The Union photo/John Hart
Posted on 09/24/2004 11:00:31 PM PDT by calcowgirl
After signing the Sierra Nevada Conservancy bill along the Bear River, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger gives a thumbs-up to dignitaries and the media. From left are Assemblyman John Laird, D-Santa Cruz; state Resources Agency Secretary Mike Chrisman; California EPA Secretary Terry Tamminen; and Assemblyman Tim Leslie, R-Tahoe City.
The Union photo/John Hart
Standing on a wide gravel bar with the Bear River flowing gently by him, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed the Sierra Nevada Conservancy bill Thursday to the sound of bipartisan applause.
"California is where the conservation movement began, and today we are happy to continue this noble tradition," Schwarzenegger said. "This is the kind of thing we can do if both parties work together."
The conservancy will lobby for money to bolster the Sierra's ecology and economy, and Nevada County residents are actively seeking to land its headquarters in Nevada City. It was formed by state assemblymen Tim Leslie, R-Tahoe City, and John Laird, D-Santa Cruz, who stood beside the governor as he signed the history-making bill just outside of Colfax.
"Bipartisanship takes a big risk to be successful," Laird said. He applauded former Nevada County Supervisor Izzy Martin and her fellow Sierra Fund members Joey Jordan and Shawn Garvey of Nevada County for being instrumental in forming the conservancy.
"This is a historic moment for the Sierra," Garvey said just before Schwarzenegger's speech, "and his name will be connected with the Sierra just like Theodore Roosevelt's and John Muir."
Leslie insisted that members of boards of supervisors in the Sierra's counties be included on the conservancy board, and the final version of the law honored his efforts. The conservancy "was built with the radical idea that people who work, live and raise their families here are the front-line stewards of the land," Leslie said.
"This is a great vehicle to bring conservation money to our area to make sure there's clean water and work done on really necessary projects," said Janet Cohen, executive director of the South Yuba River Citizens League in Nevada City.
"The Sierra is a huge chunk of California, and it's been brutally underfunded," Cohen said. "This is where the water and trees come from and where people recreate. It's been overlooked for years and years."
"The key thing was having some local representation," said Inyo County Supervisor Linda Arcularius. She and Supervisor Bob Meacher of Plumas County both lauded Leslie's efforts, "but we wouldn't have had this if Laird hadn't gotten involved," Meacher said.
Several hundred people attended the ceremony, which was under heavy security for the governor.
According to Schwarzenegger's office, the conservancy will be the largest in the state in terms of land mass, overseeing 25 million acres from the Pit River watershed in the far northeast corner of the state to the southern tip of the Sierra in Kern County.
The Sierra Fund said the range produces 65 percent of the state's water but received only 1 percent of the $1 billion water quality bond money available in 2002. The Sierra's population is expected to triple by 2040, according to Sierra Fund figures.
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What's Next?
• The Sierra Nevada Conservancy will have to be put into the state's 2005-06 budget with a start-up cost of $755,000.
• The conservancy board must be picked, with Schwarzenegger selecting five members, the legislature choosing two, and six more coming from the county boards of supervisors across the Sierra.
• A location for the conservancy headquarters must be found. Several towns are already vying for it, including Nevada City.
PING!
One last post on this monstrosity... It's all over but the cryin!
look for home prices to continue to skyrocket. While that will be good for people who already own homes, the people who want to buy will be getting screwed.
And of course, this will lead to increased costs for everything else - thus leading to a call to increase the minimum wage because the COL is too expensive.
Ain't it grand how socialist policies create a need for more socialist policies???
Awful!
But think of all the lovely sheep, native grasses and clean air....don't you FEEL better.
No Arnie is NOT a Republican. He is a Republicat. In other words a Democrat in sheeps clothing. First he signs a law raising emission standards not this land deal. The only thing that will wake up California is the Big One.
Ah, but the sheep will be gone soon, can't have those pesky capitalists making money off the beautiful native grasses, and clean air.
Local news last night said that Arnold has pardoned up to 48 criminals. That far exceeds Gray Davis' 12 or so reported.
We knew he was a liberal on social issues and the environment. He sure has proven it in the last few days.
