April 9, 2001

Contact:
Y. Armando Nieto, Environmental Defense Center: 805-963-1622
Susan Jordan, League for Coastal Protection and California Coastal Protection Network: 805-563-4437 or 310-291-9587

ENVIRONMENTAL AND BUSINESS GROUPS KICK OFF CELEBRATION OF 25TH ANNIVERSARY OF COASTAL ACT & 30TH ANNIVERSARY OF PROPOSITION 20
Local Activists To Be Honored For Their Work Inspired by the Devastating 1969 Oil Spill

SANTA BARBARA - At a reception for the California Coastal Commission on April 11th, statewide and local environmental and business groups will unveil a year long campaign to celebrate the 25th Anniversary of the Coastal Act in 2001 and the 30th Anniversary of Proposition 20 in 2002. The campaign is designed to call attention to the role of public participation in coastal protection and to showcase the important work of the California Coastal Commission in upholding the landmark Coastal Act.

"Santa Barbara is the ideal place to kick off this campaign because of its history as the site of the infamous 1969 oil spill that devastated the shoreline and galvanized the public into passing the citizen initiative, Proposition 20, that created the landmark Coastal Act - the strongest coastal protection law in the United States," said Armando Nieto of the Environmental Defense Center, one of the campaign's co-sponsors. Though the spill was over 30 years ago, Santa Barbara remains one of the most environmentally conscious cities in the nation and is home to a wide range of environmental groups who remain active and committed to coastal protection.

"We decided that it was time to commemorate the hard work that went into passing Proposition 20 and to honor the tradition of public participation that continues to this day," said Susan Jordan, the director of the California Coastal Protection Network and a board member with the League for Coastal Protection - two groups that are devoted to coastal protection on a statewide basis. "To that end, in receptions up and down the state, activists from the days of Prop.20, those active today, and those 'who are just getting their feet wet' will be honored for their ground breaking work in protecting our precious coastal resources," she said.
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Among those to be honored are original Prop.20 activists Selma Rubin and Bob Sollen who have continued their fight for coastal protection over the years. Other honorees include a local activist known statewide for spearheading the fight against the development of the 36 federal offshore oil leases off the central coast and an up and coming local activist whose early accomplishments demonstrate a strong commitment to coastal protection.

But commitment to environmental protection extends to business as well and those who have "shone the light" deserve to be honored. The choice for this award is the Sanford Winery located in Buellton. The Sanford Winery has displayed tremendous sensitivity and commitment to the preservation of the environment. "Sanford spearheaded the effort to encourage other vineyards to preserve the natural landscape to the greatest extent possible and is a wonderful example of how business and the environment can complement each other for the greater good" said Mark Massara of the Sierra Club Coastal Program. "The conversion of agricultural lands for wineries is one of the major issues facing the future of rural coastal land," he said.

The year long celebration campaign will take place in 6 coastal counties, including Santa Barbara, San Diego, Orange County, Los Angeles, Eureka and San Francisco, each with a different coastal theme. The co-sponsors of the Santa Barbara event include the Environmental Defense Center, California Coastal Protection Network, Center for Marine Conservation, League for Coastal Protection, Natural Resources Defense Council, Santa Barbara Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Sierra Club of CA, Gail Marshall, Susan Rose and Naomi Schwartz. The culmination in mid 2002 will be a large celebration where past and present legislators who have sponsored coastal protection legislation as well as candidates for office in 2002 who have demonstrated a sincere commitment to coastal protection will be honored for their work.

"People all over the state fought to pass Proposition 20 and their commitment and hard work remains an inspiration for those of us who follow in their footsteps" said Jordan.

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