By John Hankins
We’re closing out 2023 with some success, but of course our work is never done in our fight to Explore, Enjoy and Protect the planet (Sierra Club’s motto). Check out the stories and links below and throughout this issue as we look back and forward.
Want to get involved? Please join our activities and activism; see Group News box on page 3 for contacts and links where you can get involved or enjoy our free hikes via links on page 6, including via MeetUp and internet lists.
Donations help a lot, and the money stays here at home doing good stuff. Donate here:www.sierraclub.org/donate/1000
Nov 30: Ventura Compressor Modernization Project update sent by SoCal Gas on this highly controversial project, opposed by the Sierra Club and other eco-groups. The update is in its latest newsletter which can be found here: www.socalgas.com/Ventura
Nov 27: Whales Ho! Celebration of our area becoming only the ninth Whale Heritage Site on earth, a major accomplishment.
Nov 29: Meeting Challenges of the climate crisis, an interactive webinar featuring the Sierra Club’s national director, Ben Jealous, chief energy officer Holly Bender and Sierra Magazine editor Jason Mark.
Nov. 13: Last Day to comment on expanding the Tajiguas landfill along the Gaviota Coast by 14 acres and increasing its life to 2038. Details of the project are in SB County’s draft EIR which conducted a public hearing on Oct. 26. Details and comment portal is here: https://tinyurl.com/TajiguasComment Our Sierra Club Chapter has not yet weighed in on the matter, but the Gaviota Coast Conservancy has major objections. See why here: https://tinyurl.com/TajiguasExpansion
Nov 12: Bike Clean & Fix It Day hosted by Nina Danza of our Ventura Sierra Club network. Volunteers came to the Bike Hub in Ventura to spiff up kids bikes that are earmarked to give away to needy local families. This happens throughout the year, but it’s particularly valuable during the Christmas season. To be on the list, go to Ventura Sierra Club’s MeetUp site.
Nov 9: Brink of Extinction: Two Channel Islands plants were removed from the endangered species list after 26 years of federal protection; they are the Island Bedstraw and Santa Cruz Island Dudleya. They exist only on two of the northern Channel Islands.
Nov 8: Santa Claus Bikeway completion. Event on the southbound Carpinteria Ave. offramp. It provides a direct coastal route between the Santa Claus Lane commercial area, beaches in the county, and Carpinteria Avenue. It will also be a route connected along the 101 freeway to Ventura.
Nov 8: Outpouring of Support for the proposed Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary was clear after a public comment period ended Oct. 25. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) logged in 98,721 comments supporting the proposal. “This campaign has been a textbook example of what can be done when a community steps up together,” said Andrew Christie, of our neighboring Santa Lucia Chapter. “It's also a validation of NOAA's decision a decade ago to revive the process...and invite nominations from the public demonstrating broad support. I'd say that requirement has been met."
Nov 7: Zero Emissions event by Earth Justice’s “Right to Zero” campaign, held at the Ojai Retreat. Features an EJ attorney and Ojai-based experts. Learn more about it at: www.earthjustice.org
Nov 5: Carmen Ramirez Progress Awards event, hosted by the Ventura County Democratic Party honoring the late woman who was an inspiration and activist during her work as a Ventura County Supervisor, attorney and activist. Its focus is to overturn the current 3-2 anti-environment majority of the county Supervisors, which tipped the wrong way after Carmen was hit by a truck and did not recover.
Nov 4: Farm Day in Ventura County, which also occurred earlier in Santa Barbara County. Mary Maranville, a proud farmer’s daughter, is the founder and CEO of Students for Eco-Education and Agriculture (SEEAG), the charity that puts on Farm Day. Its mission is to educate students about the farm origins of their food from field-to-table while connecting them to the farmland in their own backyards. Learn more and support them here: https://www.seeag.org/
Nov3: In Memoriam – Remembering Clyde Kirkpatrick, a founding SB Maritime Museum board director who originated the idea of opening such a museum along with Bob Kieding, “and the rest, as they say, is history," said SBMM Executive Director Greg Gorga.
Nov 2: Solar Steal: Utilities are working to block rooftop solar for California renters, schools, and farmers. “With this vote, the CPUC is denying schools, small businesses, apartment buildings and farms the ability to use the solar energy they produce on-site, and instead forcing them to buy their own solar back from the utility at full retail prices,” said a statement from the California Solar & Storage Association.
Nov. 2: A year of victories for the environment in the state legislature, according to Sierra Club California in releasing its annual legislative analysis. Out of the 51 bills SCC opposed this year, only one managed to reach the Governor's desk, “a testament to the robust strength of our movement.” Also, 46 legislators received perfect scores (voting in line with the Sierra Club position 100% of scored bills), an uptick from the 40 in 2022.
Oct 31: Well said by our chapter Executive Director Jon Ullman, quoted in the LA Times about Exxon scrapping a proposal to build a new pipeline. “This [pipeline] replacement has been hanging over the community’s head for five years now,” he told the Times. “I was very happy to hear this news; it felt like their withdrawal signified that the writing was on the wall that they could not continue.” However, Exxon has an ill-considered wish to ‘repair’ the corroded pipeline responsible for the 2015 leak spilling over 140,000 gallons of oil along the Gaviota Coast, effectively stopping three offshore oil platforms from producing. Ullman asserted it “can’t be repaired.”
Oct 25: Coastal Access Update for the Hollister Ranch area. The state agency team is preparing factors for an environmental impact report not expected until 2024. Chumash are now involved in protecting cultural resources if public access is granted off the private Ranch area. To keep apprised of this sensitive issue, send an email to: hrcapstakeholders@gmail.com
Oct 20: Golden shovels broke ground at Gaviota Overlook to celebrate the success of the Land Trust of Santa Barbara County’s $3 million fundraising campaign to purchase the land and protect it from development. It comprises 48 acres of rolling grassland neighboring the Arroyo Hondo nature preserve’s 782 acres. Expect to see more trails leading into it from Arroyo Hondo and public access for the first time in 20 years. You can visit Arroyo Hondo and learn more about Gaviota Overlook at: www.sblandtrust.org
Oct 14: Conservation Platform: A wonderful article in the LA Times about our Gaviota Coast. “We’re transforming much of Point Conception into a platform for conservation, research and ecological recovery projects,” said Mark Reynolds, a lead scientist for the Nature Conservancy, which in 2017 purchased 24,329 acres of land between VAFB and Jalama Beach to protect it from development. “Our findings will provide glimpses into California’s coastal future.” It’s now known as the Jack and Laura Dangermond Preserve. The couple donated $165 million to buy it. Learn more at: https://tinyurl.com/DangermondPreserve