Editorial
Opinion: Saving the Cleveland National Forest
By Anne MacMillan Eichman
Last Wednesday, June 25th, a large group of Activists, Conservationists, and Environmentalists spoke before the San Diego County Board of Supervisors. We were all united in a single cause: To urge the County Supervisors to save the Cleveland National Forest by re-adopting the protections that were implemented over 20 years ago by the Forest Conservation Initiative.
Back in 1992, the people of San Diego voted overwhelmingly to pass the Forest Conservation Initiative (FCI) that would protect the Cleveland National Forest and preserve its grandeur as President Theodore Roosevelt intended.
Since the FCI was adopted, the San Diego region has experienced the impacts of devastating wildfires, and we are only now beginning to understand the impacts of climate change to our local water supply and fire conditions.
If the forest is not protected by a re-adoption of the protections as they were implemented by the FCI, San Diego’s growing population will sprawl into newly developed lands within the forest boundary. Furthermore, the increased fire damage, diminishing water supply and impacts to habitat will endanger human life and wildlife.
We could anticipate a 34 percent jump in Green House Gas (GHG) emissions from Alpine alone. Moreover, we would see development on both sides of the Interstate 8 all the way to East Willows Road, up to 10 – 20 dwellings per acre of commercial on the north side and many more homes of the south side.
At a meeting of the five County Supervisors this past Wednesday, June 25, only one Supervisor, Dave Roberts, voted to continue protecting the Cleveland National forest.
Let your voice be heard by taking a few minutes to e-mail the County Supervisors and share your input. Here are their email addresses:
Please feel free to share this information with your friends and family.
—Anne MacMillan Eichman is president of the Little Italy Residents Association, a board member of the Downtown Residents Group, a member of the Little Italy Community Advisory Board and a freelance writer.
Letters
More talk about the primary
The American Federation of Teachers did sponsor at least one mailing in support of Props B & C [See “Opinion: Primary election fallout,” Vol. 15, Issue 6].
Community activists, writers and artists DID call the Chamber and their allies out for their lies.
Our voices were ignored by the mass media.
—Doug Porter via sandiegodowntownnews.com
Thank you Doug — I’m an AFT member, so my dues help support these efforts. Educators understand what’s at stake for these communities: sick kids can’t learn as well, polluted neighborhoods are no place to build a strong future. But the message was overwhelmed by chamber et al.
Money is speech … with a bullhorn.
—Lori Saldana via sandiegodowntownnews.com
