San Gabriel Mountains News

EVERY time I step outside the San Gabriel Valley I'm reminded how much better they have it than we do when it comes to federal funding.

I've got a local chip on my shoulder the size of Mount Wilson. When I get all riled up as I did this past weekend, it can be a parochial whine that resembles a full case of sour grapes.
But I don't care if people call me a homer. Because this is where I've lived for nearly 30 years, where I bought my first home, where I've raised my children, where I've worked as an indefatigable advocate.

WITH its plate full on issues of health care, climate change and war funding, Congress can be excused for putting wilderness protection on the back burner.

But there's a growing movement among local clergy, city councils and environmental groups to seek added congressional protection to portions of the Angeles National Forest, its rivers, habitat and wild animal species.

Enjoying God's creation.

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/greenspace/2009/10/san-gabriel-mountains...
An activist religious group has joined the effort to designate the San Gabriel Mountains as a national recreational area eligible for additional federal resources including law enforcement personnel, interpretive signs and hiking trails.
The group, Progressive Christians Uniting, is touting the proposal to congregants of dozens of San Gabriel Valley churches near the 650,000-acre range that constitutes about 70% of Los Angeles County's open space.

http://the818now.com/2009/11/03/la-canada-city-council-throws-support-be...

The La Cañada Flintridge City Council voted unanimously Monday in favor of a resolution supporting wilderness and wild river designations for the San Gabriel Mountains.
The resolution was authored and placed before the council by the San Gabriel Mountains Forever conservation group, a consortium of local business owners, recreation groups and social service providers dedicated to preserving the local mountain ranges.

Most foothill residents support more protection for the San Gabriel Mountains and its rivers and streams, according to a new poll funded by the environmental group San Gabriel Mountains Forever. 

The group is lobbying Rep. David Dreier, R-San Dimas, to push legislation that would designate more of the San Gabriels as protected wilderness and provide additional protection for mountain rivers and creeks.

One of the things that has always typified Sierra Madre for me is the great sense of place many here enjoy. There aren't many cities in this country that generate as much pride and the feeling of belonging to something special as what we have. And one of the reasons for this is very easy to find, all you have to do is step outside of your house and look up. We are surrounded by some of the most beautiful foothills and mountains to be found anywhere.