CH-27 Correspondence – Robin Smith
From: Wendy & Robin [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: Tuesday, August 16, 2022 3:25 PM
To: CityClerk <[email protected]>
Subject: Long Beach City Council Mtg 8/18/22 Public Comment
-EXTERNAL-
TO: City of Long Beach, City Clerk
RE: Long Beach City Council Mtg 8/18/22, Item # 27, files 22-0918/19
Dear City Clerk,
Please submit the attached comment as Public Comment for the reference above.
Long Beach City Manager and Council have also been copied.
Thank you.
C. Robin Smith
Attachment
--
Sierra Club Angeles Chapter, Conservation Committee
Wendy-Sue Rosen & C. Robin Smith
Chairs
August 16, 2022 PUBLIC COMMENT [Electronically Delivered]
TO: City of Long Beach, City Council Members
FROM: C. Robin Smith, Co-Chair, Sierra Club, Angeles Chapter
RE: Long Beach City Council mtg, 8/18/22, Item # 27, files 22-0918/19
Honorable Council Members,
The earth is facing an unprecedented, worldwide extinction and climate crisis. Leading conservation scientists, and international biodiversity organizations say that in order to avert this dual catastrophe and preserve food security, human health, clean water, air, and a stable climate, 50 percent of Nature on the planet, must be saved by 2050.
To meet that goal in the United States, 30 percent of our remaining natural and open spaces must be restored and conserved by 2030.
California has eight years to protect six million acres of land and half a million acres of coastal waters. Meeting the 30x30 goal will require a substantial commitment to acquire, restore, manage lands and coastal waters, with serious investments in conservation.
The state and federally mandated 30 x 30 initiative seeks to build a strong accountability structure, and long-term funding to build the capacity of tribes, land trusts, and community- based organizations that are at the forefront of protecting nature - especially “urban nature” in the state of California.
The 30 x 30 initiative is the main priority of the Angeles Chapter Sierra Club Conservation Committee.
The Sierra Club, Angeles Chapter Conservation Committee’s entity, the Los Cerritos Wetland Task Force, has submitted commentary on the City of Long Beach CAAP Adaptation Objectives and Actions, to identify some important omissions and inadequacies.
Summary: the CAAP plan as is, woefully under reports existing conditions and fails to address the harsh realities of the climate and extinction crisis. CAAP omits a discussion that addresses local species extirpation, economic and racial disparities, and the dispossession of tribal lands and rights that are exacerbated by a local economy monopolized by the fossil fuel corporations.
CAAP sacrifices environmental and social sustainability in order to accommodate existing and expanding coastal development and infrastructure projects - focused primarily on industrial, commercial, and speculation real estate interests.
The Sierra Club has deep concerns about the inadequacies of the current draft of the City of Long Beach CAAP and we ask that it be reviewed for correctives and adjustments that offer better ideas that comport with Nature-Based Climate Solutions.
Sierra Club Angeles Chapter3250 Wilshire Blvd. #1106Los Angeles, CA 90010-1513
We call upon the City of Long Beach to raise the bar of their knowledge, comprehension and moral regard towards the value of preserving, conserving and restoring local, urban Nature.
This ask spans projects from a simple residential lawn, transformed from non-native plants to drought defying native gardens; to reducing chemical and carbon emitting landscape management practices. Our entire antiquated system of land management needs to change.
We offer assistance, guidance and support to the City of Long Beach in reaching the targets outlined in this letter. Please feel free to contact me for more information.
There has never been a more dire and urgent moment in history - where all of us must join together in implementing real actions that save not only human wellbeing, but also our future.
Respectfully Submitted,
C. Robin Smith
C. Robin Smith
Co-Chair, Conservation Committee
Angeles Chapter, Sierra Club
[email protected]
Diamond Bar - Pomona Valley Sierra Club Task Force, Chair [email protected]
951-675-6760 mobile
Reference
California 30 x 30 Program
https://www.californianature.ca.gov/pages/30x30
Sixth Mass Extinction
https://www.worldwildlife.org/stories/what-is-the-sixth-mass-extinction-and-what-can-we-do- about-it
Sierra Club 30 x 30 Conservation Program
https://www.sierraclub.org/sites/www.sierraclub.org/files/program/documents/ 30x30Conservation_Lands_FactSheet_07_web.pdf
Sierra Club Angeles Chapter3250 Wilshire Blvd. #1106Los Angeles, CA 90010-1513