Giulianna’s Op-ed on the Newts of Alma Bridge Rd.
Giulianna, our Environmental Advocacy Assistant, wrote an op-ed published in the Los Gatan to raise awareness about the declining newt population on Alma Bridge Rd near Lexington Reservoir in Los Gatos. If you are interested in helping monitor the newts, please visit the Newt Patrol, a volunteer-based group led by Dr. Merav Vonshak. Read the article here.
California Newt: Dr. Merav Vonshak
ACTION NEEDED: Vallco in Cupertino is now The Rise and it's A LOT of glass
On the project’s website, please scroll down to “Comments” and enter: “Please adhere to the City of Cupertino's Bird Safety and Dark Sky ordinance. Please turn all lights off inside office buildings after 11PM”
Check Your Inbox for Upcoming Action Items!
Look out for upcoming Action Alerts! Midpen Open Space will soon be considering a new electric bike trail policy, the Palo Alto Parks and Recreation Commission will be discussing the new Baylands Comprehensive Conservation Plan, and Cupertino’s City Council will be considering changes to Blackberry Farm Golf Course. We need voices like yours to speak up in public meetings and write to your elected officials to protect birds and their habitat!
Recruiting Palo Alto Volunteers
Do you live or work in Palo Alto and are looking for ways to take action in your community? We are looking for volunteers to advocate for the natural community in Palo Alto! We need strong voices to speak up at public meetings to raise awareness about lighting, bird safety, and habitat protections. If you are interested in this opportunity, please reach out to Shani Kleinhaus at advocate@scvas.org.
Win! Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District (Midpen) New Mitigation Policy
The Midpen Board of Directors approved a new mitigation policy. In a letter we submitted with Green Foothills, California Native Plant Society Santa Clara Valley Chapter, Sierra Club Loma Prieta Chapter, and CLEAN South Bay, we asked the new policy to include evaluation criteria for any third-party mitigation proposals - and the Board unanimously approved our proposed change! The new policy also includes a requirement that "the project and mitigation will likely result in a long-term benefit to the affected resource,” meaning third-party mitigation proposals must result in a net benefit to the environment.