Worth Checking Out, Email from Ace

[theangler]

Action Alerts<br>=============<br><br>1. Tell Mayor Hahn to uphold polluted runoff <br>protections for Los <br>Angeles beaches and rivers<br><br>In last month's alert we asked you to urge the <br>State Water Resources <br>Control Board to uphold new rules protecting Los <br>Angeles County from <br>the harmful effects of urban runoff. Hundreds of <br>you contacted the <br>board, which is expected to issue a decision next <br>month.<br><br>But the City of Los Angeles is now appealing the <br>regulations that the <br>board is considering (and that local water <br>quality officials <br>unanimously adopted). The new regulations for the <br>first time require <br>meaningful improvements in beach water quality, <br>which would make the <br>waters safer for swimmers and marine life alike.<br><br>== What to do ==<br>Tell LA mayor James Hahn to immediately withdraw <br>the city's appeal.<br><br>== Contact information ==<br>You can send a message to Mayor Hahn directly <br>from NRDC's Earth Action <br>Center at http://www.nrdc.org/action. Or use the <br>contact information <br>and sample letter below to send your own message, <br>and feel free to add <br>your own reasons why you want to get polluted <br>runoff out of southern <br>California's waters.<br><br>Mayor James Hahn<br>200 N. Spring Street, Room 303<br>Los Angeles, CA 90012<br>Fax: 213 978-0656<br>Email: jhahn@mayor.lacity.org<br><br>== Sample letter ==<br><br>Subject: Withdraw the city's stormwater permit <br>appeal<br><br>Dear Mayor Hahn,<br><br>I urge you to withdraw the City of Los Angeles' <br>appeal of the Los <br>Angeles County Municipal Storm Water Permit. The <br>permit includes <br>strong provisions to make our beaches and <br>waterways cleaner and safer <br>for swimming and other recreation. Challenging <br>the permit is a <br>foolhardy move and certainly doesn't reflect the <br>views of your <br>constituency.<br><br>Polluted urban runoff is the biggest source of <br>water pollution in Los <br>Angeles. In fact, our beaches are frequently <br>closed because of <br>bacteria, sewage and other toxins that flow <br>through storm drains into <br>the ocean. Last year alone, Los Angeles County <br>had 1,266 beach <br>closures and advisories, most of which were due <br>to elevated bacteria <br>caused by urban runoff.<br><br>The Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control <br>Board, business leaders <br>and environmental groups worked for over a year <br>to design effective <br>stormwater regulations. California's residents <br>and visitors want clean <br>beach water and Los Angeles' billion-dollar <br>tourism economy depends on <br>it. <br><br>Protect our beaches and show your leadership by <br>immediately <br>withdrawing the appeal of the permit. <br><br>Sincerely,<br><br>[Your name and address]<br><br><br>[laugh] How about a good laugh?<br><A HREF="http://www.bigfishtackle.com/comics.htm " target="_new">http://www.bigfishtackle.com/comics.htm </A> <br><br>Mike H