Coalition Urges Davis to Focus on Environment

SACRAMENTO —  In a bid for attention from a governor obsessed with improving public schools, a coalition of environmental groups Thursday said California must boost investment in the state’s natural resources to reverse years of neglect.

The plea, from 27 organizations dedicated to everything from oak trees to mountain lions, came in the form of a blueprint for protecting the state’s environment.

The plan, “Restoring the California Dream,” says growth will overwhelm the state’s parks, forests and wildlife unless government becomes a more aggressive steward. It warns that California’s population is expected to top 51 million by 2030--an increase equivalent to five cities the size of Los Angeles--and says a strategy to blunt the effects of such growth is needed now.

The unstated sub-theme of the groups’ presentation at a Capitol news conference was that Davis, who has focused almost single-mindedly on education since taking office last month, must not wait long to add the environment to his agenda.

“The reason we’re dealing so intensively with education today is there was some form of neglect, and now we’re trying to play catch-up,” said John McCaull, lobbyist for the National Audubon Society. “You can’t play catch-up with the environment.”

Protecting the coast and other natural assets was one of Davis’ campaign pledges, and the governor has already demonstrated some commitment on the issue.

He delighted many activists with his appointment of Mary Nichols--a pioneer in California’s environmental movement--as secretary of resources.

And in his State of the State and inaugural speeches, Davis mentioned the need to control urban sprawl and protect the state’s 1,100-mile shoreline.

But the governor’s proposed $77.5-billion budget for the 1999-2000 fiscal year disappointed the environmental community. The only bright spots were a boost for the California Coastal Commission and a suggestion that Davis might support placing a park bond proposal on the 2000 ballot.

Environmentalists hope that the governor’s revised budget--to be drawn up in May after state experts have a better grasp of available revenue--will reflect an increase in funding for resource protection. But there are no guarantees.

Michael Bustamante, Davis’ spokesman, said the governor faces a $2.3-billion deficit and is determined to ensure that “we live within our means.”

“Gray Davis’ record on coastal protection, on the environment in general, is pretty clear,” Bustamante said. “But right now his primary focus is education. And until we get his reforms enacted, that’s going to continue to be his primary focus.”

Environmentalists were careful not to fault the governor’s dedication to education. Assemblyman Fred Keely (D-Boulder Creek) said he shares that goal but wants to ensure that investing in the environment gets attention at the dawn of the Davis administration.

“We wanted to, at the outset, engage the administration in this discussion,” Keely said. “We understand all of this won’t happen in 1999. This is a marathon.”

The “California Dream” report says the amount of general fund money spent on the environment has fallen 22% over the past decade. The report contains recommendations covering everything from protecting drinking water quality to pesticide regulation, recycling and toxic cleanup strategies.

The environmentalists’ plea for funds illustrates Davis’ predicament as he confronts spending demands and tries to chart a moderate course for his administration.

State workers have threatened to strike if they don’t receive a salary increase, farmers want a costly solution to the conflict over state water supplies, and a backlog of road construction projects are awaiting completion.

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State’s Environmental Funding Drops

The amount of California’s general fund spent on the environment decreased about 22% between fiscal years 1989-90 and 1997-98.

Source: Planning and Conservation League Foundation