Three CA Environmental Groups Endorse "No on Recall, Yes on Bustamante"

Vote the Coast (VTC) was formed in 1996 following an assault on coastal protection policies by former Governor Pete Wilson and former Speaker of the Assembly, right-wing Republican Curt Pringle. Together, their eight appointments to the state Coastal Commission created a majority that attempted to unravel the State’s much heralded coastal protection program. In response, VTC launched grassroots campaigns in key coastal Assembly and Senate districts during the 1996 election and was credited with helping restore a pro-Coastal Act majority to the Commission.

"It was the swift actions of then Assemblyman Cruz Bustamonte that saved the day," recalled Sara Wan, VTC executive director and co-founder. After the ‘96 election, Bustamante ascended to the Speakership and moved swiftly to restore integrity to the beleaguered Coastal Commission. One of his first official acts was removal of four Republican appointments (including two known Coastal Act violators), replacing them with four pro-environment appointments who made the Commission one of the most pro-environment in its history.

"Choosing Bustamante over the Republican candidates is critical to coastal protection," said Mark Massara, VTC Board member, "because in their 2003 budget proposal, the GOP included the elimination of the entire Coastal Commission."

"Since 1996, Lt. Governor Bustamante has demonstrated his unwavering commitment to the coast, and Vote the Coast is thrilled to announce its endorsement of his candidacy," said Garry Brown, Board Chair of VTC.

"We want a governor who has demonstrated a commitment to the coast and there is no one else on the recall ballot who can point to anything they have done to protect the coast except Lt. Governor Bustamante" said Larry Wan, a VTC Board Member.

Board Member Bruce Reznik praised Lt. Governor Bustamante’s record on the public’s right to have access to the beach..."Lt. Governor Bustamante has led the charge to preserve public access to the coast by co-sponsoring SB 1962 (Polanco) which required the acceptance of all outstanding access easements to the beach that were in danger of reverting to private ownership. As a sitting member of the State Lands Commission (SLC), he also instituted a program to significantly expand coastal access for all Californians," he said.

Bustamante has also steadfastly opposed offshore oil drilling by advocating the cancellation of the 36 leases that sit off the Central California Coast, was the first SLC Chair to shut down an oil platform for safety violations, instituted a progressive policy on artificial structures that have an adverse impact on coastal resources, and opposed Rigs to Reef legislation that would have left aging polluted drill rigs in California’s ocean waters.

Vote the Coast is a grassroots, political action organization whose purpose is to achieve coastal protection and conservation through knowledge, public education, a strategic assertion of power, forming alliances with other progressive causes and networking with environmental activists to develop a coordinated policy of coastal protection. Vote the Coast supports those candidates for public office who are guided by the principles of ecological sustainability, environmental justice, public education, participatory governance, commitment and ideological integrity.