Great news: Senator Alex Padilla introduced the Protecting Unique and Beautiful Landscapes by Investing in California (PUBLIC) Lands Act, a bill co-sponsored by U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif) to expand protections for over one million acres of California’s public lands, including our San Gabriel Mountains and rivers.
The PUBLIC Lands Act is a package of previously introduced bills, including the San Gabriel Mountains Foothills and Rivers Protection Act, the Central Coast Heritage Protection Act, and the Northwest California Wilderness, Recreation, and Working Forests Act.
The press conference was held locally at Santa Fe Dam Recreation Area, with the San Gabriel Mountains as the scenic backdrop. Padilla was joined by Nature for All staff, Representative Grace Napolitano (D-Calif), Representative Judy Chu (D-Calif), Los Angeles County Supervisor Hilda Solis, California Natural Resources Secretary Wade Crowfoot, Gabrielino/Tongva Tribe Chief Anthony Morales, Youth and Community Engagement Member for Los Padres ForestWatch Graciela Cabello, and Executive Director for Alliance for a Better Community, Vanessa Aramayo (Nature for All board member) for the announcement of the legislation.
“This will improve trails and make the area much more accessible to low-income families in our community. It’s also going to be part of a climate solution by protecting public lands from oil drilling, improving carbon sequestration, preserving wildlife corridors, and protecting our watershed,” said our Executive Director, Belén Bernal.
