PCL INSIDER: News from the Capitol

HAPPY LEGISLATIVE NEW YEAR! 

The California Legislature reconvened on Monday, and we already have good news to report from the Capitol...

GREAT EXPECTATIONS FOR CONFIRMED STATE WATER RESOURCES CONTROL BOARD MEMBERS

After a hiccup in the confirmation process last fall, on Wednesday the Senate Rules Committee confirmed the appointments of Frances Spivy-Weber and Arthur G. Baggett, Jr. to the State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB). We expect the confirmation to pass on the Senate Floor as well. 

Noting that the candidates were "presiding over a dysfunctional system not of [their] cause," committee chairman and Senate President Pro Tem Don Perata said he hopes to see the SWRCB "operating more aggressively" in 2008. That sounds good to us, too!

We congratulate Ms. Spivy-Weber and Mr. Baggett on their confirmations, and look forward to working with them and other SWRCB members and staff to resolve the critical water issues facing California. 

CALIFORNIA ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE SUPPORTS RECOGNITION OF WINNEMEM WINTU TRIBE

Yesterday, the Governmental Organization Committee of the California Assembly passed a Joint Resolution (AJR 39) calling upon the federal government to restore formal recognition of the Winnemem Wintu tribe of the McCloud River. 

Although the tribe received all the federal services afforded to recognized tribes throughout the beginning of the 20th century, including housing, education, and healthcare, in the 1980s the federal Bureau of Indian Affairs terminated the tribe's services without warning or explanation.

The Winnemem Wintu (along with PCL) are members of the Environmental Justice Coalition for Water (EJCW), which works to advance environmental and social justice throughout our state. As a water people (Winnemem means "middle water"), they feel a spiritual obligation to protect the McCloud River, which supports one of the state's premier trout fisheries.

Winnemem headman Mark Franco and Caleen Sisk-Franco, the tribe's spiritual leader, were joined at the Capitol on Wednesday by a dozen of their tribal members in ceremonial clothes as well as other members of EJCW, including PCL. 

AJR 39, sponsored by EJCW and authored by Assemblymember Jared Huffman, will now proceed to the Assembly floor.

NEW YEAR BRINGS NEW FOCUS TO PLANNING AND CONSERVATION LEAGUE LEADERSHIP

We're pleased to announce a new evolution at PCL that takes advantage of the skills, experience, and interests of our leadership team.

On February 1st, PCL's Chief Operating Officer Traci Sheehan will take on the day-to-day direction of the organization as our new Executive Director, allowing current Director Gary Patton more time to focus on the policy issues that are his hallmark in making California a better place to live. As Executive Director, Sheehan will focus her attention on increasing the capacity of PCL to affect those critical policy changes.

"Ms. Sheehan has demonstrated a real talent for organizational management, and has quickly established herself as a leader for PCL, as we continue our forty-three year tradition of environmental advocacy in the California State Capitol," said PCL President John Van de Kamp.

Since joining PCL in August, Sheehan's organizational and fundraising success is already in evidence.

"The PCL/PCL Foundation Symposium, coming up this weekend, is virtually sold out," Sheehan said, "we now have eight advocates at the capitol, we have several new organizational members, and a number of new grant funded projects are now underway."

Sheehan brings over fifteen years of non-profit management experience, including leading the diverse groups of the California Wild Heritage Campaign – an alliance that is similar to the league structure of PCL. She is a graduate of Rutgers University and lives in Coloma with her husband and son. A brief biography of Sheehan is posted on the PCL website, at www.pcl.org.

Patton, who will become PCL's General Counsel, has been associated with PCL since the early 1980's as Board Member, Board President, General Counsel, and most recently as Executive Director. "This is the perfect evolution of my contribution to the organization. I am delighted, personally, that I will soon be able to spend more time on the key legislative, litigation, project, and policy matters in which PCL is playing a leadership role."

Welcome Traci and Gary to their new roles at tsheehan@pcl.org and gapatton@pcl.org.

GEOGRAPHY IS EVERYTHING – SEE FOR YOURSELF AT THIS YEAR'S PCL ENVIRONMENTAL SYMPOSIUM!

PCL's annual Environmental Legislative Symposium is just two days away at the Sacramento Convention Center and there are only a handful of tickets left. If you're waiting until the last possible moment to register, here are two place-based workshops that we're sure will tip the scales:

The Central Valley is one of the most complex environments in the world. From groundbreaking organic farming to mega-dairies, Delta water diversions, and rapid sprawl development, the Valley is a focal point for California's most difficult environmental management decisions. Join Secretary A.G. Kawamura (Department of Food and Agriculture), Eric Holst (Environmental Defense) and Ed Thompson (American Farmland Trust) as we dive into the politics and policies impacting California's cropland.

Come hear Larry Orman and Tim Sinnott from GreenInfo Network and Rebecca Moore from Google Earth as they lead our "How To... Use Maps to Persuade and Mobilize" Workshop. You'll get a close up view of the latest technologies and even learn about cost-effective ways to make your own maps through programs like Google Earth.

Call us at 916-313-4522 to register for the PCL Symposium before tickets run out!
 

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