SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Beaches, rivers, wetlands and their
link to the state’s urban centers will be the topic of
discussion as key members of the state legislature meet with
coastal advocates in the Sacramento Convention Center for a
Legislative Breakfast on March 20, 2002.
Organized by the California Coastal Coalition (CalCoast) and
the Southern California Wetlands Recovery Project, the breakfast
is scheduled to feature presentations by Lt. Gov. Cruz
Bustamante, Assembly Budget Committee Chair Jenny Oropeza,
Resources Secretary Mary Nichols, and Sam Schuchat, Executive
Officer of the State Coastal Conservancy. Key topics include the
current legislative session and the formulation of the 2003
state budget.
The new $2.6 billion parks, coast and water bond, Proposition
40, will also be discussed by the author of the measure,
Assembly Speaker pro Tem Fred Keeley (D-Santa Cruz).
"In addition to hearing about legislation and funding,
we hope to carry our message to leaders in Sacramento that
coastal resources, including beaches, rivers, and wetlands, have
value to a broad spectrum of people in California, including
Latinos, Asian-Americans, African Americans, and Native
Americans," said Steve Aceti, CalCoast Executive Director.
Due in part to term limits, key leadership positions in
Sacramento are now occupied by legislators of greater ethnic
diversity than ever before in California’s history. The park
bonds, Proposition 12 and Proposition 40, passed the legislature
largely as a result of the Latino Caucus combining forces with
other legislators committed to resource protection. These
legislators are eager to ensure that public funds spent to
protect natural resources benefit all income and ethnic groups
in California.
"Restoring our beaches, rivers, and wetlands isn’t just
for the birds or for those who can afford to live on or near the
coast," Aceti added. "Tens of thousands of children of
all ethnic and economic backgrounds visit the state’s beaches,
rivers, and wetlands with their school classes and families.
These experiences can be transforming and can greatly enhance
learning. Restoring these resources has tremendous educational
potential for all of California’s children, regardless of
their ethnicity. This will be the critical message of this
year's event as we seek greater state investment in the
protection of coastal resources."
For more information concerning this special event, please go
to: http://www.calcoast.org.
CalCoast is an advocacy organization comprised of coastal
communities and interest groups.
The Southern California Wetlands Recovery Project, is a
partnership of public agencies working cooperatively to acquire,
restore, and enhance coastal wetlands and watersheds between
Point Conception and the International border with Mexico. For
more information about the organization, please go to: http://www.coastalconservancy.ca.gov/scwrp/.
