In place of our usual monthly e-newsletter, this month we are focused on a call to action. This Earth Day, we’re celebrating the power of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA)—a cornerstone of environmental protection that ensures the community is heard. For over 45 years, CEQA has helped safeguard our parks, wildlife, and air and water quality, making it an essential tool in the ongoing fight for a healthier planet.
The California Environmentally Quality Act, known as CEQA (see qua), has been our partner in protecting land from the very beginning of our efforts. CEQA requires that jurisdictions making decisions over land use take into consideration the impacts of a project on the environment. This includes what wildlife may be impacted, what will a project do to the streams and water quality? What are the pollutants that impact the air we all breathe? How much traffic will a project generate?
For over 45 years, Hills For Everyone has relied on CEQA many times to improve proposals that could impact the Chino Hills State Park or we have tried to stop proposals that could irreparably ruin it. For instance, the northern extension of the 241 toll road that was proposed through San Onofre State Park was also proposed through Chino Hills State Park.
Without CEQA we would not have a seat at the land use table. There would be no reason for developers or decision makers to listen to us. It is an essential tool for conservationists or anyone who cares about this planet.
Senator Scott Wiener has a bill before the California Legislature that threatens to undermine this bedrock environmental law. We are asking that your Earth Day Action be to call your California Legislators and ask them to vote NO on Senate Bill 607. Sample talking points are below.
Thank you for consistently helping take care of the planet and the Puente-Chino Hills Wildlife Corridor. We need your support on this one!
Sample Script
My name is: _________________. I’m a resident of ____________(city). I’m calling to urge a NO vote on SB 607. This bill is a sweeping attack on CEQA disguised as a “clarification”—it weakens environmental protections across the board, limits public oversight, and tilts decisions away from safeguarding our air, water, and wildlife. Don’t be misled—this isn’t about housing, it’s about gutting the environmental review process. Thank you.
Find Your Legislator
Find your California Legislator (Assembly and Senate) and make your call immediately.