Santa Margarita Group
Michael H. Momeni
Transportation Issues
This congested Interstate 15 is the artery linking the communities within the Temecula Valley. The options for improvement have been discussed over several years, but many improvement projects are not even on the planning schedule.
The options for improvements are the realignment of the State 79 roads to carry some of the interstate traffic, the addition of express lanes to the Interstate 15, and construction of commuter electric light train linking San Diego to Ontario. Unfortunately, none of these options are on the planning board due to lack of financial resources and the lack of advocacy of the public interest.
Science Day, Teri Biancardi
Our first Science Day was a success! The event focused on watershed and water quality. The project involved Rancho Water, the Santa Margarita Ecological Reserve, and Riverside County Flood Control, and Water Conservation District. Several speakers addressed about 30 students. They evaluated water quality by testing
pH, dissolved oxygen, and nitrates in Santa Margarita River.
Flood Control agency sponsored the Science Day project; we anticipate the program to continue.
Political Committee, Elena Garcia
The Political Committee has been urging our members to inform themselves of the issues and candidates for the upcoming primary on June 5. A list of the endorsed candidates and issues is listed at https://www.sierraclub.org/california/2018-endorsements.
Only the top two vote-getters face off in November. Please vote in this primary!
Tree City USA, Margaret Meyncke
The Arbor Day Foundation promotes planting and maintaining trees within our cities. The program, called Tree City USA, requires four steps to achieve certification. 1- A tree board; 2- A tree care ordinance; 3- a Community forestry program with a per capita budget of $2 per person; 4- Arbor Day celebration and proclamation. There are currently 3,409 cities that have achieved this distinction.
Margaret recently completed this process along with the City of Temecula and using her affiliation with the Temecula Valley Woman's Club.
Earth Day Celebration, Caren Hanson
The second Earth Day Celebration was on April 21, at the Vail Headquarters in Temecula CA. We shared this event with the Murrieta Arts Council (MAC) and Vail Headquarters, who donated the site.
We had ten speakers presenting an array of conservation issues and music group. The vendors ranged from Organic Food Companies, Project Wildlife, Astronomy, Water Resources, Recycling, Solar Panels, Waste Resource, and conservation-oriented games for the kids.
Monthly Speaker Program, Pam Nelson
Diana Lindsay, a dedicated volunteer for the State Park and an author addressed our general meeting in May. Her books are on local Native American culture, geology, trails and botanical topics. June is our last meeting until September 2018.
Please send your inquiries to:
Please also contact us by Email: sierraclubsmg@gmail.com
Our interactive blog: What's Up at the Southern California Nature Guardians
http://sierraconservation.blogspot.com/
Or, visit us on our Facebooks:
https://www.facebook.com/SierraClubSantaMargaritaGroup/
Or
@advocateElectricTrain
Or
@SoCaNatureGuardians
And our webpage:
presents highlights of our activities.
Governor: Gavin Newsom. Newsom is the current lieutenant governor and before that he was mayor of San Francisco. Newsom helped carve new policy for renewable energy and environmental protection as mayor, notably he made SF the first city in California to ban single-use plastic grocery bags. We have watched him grow into his role as lieutenant governor and become a strong voice for protecting the state’s coastal waters from polluters, including the oil and gas industry. He’s ready to be governor and help California continue its environmental leadership.
Lieutenant Governor: Jeff Bleich. Bleich is a lawyer whose most recent political job was as U.S. ambassador to Australia during the Obama Administration. Bleich’s environmental record dates back to his early career, when he worked for the Conservation Law Foundation. He understands environmental issues deeply. In California, the lieutenant governor sits on key commissions that have profound impacts on the state’s environmental policy, including the States Lands Commission. Bleich’s commitment and track record on the environment will serve California well on those commissions.
Attorney General: Xavier Becerra (incumbent). California's current Attorney General has been in the job just over a year, but it has been quite a year. Appointed to the post by the governor after Kamala Harris moved to the U.S. Senate, Becerra has been on the frontlines of fighting the Trump Administration through the courts, including Trump's efforts to dismantle environmental protection. Becerra has done a good job and deserves to be elected to a full term as AG.
Secretary of State: Alex Padilla (incumbent). When he first ran for Secretary of State in 2014, Padilla promised to update the way that office provides campaign finance information and improve Californians’ access to voting. He has delivered that and more. We endorsed Alex Padilla in 2014 and we enthusiastically endorse him again in 2018.
Controller: Betty Yee (incumbent). Sierra Club endorsed Betty Yee in 2014, when she was the underdog and won by a paper-thin margin, and we remain glad we did. As controller Yee sits on important boards and commissions whose actions affect environmental policy, such as the State Lands Commission and the California Public Employees Retirement System Board. She has a strong reputation in Sacramento for really understanding policy and policymaking, and how to get things done. She has demonstrated her commitment to reduce California’s dependence on fossil fuels through her actions and leadership on the State Lands Commission. We enthusiastically endorse Betty Yee for a second term as California’s controller.