Editor’s note: There’s some doom and gloom afoot with a new federal administration that likes the environment for its resources and riches as opposed to its soul. But the Sierra Club has been down this road before and has tremendous influence even in the Trump era..
Then there is our local watchdog and e-mail chronicler, Jim Hines, ever-hopeful, our premier lobbyist and activist. This covers the last two months (Jan 2025-Dec 2024). Jim is a Conservation Chair with the chapter and is available as a speaker
By Jim Hines
Jan 31: It’s tough being an employee of the federal government; everyday their boss President Trump bashes and threatens the many dedicated and knowledgeable civil servants.
So many people I have gotten to know over the years and who have helped us in the environmental community are now afraid for their jobs.
So, when you visit a national park, forest, marine sanctuary, wildlife refuge, take time to thank the dedicated staff and let them know you appreciate their hard work to protest all that is wild across America.
Jan 30: I was told by staff at Rep. Bruce Westerman’s (R-Arkansas) office that the opening up of all known uranium deposits to mining on federal lands in the west will be tied to passage of the upcoming rise of the U.S. debt ceiling. Good way to get around public scrutiny of a bill!
Next month our Rep. Salud Carbajal (D-Ventura-Santa Barbara) will introduce legislation to protect federal lands within the Lake Casitas Watershed by including those within the National Wilderness Preservation System.
This bill is personal to me as it includes my family's ranch lands where I grew up in the Casitas Watershed.
Jan 30: Howling with joy . . . we did it. Montana legislature just voted (60-40) down a bill which would have allowed year-round killing of wolves.
Jan 27: It seems overwhelming that there is no hope in our gigantic fight to stop Trump 2.0 from destroying our environment, but we are making some early progress:
~ Several MAGA republicans in the U.S. House have introduced legislation to prevent the Trump Administration from selling off national public lands units, due to a massive outcry in their congressional districts, proof that public speaking up works.
~ Yes, we still have friends working in various Interior offices who are still giving us info and some of us are contacting new staffers.
~ Several organizations including the Sierra Club are using the court system to stop Trump 2.0
~ We have successfully used local and state governments to Trump proof our environment.
~ We are using the chaos in our nation's capital to our advantage and building an army of resistance.
Jan 23: I just committed our chapter to supporting the Angeles Chapter’s Northern Angeles Forest National Monument campaign, which borders eastern Ventura county. The Angeles chapter members want to be aware of the issues facing Los Padres NF and are willing to help protect it.
We are one big Sierra Club family working together to protect our national forests.
Jan 23: DC phone call: James Blair, Deputy Chief of Staff to President Trump. I briefly filled him in on some issues along our central coast region which would be impacted by President Trump's recent directives and executive orders.
He listened quietly, made a couple of comments and asked me two questions and that was it. He noted no one communicates with the Trump Administration about what they think on issues.
We meet with our friends to thank them, and we meet with our adversaries to express our views and gather important information on what is coming up so that we can plan an effective strategy.
Jan 21: Presidential Directive issued by President Trump instructing the Secretary of the Interior to no longer take part in a Federal/California joint effort to protect the nation's largest inland estuary, the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. Sierra Club California has worked hard to implement the delta protection plan which has literally saved valuable wildlife habitat.
Jan 21: My first request with the Secretary of the Interior is to have 64,000 acres of federal lands within the Lake Casitas Watershed withdrawn from any mineral mining for 20 years. It’s the same area which was withdrawn by Interior in 1980 to stop a planned uranium mine.
Jan 18: "Pathways to Darkness" campaign will be lighting up the issue of nighttime illumination impact on lions and all wildlife in rural areas where mountain lions need to feed. Goals in mountain lion habitat are to are to turn the lights out and allow dark skies to prevail and enact regulations to prohibit night lights in those areas.
In our chapter region only two entities the City of Ojai and Ventura County government have enacted night light/dark skies ordinances.
Jan 16: Our Small Chapter is a ‘David’ as we challenged the high and mighty taking on President Trump and Resident Elon Musk over Space X's plan to destroy the ocean and marine environment.
Jan 8: Trump Administration has released its guide to a 3-step approach to eliminate Monday's offshore oil drilling ban levied by President Biden. 1) Write legislation to Congress to eliminate the ban, 2) Get Trump-friendly Supreme Court to declare the ban unconstitutional and 3) declare a national energy emergency.
Jan 7: Petition rejected by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service rejected by a wolf hunting organization, The Sportsman's Alliance which would have removed endangered species act protections.
Jan 7: Borchard Wetlands in the Newbury Park area will be protected by our chapter working with the California Native Plant Society.
Jan 3: Powerful ally/friend Rep. Jared Huffman (D-San Rafael, California) who is now the ranking member of the House Committee on Natural Resources.
Jan 2: White House Wednesdays have paid off, Ruby Mtns in Nevada now protected and next week President Biden will designate two new national monuments in California.
Dec 20: Together we had many successes protecting wildlife, wolves, monarchs, mountain lions, Tule Elk and more. The new year will bring us new challenges and I know that we will be up to it by building upon our success this year.
Renew yourself, find solitude and peace and be ready to defend Mother Earth and her wild creatures.
Dec 6: Back in 2018 when I attended a meeting with then Secretary of the Interior Zinke under President Trump, I noticed a large wall map of the western U.S. which had bulls eyes drawn on it. I was told the areas on the map were targets for a massive campaign to open federal lands for oil and mineral extraction.
The largest bulls eye was on the Colorado Plateau region (Grand Canyon north through southern Utah), the second was central coast California.
For me it is deja vu all over again in 2025. I hear those same areas will be targeted once again.
Our chapter has it work cut out for us in 2025. The agenda to destroy is huge but our passion to protect is greater. Will I see another wall map once again?
~ Edited by John Hankins