California Ocean Day 2024

Judith writes:

It's a good sign when some 300 people convened in Sacramento on May 7 for the 19th Annual California Ocean Day. I was there with my sister Janis Selby Jones, co-lead for Rise Above Plastics, and her colleagues from Surfrider San Diego to advocate for a long list of issues and asks. In small groups, we met with legislators, both assembly and senate members, to make them aware of our concerns. The steering committee is a who's who of environmental activists including Environment California, CALPIRG Students, AZUL, Surfrider Foundation, Monterey Bay Aquarium, CSU's Coast California, and COARE. 

Although Richard and I have been diligently cleaning Kehoe Beach for over two decades, we have not been able to stem the tide of bags and bottles that pollute the coastline. That's why AB 2236, which aims to ban single-use plastic bags, and AB 2468, which seeks to phase out single-use beverage bottles from state agencies, are of personal interest.

This was my first time to lobby and to participate in this important collective effort. I was lucky to be a member of Team Sea Star, led by Miho Ligare, Plastic Pollution Policy Manager for the Surfrider Foundation. In addition to my sister and me, our team was composed of an illustrious group of activists, including Erika Rodriguez (Ocean Friendly Restaurants co-lead for Surfrider San DIego), Sydney O’Brien (UC San Diego, Scripps Institution of Oceanography), Rena Cohen (CalPIRG UC Davis Chapter), Jessica Osegueda (Resources Legacy Fund), Chloe Brown and Tony Hacket (Californians Against Waste), and Jordan Wells (National Stewardship Action Council).

It was a revelation to see government-in-action. Sacramento and Capitol Park were abuzz with groups of constituents from all walks of life, from every corner of California, who were there with their issues, their signs with slogans, and their lobbying appointments with legislators, all hoping to have an influence one way or another.

I was so proud to stand tall with my sister in front of the State Capitol Building, placards in hand, after a successful day exercising our right under the First Amendment  to lobby, "to peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."

The issues are many and there is much work ahead to get these bills passed. I am looking forward to joining with old and now many new friends to continue this important effort on behalf of the ocean.

OCEAN DAY KEY ISSUES & ASKS OF STATE LEGISLATORS 

Restore the State’s Coastal Resilience Budget
Support the Climate Bond
End the Environmental Justice Emergency at Our Border 

Stand up for the Coastal Act (Oppose AB 2560) why we oppose AB 2560

Celebrate Our Marine Protected Area Network 

BILLS WE SUPPORT: WATER QUALITY 

Charge Polluters for Waste in the Tijuana River Valley (Pass SB 1178) 

Control Pollution and Protect Salmon (Pass AB 1798) 

BILLS WE SUPPORT: EQUITABLE ACCESS 

Facilitate Equitable Access to State Beaches (Pass AB 2038 and AB 2939) 

BILLS WE SUPPORT: CLIMATE CHANGE 

Support Blue Carbon Projects (Pass AB 1992)
Coordinated Science for Offshore Wind Development (Pass AB 80) 

Prepare Tribes and Communities for Offshore Wind (Pass AB 2537) 

BILLS WE SUPPORT: OCEAN ECOSYSTEMS 

Restore California's Kelp Forests (Pass AB 1407)
Prevent Boat Strikes on Whales (Pass AB 2298)
Protect Beavers for Upstream Restoration (Pass AB 2196) 

BILLS WE SUPPORT: PLASTIC POLLUTION PREVENTION 

Ban Plastic Bags (Pass AB 2236)
Phase Out Single Use Beverage Bottles (Pass AB 2468) 

<<<ACTION ALERT>>>

If you can't make the trek to Sacramento, from the comfort of your phone or your computer, you can contact your representative and ask for their support.

HERE to eliminate single-use plastic beverage bottles at CA state agencies

HERE to strengthen CA's statewide plastic bag ban