Editor’s Note: We’re thrilled to share the breaking news that on Friday October 10, President Obama is expected to announce he is using his executive authority to designate the San Gabriel Mountains as a national monument.
Some places seem much smaller to you as an adult than how you remembered them as a child. The San Gabriel Mountains is not one of these places.
On National Trails Day this year my friends and I ventured into the San Gabriels—a place I had gone camping in as a kid. We started early in the day, exploring a trail that took us past shaded ferns and streams trickling through the heat of summer up to wide open vistas and towering pine trees.
The mountains were as encompassing and majestic as I remembered. The San Gabriels dominate the landscape in many parts of Los Angeles, changing hue with the seasons and offering a snowy getaway in the winter. The air was crisper up in the mountains, and I felt refreshed escaping the bustle of urban life for a morning.
For over ten years, local residents in Los Angeles have worked to permanently protect the San Gabriel Mountains. Most recently, Congresswoman Judy Chu (D-27) introduced legislation to preserve the mountains. I appreciate the work she has done to collaborate with the community on this issue.
Unfortunately, though, there is little indication that Congress will move on this legislation any time soon. Gridlock in Congress means many locally-supported bills that would create new national parks and other conservation areas are languishing.
That’s why local families, business owners, local government, environmentalists, water agency officials, and elected officials are calling on President Obama to protect the San Gabriels as a national monument. At a recent town hall meeting I attended, hundreds of people turned out to support this effort.
A recent poll on the issue also showed that four in five Los Angeles voters support protecting the San Gabriel Mountains and rivers. In fact, a majority say the President should take action now on the issue. Among Latino voters, there is even more thunderous support – a full 88% of Latino voters support proposed protections for the San Gabriels. This is indicative of a growing support for environmental causes among Latino voters in Los Angeles. A poll released by the California League of Conservation Voters in 2012 found that two thirds of Latino voters in our state identify as conservationists.
Protecting the San Gabriels is a pressing issue for the future of Los Angeles and our state. The mountains make up over 70% of Los Angeles County’s open space. They also supply a third of LA County’s clean drinking water. The San Gabriels are a shared resource for Angelenos and Californians of all backgrounds to come enjoy the outdoors and hike, bike, fish, and stargaze from Mount Wilson.
A national monument designation is so important because it will make sure that the public lands of the San Gabriel Mountains are protected for the benefit of future generations. Already, these mountains see nearly 5 million annual visitors! A national monument designation would bring new resources to improve the experience of visitors and maintain trails, picnic sites and more.
That’s why I’m joining the national and California Leagues of Conservation Voters in urging President Obama to designate the San Gabriel Mountains a national monument. Permanently protecting the San Gabriels would have immediate benefits for the local community and economy, and it would also go on to do so much more – we want to ensure that these mountains, with their rivers, peaks, and wildlife, are here for generations to come and enjoy.
(Originally posted August 28, 2014).
