The ballots for the 2024 general election are in the mail – you may have received yours already! SFV Audubon endorses the National Audubon Society “I Bird/I Vote” campaign, and urges you to take a look at your ballot and consider votes that might help our birds, habitat, and community.
The board of San Fernando Valley Audubon Society has voted to endorse California Proposition 4 -which authorizes a bond for safe drinking water, wildfire prevention, and protecting communities and natural lands from climate risks. The measure authorizes $10 billion in general obligation bonds for water, wildfire prevention, and protection of communities and lands. Requires annual audits. Fiscal Impact: Increased state costs of about $400 million annually for 40 years to repay the bond. Supporters: Clean Water Action; CALFIRE Firefighters; National Wildlife Federation; The Nature Conservancy and many more. Opponents: Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association. Funds from this measure will benefit our local parks, natural areas and water resources.
For City of Los Angeles voters, please take a look at Los Angeles City General Municipal Election Measure FF which would give all city peace officers including our City Park Rangers the opportunity to be covered by the same pension plan no matter what department they work for. A major issue in our wildlife areas including the Sepulveda Basin has been a lack of rule enforcement. It is obvious that a major cause is there are not enough Park Rangers. While some of the problem is budgetary, one issue is the Park Rangers, who complete the same and actually more training than most other City of Los Angeles law enforcement officers, have been covered by a pension plan providing fewer benefits. Recruitment and retention of Park Rangers is a crucial link in protecting our precious wildlife areas.
Also consider Local Measure GG which will improve local fire prevention services and protect wildlife habitat and open space in the areas of Encino, Tarzana, and Woodland Hills/Calabasas. Increased patrols by MRCA Park Rangers in these foothill areas will help preserve and protect habitat, wildlife and residents alike. This will probably be on the ballots of only affected residents, as it will be funded by a parcel tax.
