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Email Alert #26
July 25, 2002
Anti-wilderness Resolution at the Board of Supervisors
Your help is needed to defeat Sup. Bill Horn's anti-wilderness resolution, which he will bring to the Board of Supervisors on Tuesday, July 30.
OUTCOME:
Supervisor Bill Horn removed the resolution before the meeting. Proud victory!Horn is bringing this resolution in response to Senator Boxer's California Wild Heritage Wilderness Act of 2002, which will protect 2.5 million acres of Wilderness in California and designate 22 river segments as Wild and Scenic. In San Diego County, the bill will protect 44,000 acres as Wilderness and designate four Wild and Scenic River segments.
The Wild Heritage Campaign has been seeking the endorsement of county supervisors from around the state, and in fact received an endorsement from the Nevada County Supervisors on July 23. Three out of five of our San Diego County Supervisors have written letters supporting our local areas in the Wilderness Bill, so we're hoping there will be a pro-Wild Heritage Act resolution that the Supervisors can vote for on Tuesday.
We need to let the Supervisors know that the majority of San Diegans support this wilderness legislation, and want the Supervisors to support it too.
WHAT YOU CAN DO
1) Call your Supervisor (contact info below). It will take two minutes. Make sure they take down your name and address when you call. Tell the person who answers the phone that you are concerned about Bill Horn's anti-wilderness resolution. Ask the supervisor to vote against Horn's resolution, and to support a resolution in favor of the California Wild Heritage Wilderness Act of 2002. Supervisors Cox and Jacob are top priorities at this time -- we need to secure Cox's support, and encourage Jacob to lead the way on a pro-wilderness resolution. If you are in their districts, please make calls to them right away, using the following messages as a guide:
COX: Encourage him to write a letter of support for the bill, which Roberts, Jacob, and Slater have already done. Then ask him for a pro-wilderness vote on Tuesday.
JACOB: Thank her for her outstanding support for the Wilderness Bill, and ask if she plans to introduce her own resolution endorsing the Wilderness Bill.
IF YOU LIVE IN SLATER OR ROBERTS DISTRICTS: Please thank them for their past support of the Wilderness Bill, in addition to asking them for a pro-wilderness vote.
IF YOU LIVE IN HORN'S DISTRICT: Ask that he withdraw his anti-Wilderness Bill resolution, as it is contrary to the wishes of the majority of San Diegans and the majority of Californians.
2) You can also fax or e-mail the Supervisors with the same message (see contact info below).
3) Attend the Board of Supervisors meeting on Tuesday, July 30,
at 9 am at the County Administration Building on Pacific Highway and speak in opposition to Bill Horn's anti-wilderness resolution and in favor of the California Wild Heritage Wilderness Act of 2002. Larry Hogue will speak representing the Sierra Club Desert Committee and the California Wild Heritage Campaign. You can contact him at: 858-452-6654 or lhogue8182@aol.com.
CONTACT INFO
District 1 (Imperial Beach, Chula Vista, National City, Coronado, Point Loma) Greg Cox, 619-531-5511, FAX: 619-235-0644, greg-cox@co.san-diego.ca.us
District 2 (El Cajon, Poway, most of E. County) Dianne Jacob, 619-531-5522, FAX: 619-696-7253, dianne-jacob@co.san-diego.ca.us
District 3 (La Jolla, Mira Mesa, Encinitas, Escondido) Pam Slater, 619-531-5533, FAX: 619-234-1559, pam-slater@co.san-diego.ca.us
District 4 (Central City of San Diego) Ron Roberts, 619-531-5544, FAX: 619-531-6262, ron-roberts@co.san-diego.ca.us
District 5 (North county, including Carlsbad, Oceanside, Fallbrook, Valley Center) Bill Horn, 619-531-5555, bill-horn@co.san-diego.ca.us
BACKGROUND
Dozens of volunteers have worked for three years identifying, mapping and generating support for new wilderness areas in San Diego County. The areas that were selected for the Wild Heritage Bill include important habitat at the headwaters of the San Diego River (Eagle Peak Wilderness areas), Sweetwater River (Hauser additions), and critical habitat for the endangered Peninsular bighorn sheep (Carrizo Gorge and Sawtooth Mountains additions). In addition, spectacular, untouched segments of the San Diego River, Cedar Creek, and Pine Valley Creek have been selected for Wild and Scenic River status.
It is important to protect these rivers and landscapes because:
1) all of the areas provide valuable open space, while the mountain areas contain the headwaters of local sources for our clean drinking water;
2) all of these areas and rivers provide habitat for endangered plants and animals;
3) they are part of our nation's precious wilderness heritage.
In selecting these areas, campaign staff and volunteers worked painstakingly to meet the needs of a diversity of interests: areas with existing legal OHV and mountain bike routes were omitted from the bill, and contacts were made with local land owners, business owners, community groups and recreational groups. The entire San Diego City Council, representing both Democrats and Republicans, supports the California Wild Heritage Wilderness Act of 2002, as do local businesses, church groups, community planning groups, and hundreds of private citizens.
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