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OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR GAAS:437:04
Governor Schwarzenegger Signs Historic Legislation Creating Sierra Nevada Conservancy
Standing on the banks of the Bear River and amid the backdrop of the Sierra Nevada Foothills, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger today signed historic legislation creating the Sierra Nevada Conservancy. "The 25 million acres within this Conservancy are a gift to the people of California," said Governor Schwarzenegger. "With this bill, we issue our declaration that our children and grandchildren will see and enjoy the same Sierra Nevada that we value so much today. AB 2600 is common sense legislation to preserve and protect our environment and allow everyone to enjoy our Sierra Nevada Mountains for years to come." The Sierra Nevada Conservancy will establish funding for environmental preservation while providing support for economic sustainability across 25 million acres from the Oregon border to Kern County. As California's largest conservancy, the Sierra Nevada will provide grants to local governments for environmental protection, resource conservation, recreational opportunities and economic growth. "A perfect balance has been struck with the establishment of the Sierra Nevada Conservancy between resource conservation and economic benefit." said California Resources Agency Secretary Mike Chrisman. "People living within the borders of the Sierra Nevada Conservancy will be able to protect the environment in which they live while influencing the prosperous future of their communities. The tremendous gain for those within the region and beyond is immeasurable." Under the provisions of the legislation, AB 2600, sponsored by Assemblymembers Tim Leslie (R-Tahoe City) and John Laird (D-Santa Cruz), the Sierra Nevada Conservancy will be funded through sources to be determined from a variety of public and private sector sources. "I believe the cooperative, bipartisan spirit that created this Sierra Nevada milestone will be the hallmark of the Conservancy for decades to come," said bill co-sponsor Assemblymember Tim Leslie. "Not only will the Sierra now receive much needed funds for important projects, but local residents will finally have a seat at the table in shaping the destiny of their communities and the region." Bill co-sponsor Assemblymember John Laird said, "The Sierra Nevada Conservancy will stand as testament for generations to come, not only as an example of environmental protection and economic balance, but as an example of what people can do when they work together to protect and preserve our most precious resources." One of the primary goals of the Sierra Nevada Conservancy is to support environmental preservation and assist the regional economy, preserve working landscapes, provide increased opportunities for tourism and recognize the need to effectively manage natural disasters, such as wildfire.
The Sierra Nevada Conservancy will be governed by a 13 member board. There will also be three non-voting members. The Governor will have three appointments to the board. The Resources Agency Secretary, Director of Finance, Assembly Speaker and Assembly Rules Committee will each have a single appointment. Each of these appointments will serve at the pleasure of the appointing authority. Six sub-regions within the boundaries of the Conservancy will each have a single board appointment for a two year term. The legislation calls for a five-year strategic planning process that will allow for public input. The Conservancy will recognize the importance of Native American tribes within the region by authorizing grants and loans to tribal organizations. Guidelines have also been established for research and monitoring activities, development and implementation of programs and investment in locally designated activity throughout the region. The Sierra Nevada Conservancy will promote resource conservation and economic benefit within the Counties of Alpine, Amador, Butte, Calaveras, El Dorado, Fresno, Inyo, Kern, Lassen, Madera, Mariposa, Modoc, Mono, Nevada, Placer, Plumas, Shasta, Sierra, Tehama, Tulare, Tuolumne, and Yuba. Since 1973, the California Legislature has created eight conservancies having similar or related resource conservation objectives. The eight conservancies, now nine, protect undeveloped lands in specific regions. Governed by appointed boards of voting and non-voting members, conservancies are under the auspices of various state agencies. |
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"He applauded former Nevada County Supervisor,Izzy Martin.."
Never did I expect to see the name of that smelly old '60s
throwback darken the doorstep of this website. Thank God
her butt got bounced out of office by a nice Republican
lady like Robin Sutherland.
I found a long article from 1994 in the New Republic that mentioned Shawn Garvey, CEO of the Sierra Fund (mentioned in The Union Article above). He started an opposition research firm that helped bring down Bruce Hershenson with unsubstantiated dirt:
...Mary Boyle, a Democratic contender for the Ohio seat, hired Shawn Garvey of the San Francisco-based Smart Campaigns Inc. to supervise her dirt-digging efforts. “My grandfather was a labor organizer,” explains Garvey. “I was a young Socialist. Ten days that shook the world, all that kind of stuff.” But after working for three Kennedys (Ted, Joe, Kathleen), he too made the jump to the dark side. “Times have changed,” he says. “It’s getting ugly out there.” Garvey’s company, started in 1992, is one of scores of opposition research firms now sprinkled across the country like a thousand points of spite.
Does this mean that about $800,000 will be put in the bank account of a board of overseers as yet to be selected? And what is the relationship of this 'conservancy' with local county governments? Can this 'conservancy' bill for the water delivered from its area? Has the governor created, essentially, a mini Standard-Oil monopoly? That's not a rhetorical question. I don't know. I wonder.
www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1195073/posts
CA: Fighting against the tide - State senator worries about water rights
The Union ^ | August 17, 2004 | Dave Moller
Posted on 08/19/2004 5:09:22 PM PDT by calcowgirl
State Sen. Sam Aanestad, R-Grass Valley, said he fears water rights in the Sierra could be jeopardized by a conservancy aimed at protecting the mountain range's resources, such as the South Yuba River, shown here off of North Bloomfield Road.
State Sen. Sam Aanestad on Monday attacked the idea of a Sierra Nevada Conservancy, fearing it will infringe on property and water rights.
Despite Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's endorsement of the plan, the Republican legislator last week voted against a compromised version of the bill, which would create an organization aimed at gathering grants and other funds to protect and improve the mountain range.
"It's a huge land grab by the state of California," said Aanestad, R-Grass Valley. "The most onerous part of it is the board will have control over all water rights. It's a huge invasion on water rights."
(snip)
Someone needs to get the bill up.
BTTT!!!!!!
“The establishment of an American Soviet government will involve the confiscation of large landed estates in town and country, and also, the whole body of forests, mineral deposits, lakes, rivers and so on.” - William Z. Foster, National Chairman of the Communist Party, restating point one of the Communist Manifesto in 1932, “The abolition of private property.”
Bttt!
A nice Republican Governor just sold the American dream to the socialists.
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