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On special OOG assignment to save the seals of San Diego, I had the pleasure of addressing the powerful Ocean Protection Council in Monterey, California.
| The California State Assembly was in session, and so my hero Assemblymember Pedro Nava and State Senator Darrell Steinberg were absent. But there are many heroes on this powerful Council! Lieutenant Governor of California John Garamendi (who also Chairs the State Lands Commission) was there, along with both Mike Chrisman (Secretary for Resources and Ocean Protection Council Chair) and Secretary for Environmental Protection Linda S. Adams, Arnold Schwarzeneggers right-hand when it comes to things like flying around the globe promoting progressive California strategies VS global warming. She told me she was about to fly to China and would take my book along :)! There was a suprisingly large, loud, and diverse contingent there complaining about the Morro Bay/Caucos sewage 'waiver' and the OPC agreed to invite those elected officials to come before the OPC in the near future to explain why they need to continue polluting the ocean! Also in attendance was Leon Panetta, former Whitehouse big-wig who took the time to speak with me privately outside the meeting. His speech inside had been about getting things done by having cooperation, otherwise you just wind up bogged down in the courts. I told him about the 30 environmental groups in San Luis Obispo County (together called the SLO-Coast Alliance) and the Black Brandt Hunting Group working together successfully to convince the California Dept. of Fish & Game to upgrade East Morro Bay National Estuary to 'SMR', or 'State Marine Reserve' status, which had heretofore been elusive, and is the highest level of protection available under the new MLPA (Marine Life Protection Act). His quote was, "Well, see, you 'get it'. " The OPC allowed me to make a presentation on behalf of San Diego activist's who are trying to create a Marine Sanctuary for the birthing Harbor Seals of Casa Beach, San Diego at La Jolla. They are giving consideration to our resolution promoting such, and may agendize the issue in the near future! Stay tuned, everybody, because it looks like things are going to heat up statewide; the new Morro Bay SMR status is going to shake things up a bit. The Power Plant, fireworks and sewage dumping all in that Estuary, all face serious challenges now and should be stopped. Then, there's the California Democratic Party's State Convention coming up next week, and I'll be there with 'observer' status! Awesome! Stick around- let's get this party started! Thank you OPC! Joey Racano, Director Ocean Outfall Group |
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