Press Release
May 14, 2020
CONTACT:
Jennifer Molina | [email protected] | 213.537.6324
SACRAMENTO – Today, Mary Creasman Chief Executive Officer of the California Environmental Voters (EnviroVoters) issued the following statement addressing California Governor Gavin Newsom’s May Revise of the California Budget:
“As the Governor laid out in detail, California’s families and our state budget have a long road to recovery. We are facing economic pain and record unemployment rates for millions of working families across our state. In crisis, we need our leaders to reflect on what California is known for – bold leadership and innovation. We can’t go back to business as usual; more extraction and pollution are not an option. We need to make smart and strategic investments in protecting public health, creating good jobs, and addressing the climate crisis all at once. Wildfire season is upon us, we are facing another drought, and children and families across the state are struggling to breathe clean air and drink safe water.
And yet, the budget proposal cuts 94% of environmental investments, which is the largest of any category. This is baffling and unnecessary. We need leadership with a vision for a stronger economy that is clean and just. That’s the opportunity, and that’s our collective call to action as we recover from this crisis and prepare for the climate crisis.
Without integrated investments to transform transportation, protect our natural resources, and build a clean energy future, many families, especially Black, Indigenous and families of color, will continue to bear the burden of our extractive, pollution-based, exploitative economy.
This is also why it is imperative that our California Congressional delegation advocate for federal assistance to help our state get through this crisis. We need leadership in Washington to support our state during this critical time. We also need leadership in Sacramento to ensure a balanced budget that prioritizes our values to help communities right now when it comes to wildfires, clean energy projects and environmental policies that not only preserve public health but help fight the climate crisis. Our state prevented the worst effect of the pandemic by making critical investments, we can do the same when addressing the climate crisis. Business as usual won’t cut it.”
ABOUT CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL VOTERS
California Environmental Voters (formerly the California League of Conservation Voters) believes the climate crisis is here and this moment requires transformative change. California has the policy solutions to stop climate change but lacks the political will to do it at the rate and scale that’s necessary. EnviroVoters exists to build the political power to solve the climate crisis, advance justice, and create a roadmap for global action. We organize voters, elect and train candidates, and hold lawmakers accountable for bold policy change. We won’t stop until we have resilient, healthy, thriving communities, and a democracy and economy that is just and sustainable for all. Join us at www.envirovoters.org and on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. See more press releases.
