SENATOR WIENER’S SB 50 TEMPORARILY DIES IN SENATE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE

Senate Appropriations Chair Anthony Portantino (D-La Canada Flintridge) killed SB 50 until 2020. Senator Wiener’s attempted land grab of all the state’s single family neighborhoods was unprecedented. SB 50 would have usurped local planning — and permitted by-right high densification — basically ending single family neighborhoods statewide. By-right among many other things included homes being converted into four, five, or six plexes by-right. It was not just density bonus centered around transit — it was school and jobs oriented too. One size Sacramento shoe does not fit all in planning.

The tragic death of yet another one of our treasured mountain lions was just announced by the National Park Service (see below). It is so unbelievably sad and unnecessary.  
We have all chosen this privilege of living in the urban wildland interface here in the Santa Monica Mountains and environs; and, with that comes responsibility. We must take responsibility for where we live — survival of our wildlife is dependent upon “our” actions. 
First, the Woolsey fire destroyed almost 100,000 acres of their habitat. Yet, P-47 managed to survive the catastrophic fire — and then he is poisoned by the irresponsible and illegal (in the Santa Monica Mountains Coastal Zone) use of rat poisons. 
Please — educate your homeowners, neighbors, and friends about the unintended consequences of using rat poisons. They are lethal to our wildlife. Not for one moment do we think any resident or stakeholder intentionally wants to poison and subject mountain lions, bobcats, raptors, coyotes, etc., to a horribly slow and painful death. But the fact is — using rat poisons does exactly that. 
There are a multitude of non-poison, responsible options available for dealing with rodents. Poison Free Malibu has long been the leader, advocate, and voice of educating the public here in the Santa Monica Mountains against the use of rodenticides — and offering alternatives. Please go to their website at https://poisonfreemalibu.org/ for more information. They will advise, and even come to your HOA meetings to help you educate your residents…

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