Jomsky, Mark
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De La Cuba, Vannia
Wednesday, July 26, 2023 4:42 PM
Marquez, Miguel; Jomsky, Mark; Bagneris, Michele
Gordo, Victor; Victor Gordo; Stewart, Jana; Mellem, Araceli Request to add Motion Supporting Expansion of San Gabriel Mountains National Monument
6.27.23 HR 3681 San Gabriel Mountains Final Barger.pdf; 2023-07-25 Mayor Karen Bass Letter - San Gabriel Mountains National Monument.pdf
High
Good afternoon Miguel, Mark, and Michele,
Mayor asked that I share with you his request that we place on this coming Monday's Council agenda a motion to support the expansion of the San Gabriel Mountains National Monument.
Mayor would like to have a motion similar to Supervisor Barger's motion (attached), recently adopted by the County Board of Supervisors.
Additionally, Mayor would like the Council to consider sending a letter to President Biden encouraging him to use his authority under the Antiquities Act to expand the San Gabriel Mountains National Monument. Mayor Karen Bass recently sent President Biden a letter to this effect (attached).
I welcome your adv:ice on how best to proceed, happy to work with staff in drafting both the motion and letter, if necessary.
Kindest regards,
Vannia
Vannia De La Cuba
Deputy to Mayor Victor M. Gordo
City of Pasadena
100 N. Garfield Ave., Suite S2281 Pasadena, CA 91109
Tel: (626) 744-4741
1 Meeting of: 07/31/23
Agenda Item No. 25
MOTION BY SUPERVISOR KATHRYN BARGER
AGN. NO. __
JULY 11, 2023
SUPPORT FOR H.R. 3681 (CHU): SAN GABRIEL MOUNTAINS PROTECTION ACT On October 10, 2014, President Barack Obama designated 346,177 acres of federal lands as the San Gabriel Mountains National Monument, including areas within the Angeles National Forest and the San Bernardino National Forest.
This monument designation has been instrumental in preserving a diverse range of wildlife and ecosystems. Notably, it encompasses four wilderness areas-Magic Mountain, Pleasant View Ridge, San Gabriel, and Sheep Mountain-and showcases unique geological features. The San Gabriel Mountains also serve as a vital water source, providing critical drinking water for humans, as well as sustaining native fish, animals, plants, and essential habitats.
In 2022, the County released the Parks Needs Assessment Plus (PNA+), demonstrating their commitment to preserving 30 percent of lands and coastal waters by 2030. This commitment is further reinforced by the Los Angeles County Climate Action Plan and OurCounty, a sustainability plan that guides the County's conservation and preservation efforts.
On May 25, 2023, U.S. Senator Alex Padilla introduced the Protecting Unique and Beautiful Landscapes by Investing in California (PUBLIC) Lands Act, which would increase protections for public lands throughout Northwest California, the Central Coast, and Los Angeles. Part of this legislative package includes H.R.3681, introduced by Congresswoman Judy Chu, also known as the San Gabriel Mountains Protection Act.
The aim of this legislation is to expand the San Gabriel Mountains National Monument by adding an additional 109,167 acres of land from the National Forest System. -MORE-
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This expansion would extend the monument's borders to include the San Fernando and San Gabriel Valleys.
Furthermore, Senator Alex Padilla and Congresswoman Judy Chu have actively advocated for the expansion through various channels. They have urged President Joseph Biden to utilize his authority under the Antiquities Act of 1906, urging him to issue a presidential proclamation to expand the San Gabriel Mountains National Monument.
These collective efforts align with the State of California and Los Angeles County's objectives to safeguard open spaces for future generations, and it underscores the importance of this legislation.
I, THEREFORE, MOVE THAT THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS direct the Chief Executive Office, through the Legislative Affairs and Intergovernmental Relations Branch to support H.R. 3681, legislation which seeks to expand the San Gabriel Mountains National Monument, and send a letter to Congresswoman Judy Chu and the Chair of the House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Federal Lands, with a copy to the County's Congressional Delegation, and to advocate for the passage of this legislation.
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KB:nvc
July 25, 2023
The Honorable Joe Biden
President of the United States
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.
Washington, DC 20500
K,\REN BASS
MAYOR
RE: Support for Expanding the Area Covered by the San Gabriel Mountains National Monument Designation
Dear Mr. President,
I write to respectfully urge you to advance a decades-long vision to protect the San Gabriel Mountains and use your authority under the Antiquities Act to add 109,000 acres to the existing San Gabriel Mountains National Monument. This would permanently protect a significant portion of the western Angeles National Forest, the proverbial backyard of Los Angeles, California.
President Barack Obama used the Antiquities Act in 2014 to designate approximately 346, 177 acres of the San Gabriel Mountains as a national monument. This was a critical step towards permanently protecting the mountains. In Congress, I supported legislation championed by Representative Judy Chu, Senator Alex Padilla, and then-Senator Kamala Harris to expand the boundaries of the San Gabriel Mountains National Monument. Community support has continued to grow for safeguarding public lands in the western Angeles Forest that were not included in the original monument designation. These lands are the gateway to the forest and welcome millions of visitors each year.
All of the City's nearly four million residents should be able to enjoy the benefits of nature by visiting these outdoor spaces for generations to come. The proposed monument expansion is a critical part of this vision championed by elected leaders and the community for decades. Thank you for your consideration of this request.
Sincerely,
KAREN BASS
Mayor
CC: The Honorable Kamala Harris, Vice President of the United States The Honorable Tom Vilsack, Secretary of Agriculture
The Honorable Brenda Mallory, Chair, Council on Environmental Quality The Honorable Dianne Feinstein, U.S. Senator
The Honorable Alex Padilla, U.S. Senator
The Honorable Judy Chu, U.S. Representative
200 N. SPRING STREET, ROOM 303 LOS ANGELES, CA 90012 (213) 978-0600 MAYOR.LACITY.ORG