Bob Schneider (March 2006)

The Bad and Ugly:

This year offers huge challenges on the national front as the Bush administration continues to wage its war on the environment attacking clean air and water quality. It supports bulldozing mountains into rivers for coal and pushes a disingenuous energy plan that includes continued efforts to drill in the Artic National Wildlife Refuge and refuses to discuss improved gas mileage standards. It encourages efforts to eviscerate the Endangered Species Act. The list is unending.

More recent are the attacks on our public lands, including Congressman Pombo's efforts to sell off the West to corporate friends. Sadly, the party of President Theodore Roosevelt is now rewriting our National Parks management documents to limit efforts to protect and preserves these special places. It is insidious.

But, good things are happening and we need to support them:

The Good:

I strongly urge our friends in the Republican Party to join REP America: Republicans for Environmental Protection. Their web site is www.repamerica.org. This national grassroots organization of Republicans for Environmental Protection represents the very best of the Republican Party in the tradition of Teddy Roosevelt.

Many in the faith community are awakening to the spiritual power that lays in working to protect the wonder of our world. Locally, Reverend Sarah Motley Fisher is the chair of the Care for God's Creation Conference. The website is www.careforgodscreation.net and she can be reached at 530-753-2581 extension 225. The conference is on May 20, 2006. If you are interested in helping your church's involvement in efforts to protect the environment, contact her.

Here is some specific information on Lake Berryessa, Thompson's Wilderness Bill, and Conaway Ranch.

Lake Berryessa:

The Lake Berryessa redevelopment plan Record of Decision is expected in March, although Pombo has asked for more public comment and additional delay to benefit his friends and their private trailers.

But, it is time to get rid of the private trailer parks and open up the Lake to the general public. As the Napa Valley Register said in their editorial on February 5th, “They should be removed because they limit—rather than enhance—public use of this taxpayer resource.”

Thompson's Wilderness Bill (HR233):

Congressman Mike Thompson's wilderness bill will permanently protect nearly 300,000 acres in northwestern California including 31,000 acres of Cache Creek wilderness. The Senate companion bill (S128) cosponsored by Senators Boxer and Feinstein unanimously passed the US Senate last year. This is the year to pass the bill in congress and enact this legislation. Let Mike know you support his efforts. Check the California Wild Heritage Campaign website for updated information at www.californiawild.org.

Conaway Ranch:

It is rare for politicians to be so bold, but our Yolo County Supervisors have shown visionary leadership in their efforts to purchase Conaway Ranch for the people of Yolo County. Make no mistake. In 50 years the residents of Yolo County will thank them for this legacy purchase.

The current owners, a Sacramento developer group, bought the property knowing that the county had begun the eminent domain process. It is developers who own this property: not home owners or farmers. Developers do what they do, they develop. And, they pay big bucks to influence elections. This purchase is a developer wedge to leverage control in Yolo County.

Let us control our destiny. Support our supervisors in this legacy purchase for open space, habitat, water supply, and our working landscape.

Write to:

Frank Sieferman, Chair and Yolo County Supervisors, 625 Court, Woodland, CA 95695.

Send letters to the editor at:

Debbie Davis, editor, Davis Enterprise, ddavis@davisenterprise.net

Jim Smith, editor, Daily Democrat, jsmith@dailydemocrat.com.