The KUSP Land Use Report #21: Assembly Member Keeley’s Environmental Breakfast

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The following Land Use Report is presented by Gary Patton, Executive Director of LandWatch Monterey County. The opinions expressed by Mr. Patton are not necessarily those of KUSP Radio, nor of any of our sponsors.

Holiday celebrations are taking place all around the Central Coast. A couple of special gatherings took place on Wednesday and Thursday. At breakfast meetings in Santa Cruz and at Asilomar, Assembly Member Fred Keeley, for the fourth year in a row, honored the work of grassroots environmental activists.

The meetings really were a kind of celebration. Local successes in establishing good land use and environmental policies were highlighted, and Assembly Member Keeley outlined some important achievements at the state level.

If we shape the future (as we do) by establishing sound policies to guide community and individual action, and by making significant investments in protecting important resources, then the Central Coast Region has a lot to be proud of. In particular, during the past year, significant new lands have been given permanent conservation protection. At the state level, the passage of Assembly Bill 1602, authored by Assembly Member Keeley, has resulted in the placement of Proposition 40 on the March 2002 ballot. Passage of Proposition 40 will mean that lots of good things will be possible in this region. For instance, the creation of a 3,000-acre Monterey Pine Forest Reserve, increased coastal protection, and soccer and baseball fields inside the urban areas where most of us live.

Grassroots community action for a better future. That is something to celebrate!
For KUSP, this is Gary Patton.

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