California

California Primary June 3, 2008

Protect our Health and Environment on June 3rd: Vote No on Proposition 98 and Yes on Proposition 99

While Propositions 98 and 99 on the June 3rd state ballot may seem like simple efforts to limit the government's ability to take possession of privately owned property (legally referred to as eminent domain), there are complex issues hidden underneath that voters need to be aware of, including their impact on enforcing key environmental laws. Clean Water Action urges your support of Prop. 99 as a reasonable means of protecting property owners and stopping developer land grabs. Proposition 98, however, poses a serious threat to environmental protections and we urgently need your help to defeat this dangerous proposal!

Proposition 98 could prohibit a wide range of environmental and land use regulations from being adopted or enforced. It could stop rules to reduce global warming, or to protect coastal areas or the wetlands that help safeguard our drinking water. It could stop "Smart Growth" regulations designed to control sprawl, and even could block ordinary zoning regulations. Worst of all, it does not exempt regulations that protect public health and safety from its provisions.

Proposition 99 is a much better approach that addresses the problem without endangering our health and environment. It would prohibit government from using eminent domain to take a home and transfer it to a private developer. It is supported by a broad coalition of homeowner, business, labor and environmental groups.

Don't be fooled by the self-serving and purposely misleading hype that the developers are using under the guise of protecting basic property rights and help us protect the environmental laws that protect our health and our families! Clean Water Action urges you to spread the word about the differences between these two bills to your friends and families. Most importantly, please don't forget to vote NO on Proposition 98 and YES on Proposition 99 on June 3rd!

State Assembly and Senate Seats

On June 3, California voters will go to the polls in our primary election. A number of state Assembly and Senate seats are contested in the Democratic primary.

Clean Water Action asked the candidates in contested races for the Democratic nomination to describe their positions on some of our priority issues. Several of the candidates responded and completed our questionnaire. Please read their responses.

Candidates for Assembly District 14 (East Bay – Berkeley)

Responses were received from:

Candidates for Assembly District 19 (Northern San Mateo County)

Responses were received from:

Candidates for Assembly District 22 (Western Santa Clara County)

Responses were received from:

There are lots of important environmental issues facing our state -- protecting us from toxic chemicals, keeping pharmaceutical drugs out of our drinking water, conserving water, and cleaning up our drinking water sources and our rivers and streams. The next legislature will make decisions on many of these issues, and it's helpful to know how candidates stand on these issues as we head to the polls.

Paid for by Clean Water Action for distribution to its members.

Don't forget to vote on June 3!

Don't Divert More Water From The Tuolumne River

The Tuolumne River, which provides 85% of the drinking water for 2.4 million San Francisco Bay area residents, is a natural wonder, offering recreational opportunities, supporting a diverse biological community, and providing fresh water flows to the San Joaquin River and the Delta.

However, like most California rivers, the Tuolumne is in crisis. Sixty percent of the river’s natural flow is diverted for urban and agricultural uses, and several fish species are in decline.

Unfortunately, the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC) wants to increase diversions from this scenic river.

Take Action: Sign a petition to oppose more diversions from the Tuolumne and to help the Bay Area become a leader in the sustainability of its resources.

Safer Chemicals in California

Did you know that there are approximately 80,000 chemicals in commercial use but that for most of them, we have done little or no testing for their potential health or environmental impacts? As a result our household cleaners, garden chemicals and pesticides, personal care products, computers, clothes, food, and even our beds may contain chemicals about which we have little safety information.

While not all chemicals are harmful and many provide important benefits, there is growing evidence linking chemical exposures over time to health impacts such as cancer, reproductive problems, neurological disorders, and respiratory disease.

The good news is that manufacturing products with less toxic materials and promoting the development of "green chemistry" can protect our communities, workers, and ecosystems. It can also save businesses money, increase efficiency, reduce liability, and give them a competitive advantage as other parts of the world regulate the use of toxic materials.

California's EPA had recently launched a Green Chemistry Initiative, investigating ways to promote the design, manufacture, and use of non-toxic chemical products, while reducing waste, creating sustainable businesses and jobs, and using less energy.

We need to make sure that the state adopts a strong program that provides incentives for the use of less-toxic chemicals, but that also phases out the most toxic chemicals and requires substitution of less-toxic alternatives.

take action buttonTake Action: Write to Maureen Gorsen, the Director of the California Department of Toxic Substance Control. Urge her to make sure the state's Green Chemistry Initiative includes both incentives and strong regulations that will protect our health and the environment.

Victory! Governor Signs Our Bottled Water Right To Know Bill

Governor Schwarzenegger has signed into law Senate Bill 220, authored by Senator Ellen Corbett (D-San Leandro) and sponsored by Clean Water Action! This bill will provide essential water quality and consumer information to consumers of bottled and vended water.

More than 600 Clean Water Action members joined with a broad coalition of consumer groups, environmental justice and environmental organizations and water agencies to urge the Governor to sign the bill before the October 14th deadline. Many thanks to those of you who responded to our e-mail and phone alerts and sent a letter or e-mail to the Governor.

bottled water on iceWith the passage of SB 220, bottled water companies operating in California will be required to provide consumers with information on the quality of the water and levels of contaminants found in it. These requirements bring bottled water into compliance with the public disclosure rules for tap water.

The other key component of the bill improves consumer information and oversight of the more than 7500 vended water machines in California. SB 220 establishes maintenance requirements for the machines, mandates a proactive inspection program by the Department of Public Health, and requires that information on the machines be posted in both English and Spanish

The Department of Public Health Food and Drug branch is responsible for implementing this bill, which will take effect on January 1, 2009. Thanks again to all of our members for helping get this important bill approved!

Victory for San Francisco Bay!

Thanks to your support, we've won an important victory that will lead to the eventual clean up of San Francisco Bay and set a precedent of high standards for future clean up plans in other parts of the state!  On July 17th, the State Water Resources Control Board adopted a plan to address mercury contamination in the Bay that included most of the features we fought for over the last 4 years. A key turning point in this long struggle came in September 2005 when we presented a letter to the State Board, signed by 2,500 of our Bay Area members, demanding that a stringent clean up plan be adopted. Read more about our historic victory.

Green Chemistry Initiative

Clean Water Action's California staff has taken a lead role in preventing pollution and protecting public and worker health by advocating for the reduction of toxic chemicals in products and industrial and agricultural processes and for the renewal of the state's economy through the promotion of green chemistry. Green chemistry is the design, manufacture, and use of non-toxic chemical products, while reducing waste, creating sustainable businesses and jobs, and using less energy. Learn more and read our report on Green Chemistry option in California.

Demand protection of the Clean Water Act!

The Clean Water Act is being threatened. Over 150,000 miles of waterways in California alone could loose their protections. Elected officials have drawn up the Clean Water Authority Restoration Act to enforce the meaning behind the Clean Water Act..to keep our drinking water sources clean!

Our strategy, strength in numbers! We need you to protect our most basic and precious resource, our water!

Find out whether or not your Representative has signed on to the Clean Water Authority Restoration Bill!