the Natomas Basin Habitat Conservation Plan. Historically, Swainson’s Hawks have nested in trees along the Sacramento River, particularly on the Sacramento side along the Garden Highway. The Upper Westside project would be built on 2,000 acres along Garden Highway between Interstate 80 and Arena Boulevard. Former Sacramento Mayor Heather Fargo, who was mayor when the city joined the Habitat Conservation Plan, says the development would stop the plan from completion. There won’t be enough property for the plan to be completed under its court-mandated requirements.
2024 Election Endorsements
By Kate Wilkins
|
|
|
The Sierra Club is pleased to announce our endorsements for the November general election. Please support these candidates and share news about the Sierra Club endorsements with your friends and family!
Sacramento Mayor – Dr. Flojaune Cofer ( website ) Dr. Flojaune Cofer, known by many as Flo, is an epidemiologist and public health professional who has been passionately involved with making the City of Sacramento a place for families to thrive. As a former member of the Mayors’ Commission on Climate Change, Dr. Cofer worked with the City and community leaders to develop a policy framework to reduce the city’s emissions and make Sacramento more resilient to climate change impacts. She worked to improve public transit and sustainable transportation infrastructure while serving on the city’s Active Transportation Committee, and led the Measure U Community Advisory Board (as a four-term chair) to recommend use of the city’s Measure U funds. Flo centers equity and environmental justice in all her work, and is incredibly passionate and knowledgeable about local environmental issues, as well as transportation, homelessness, and housing. We are especially excited by her plan to create a standing committee on climate change at the city, modeled after the Mayors’ Commission on Climate Change.
California Assembly District 6 - Maggy Krell ( website)
Maggy Krell is a Deputy Attorney General for the United States government and has had an impressive career defending reproductive rights and fighting sex trafficking. Her environmental priority in the Legislature will be ensuring that bills have adequate provisions that allow all Californians to participate in combatting climate change, as well as sharing in the benefit of the energy transition. Living in the city of Sacramento, Maggy is an avid bicycle commuter and previously served on Sacramento’s bicycle safety advisory committee. We are excited to endorse Maggy in her first run for office!
California Seventh Congressional District, US Congress - Doris Matsui ( website)
Doris Matsui has been endorsed by the Sierra Club multiple times before and we are happy to endorse her again. Most recently, Doris got two bills included in the federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Law: The Healthier and Greener Schools Act, which created a 500-million-dollar grant program to fund energy efficiency, renewable energy, and clean vehicles at K-12 schools, and the POWER ON Act, which created a 2.5-billion-dollar grant program to harden our electric grid against wildfires and other natural disasters. Doris has been a long-time supporter of tree planting and natural climate solutions, and has sponsored the TREES Act, a bill inspired by our city’s own tree-planting program which would provide federal funding for urban tree-planting.
|
Interested in Getting Involved in Local Climate Advocacy?
Sierra Club Sacramento has focused on many facets of local environmental issues over the years, including but not limited to climate action plans, land use, affordable housing/infill, conservation of habitat, reliable water supplies, public open spaces & parks, transportation, and electing public servants who prioritize environmental protection. There is always a need for more help in reviewing proposals, attending meetings with our compatriots to represent the group, and supporting our outreach efforts. Interested in learning more about these issues and helping track their progress for our group?
The issues we are engaged in
- The proposed industrial solar project on critical habitat and tribal cultural lands in Sacramento County.
- Large scale development plans in the Natomas Area which threaten the Habitat Conservation Plan for that area.
- Preservation of 20+ acres of land along the American River.
- Proposed plans for further expansion of the City of Folsom into an area outside of the county urban plan area, which would threaten water availability, air quality.
- The Sacramento County Climate Action Plan.
- Interstate 80 and other freeway expansions threatening the state mandated air quality goals and sensitive habitat areas.
Sacramento Sierra Club Outings
- Sign-ups are posted on Meetup and registration is required.
Thanks for all you do for our environment!
Contact us anytime via email at sacramentosierraclub@gmail.com
Check out our website for more info including our prior newsletters Sierra Club - Sacramento
Find us at “Sierra Club Sacramento” on Facebook, Instagram, and X aka Twitter
Barbara Leary
Group Chair
Sacramento Group
Sierra Club |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
