Green groups back Schipske for panel
Contra Costa Times
11/26/2009
Environmentalists are lining up behind 5th District Councilwoman Gerrie Schipske, the outspoken advocate of environmental causes.
They want her to be a new member of the state Coastal Commission and they are showering her with plenty of praise.
Consider, for example, a recent endorsement letter from Los Cerritos Wetlands Land Trust's leadership to the state Senate Rules Committee, which is scheduled to make an appointment to the Coastal Commission.
"Ms. Schipske is a vocal advocate for wetlands protection and restoration but questions the fact that a recent business deal to acquire wetlands in exchange for city-owned property appears to have been made at the expense of Long Beach taxpayers," the letter declares, in reference to a land-swap deal Schipske opposes.
"Ms. Schipske has a proven record in Long Beach for brave and fair decisions on environmental issues," the letter adds, "and we believe that she would be a strong leader on the Coastal Commission."
Schipske's environmental credentials, according to supporters, are based, in part, on her City Council positions: She voted against a Home Depot design center proposal near Los Cerritos wetlands, in a proposal legally challenged by environmentalists who eventually halted the project with a lawsuit; and she voted against a controversial land-swap deal that wetlands owner Tom Dean wants - a deal that faces considerable challenges from environmentalists.
Schipske and 2nd District Councilwoman Suja Lowenthal were put on a short list of nominees by Los Angeles County Supervisor Don Knabe.
This week, after a session of interviews with the nominees, an ad hoc statewide environmental committee recommended Schipske and two others on the Knabe list - Santa Monica Mayor Pro Tem Pam O'Connor and Santa Monica Councilman Richard Bloom - to the Senate Rules Committee, according to Long Beach attorney Melvin Nutter, moderator for the ad-hoc committee.
Lowenthal could not be reached for comment.
Knabe's nomination list also included Rancho Palos Verdes Councilman Doug Stern, Rolling Hills Estates Mayor Judy Mitchell, Manhattan Beach Councilman Richard Montgomery and Malibu City Councilman John Sibert.
Orange County - also part of the state Coastal Commission's South Coast Regional District - nominated John M.W. Moorlach and Bill Campbell, of the second and third districts, respectively. Two mayors in Orange County are also contenders - Huntington Beach Mayor Keith Bohr and Laguna Beach Mayor Kelly Boyd.
Among the ad-hoc committee environmental organizations were Bolsa Chica Land Trust, Buena Vista Audubon, California Coastal Protection Network, California Coastkeeper Alliance, Coalition for a Safe Environment, California State Parks Foundation, Coastwalk California, Earth Alert, Endangered Habitats League, Environment Now, Environmental Center of San Luis Obispo County, Greenspace, League for Coastal Protection, Los Angeles Audubon, Malibu Coalition for Slow Growth, Monterey Coast Keeper, Natural Resources Defense Council, North Coast Rivers Alliance, Pacific Shorebird Alliance, Residents for Responsible Desalination, Southern California Watershed Alliance, Surfrider Foundation and Urban Wildlands Group, according to committee coordinator Jerry Meral.
