WTF ? ! ? ! ! !
We’ve always thought it would be Republicans who would destroy Environmental Laws in California . . . They’ve been trying and failing for decades.
Nope, its the Democrats successfully Dismantling California’s Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).
More accurately its the “Business” Democrats – who are quietly taking apart CEQA piece by Huge piece.
California’s Environmental Quality Act – CEQA – is the major Dam holding back otherwise unrestrained powerful greed of DREGs (Developers, Resource Extractors, Polluters and Governments).
For 50 years CEQA has been instrumental in stopping outrageously harmful projects up and down California: Golf Courses, worthless Highways, Monstrous Landscape obliterating Mansion “subdivisions,” spraying Cities with Pesticides, and on and on.
But Business is relentless. When Republicans couldn’t even get elected to Sacramento anymore, California’s Chamber of Commerce quietly Re-aimed their attack – targeting Business Democrats. And while you weren’t watching, they started ripping CEQA to Shreds.
Governor Jerry Brown and Assembly Speaker Steinberg got this campaign going a few years ago by falsely and wrongly declaring that Traffic Jams and Parking Problems – were not legally environmental impacts anymore and got SB743 passed and signed. Steinberg wanted CEQA damaged so he could get a Sacramento Stadium built. (Probably had nothing to do with getting his name on it.)
SB 743 replaced the Level of Service (LOS) metric with Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT) as the primary measure for assessing transportation impacts. What’s wrong with this – is previously Both LOS & VMT were already recognized Environmental Harms.
But Steinberg and California Chamber of Commerce wanted LOS ripped out because so many places in California are already in Full-Time Gridlock called LOS-F (F as in failing). And when you have Full-Time Gridlock at LOS F – CEQA required Environmental Review to list and explain ALTERNATIVES – like more Bus Service, Ride Share, Bike Lanes, etc.
Alternatives that REDUCE Car travel – Not Pretend Gridlock Doesn’t exist.
For the first time since CEQA was enacted – Science was ripped out of California Environmental Protection – by the “Business” Democrats.
Every Developer’s Dream.
They don’t want “no Steenking Science” holding up their bulldozers.
Now in 2025 we have Governor Newsom and Senator Wiener protecting huge projects from CEQA, from ANY environmental review.
And Yes, “Business” Democrats are doing it in back rooms, secretly – because they know voters overwhelmingly vote for environmental protection.
There’s a Reason a group formed called “Progressive Democrats.”
Its because the “Business” Democrats are really Republicans in Disguise. Meaning Californians who really want our environment protected – need to take action. Progressive Democrats are trying to return California’s Democratic Party to its own Mission ! (What a concept !)
SB 607 turns CEQA Upside down – by making harming our environment ok by default – as opposed to today and for the past 50 years – where evidence of potential harm triggers environmental review.
So tell everyone you know and especially your Assembly folks and State Senators to STOP SB 607.
You’ll be happier for it.
And so will our animal neighbors and ecosystems who have lived here for millennia before we showed up. And so will your children who are extra vulnerable to the toxics those projects use and release.
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Notes: All, 100%, of California Republicans Take Money from Big Oil companies.
Around half, 51%, California Democrats Take Money from Big Oil companies. Guess which half make up the “Business Democrats?”
https://scorecard.ecovote.org/scorecard/
