We welcome all the time we spend in nature, and it’s especially satisfying to take tours of our local public lands with members of our coalition, other organizations that support our mission, and local legislators we work with to secure and expand protections and help us make nature accessible go all. Today, we started a tour at the Jeffrey Seymour Center and then explored the San Gabriel Mountains and Rim of the Valley areas to marvel at what we have in our backyard.
The House of Representatives passed H.R. 2546 – Protecting America’s Wilderness Act on Wednesday, February 13, which includes our San Gabriel Mountains Foothills and Rivers Protection Act.
Thanks to Rep. Judy Chu for introducing and championing the bill, along with co-sponsors of the legislation: Representatives Pete Aguilar, Julia Brownley, Salud O. Carbajal, Tony Cardenas, Mark DeSaulnier, Anna G. Eshoo, John Garamendi, Ro Khanna, Barbara Lee Mike Levin, Ted Lieu, Zoe Lofgren, Alan S. Lowenthal, Grace F. Napolitano, Harley Rouda, Lucille Roybal-Allard, Adam B. Schiff, Brad Sherman, Jared Huffman, Nanette Diaz Barragan, Karen Bass, Ami Bera, Gilbert Ray Cisneros, J. Luis Correa, Jim Costa, TJ Cox, Susan A. Davis, Jimmy Gomez, Josh Harder, Katie Hill, Doris Okada Matsui, Jerry McNerney, Jimmy Panetta, Nancy Pelosi, Scott H. Peters, Katie Porter, Raul Ruiz, Linda T. Sanchez, Jackie Speier, Eric Swalwell, Mark Takano, Mike Thompson, Norma J. Torres, Juan Vargas, and Maxine Waters.
Later in the date, U.S. Senators Kamala D. Harris (D-CA) and Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) introduced the companion Senate bill, the Protecting Unique and Beautiful Landscapes by Investing in California (PUBLIC) Lands Act.
Leadership Academy graduate Joel Glen hosted another successful trail and river cleanup with his East Fork’s Golden Preservation group. Volunteers collected 828 pounds of trash in the San Gabriel Mountains National Monument, near the Oaks Picnic Area.
Wow, what a year!
Our work continues to focus on leadership development (let’s hear it for our 26 Leadership Academy graduates!); advocacy (we had 174 meetings with elected officials); and community engagement to grown and engage with our base (9,207 + petitions collected; 816 supporters actively engaged in the San Gabriel Mountains Forever/Nature for All programs) and spend time in the great outdoors (37 hikes in the San Gabriel Mountains with 769 individuals; 400+ people from all over LA County came to our All Aboard for Nature event to participate in 5 free transit-to-trails adventures). Onward!
Now enrolling: our new Nature for All Leadership Development Course, a free 4-class mini-series for San Gabriel Valley residents.
Learn about:
-Parks and water opportunities coming to your neighborhood — be part of the decision-making process
-What you can do to bring healthy, nature-based benefits to your community
-How to use your voice & create change in underrepresented communities
-How to advocate for local parks, public lands, water resilience, equity & access
-Civic engagement, how government works, who represents you, community organizing, public speaking
-Tour of San Gabriel Mountains, watershed & parks
-We provide class meals, and certificate of graduation upon completing the course!
Nov. 12, 19 and Dec. 3, 2019: 3 Tuesday night classes 6-9 pm
Dec. 7, 2019: Saturday tour of the San Gabriel Mountains, River and parks 8 am-3 pm
Location: El Monte Aquatic Center, Room D (2nd floor). 11001 Mildred St. El Monte, CA 91731
Thank you to our partner: City of El Monte Parks and Recreation Division!
Questions? E-mail bryan@lanatureforall.org Thanks!
