There are a number of issues important to our environment on the November 7 ballot. We have included the following information on several propositions in our newsletter The Madrone Leaves for October and November.

Please read this for background and OF UTMOST IMPORTANCE DO GET OUT AND VOTE.

From the November Madrone Leaves:

TAKE NOTE. YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

Yes on Prop 84 - $5.4 billion conservation and water quality bond.
Proposition 84, the Clean Water, Parks and Coastal Protection Bond, is critical to renew funding for the Wildlife Conservation Board, the Coastal Conservancy, numerous regional conservancies, and other important restoration and acquisition programs. Without Prop 84, many of the State's conservation dollars will dry up within the next one to two years, a risk we cannot afford to take.

Yes on Prop 87 - $4 billion program to reduce oil and gasoline usage by 25%.
Proposition 87 taxes the oil companies for California oil extraction (other states have an oil extraction tax, but not California), and it's illegal to pass cost onto consumers. Prop 87 provides for research and production incentives for alternative energy, alternative energy vehicles, energy efficient technologies, and for education and training.

No on Prop 90 - a taxpayer trap.
Proposition 90 is an assault on environmental protection in California. Hidden behind language to stop abuses of eminent domain, Prop 90 aims to choke off governments' ability to pass land-use regulations by requiring the government to make huge payments to landowners unless the regulations are to protect narrowly-defined public health or safety. This would make it prohibitively expensive for public agencies to acquire property for wildlife, public works projects, new schools, fire protection measures, and utilities.

For more information on these propositions, contact Julia Levin, State Policy Director, or 510-601-1866 x 2.

From the October Madrone Leaves:

MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD-TWO PROPOSITIONS CONCERNING THE ENVIRONMENT

Prop 90--The Most Extreme Threat to California's Environment in Decades
By Claudia Eyzaquirre and Julia Levin

Proposition 90 is a full frontal assault on environmental protection in California. Hidden behind language to stop abuses of eminent domain, Proposition 90 includes several very dangerous provisions that would drastically cut back on the State's, local governments' and even voters' ability to protect the environment, local communities, farmland, and other important resources. The most damaging provisions would make it nearly impossible to implement many resource protection laws or to acquire private property to protect wildlife habitat or other important resources.

Under Proposition 90, most government actions to protect the environment would require huge payments to landowners unless those actions are to protect narrowly-defined public health or safety. Proposition 90 would redefine "damages" to allow virtually anyone to sue claiming a law or regulation has affected the value of their property or business - no matter how far-fetched the claim. It would also make pollution a private property right so that the government would have to pay to regulate or reduce pollution. Proposition 90 would not only affect environmental protection, but also consumer protection, historic preservation, hunting regulation, and many other laws which protect our quality of life, communities, and environment.

In addition to making many regulations difficult or impossible to enforce, Proposition 90 would make it prohibitively expensive for public agencies to acquire property for wildlife or other resource protection, public works projects, new schools, fire protection measures, utilities, and other important public works. It would create a new, complicated, and expensive standard for compensating landowners that would increase the costs, legal battles, and bureaucracy needed for public acquisition.

For more information, contact Julia Levin, State Policy Director, at jlevin@audubon.org or 510-601-1866 x 2.

Prop 84: Clean Water, Parks and Coastal Protection Bond
By Janeann Erickson

Of the many initiatives on this November=s ballot, one of particular interest to the environmental community is Proposition 84. California is facing enormous population growth in the coming years, with 25 million new residents expected by 2040. But our investment in infrastructure is not keeping pace with our population growth. This $5.4 billion bond measure will renew funding for the Wildlife Conservation Board and the Coastal Conservancy; it provides funds for water quality and supply projects; it provides funds for habitat restoration and acquisition; and it provides funds for flood control projects.

The general funding categories are as follows: $928 million for protection of rivers, lakes, and streams; $450 million for wildlife and forest conservation; $540 million for beaches, bays, and coastal protection; $500 million for parks and nature education centers; $580 million for sustainable communities; $240 million for safe drinking water; $1.285 billion for integrated water management and water quality; $800 million for flood control; and $65 million for statewide water planning and design.

We must make the investments needed to ensure that all Californians will have access to safe drinking water; better protection from floods; and opportunities to enjoy our parks, natural landscapes, rivers, lakes, beaches, bays, and coastline.

Fact sheets and other bond materials are available at www.ca.audubon.org/action.htm.

Back to the home page