Local Democracy Again Under Threat in California

ACTION ALERT: Local Democracy Again Under Threat in California!

Apologies for cross postings, you may have received an announcement
about SB1056 from another organization – things are moving fast at the
Capitol and this is the most up to date information we have.

On June 28th, the California State Assembly Agriculture Committee
will consider a bill (SB 1056) that will take away local government
authority over seed regulation. If passed, this bill will override
restrictions on genetically engineered crops and seeds, as well as all other
local regulation of seeds.

In 2005, a groundswell of organizational and citizen response stopped
the California preemption attempts - we need your help to prevent the
passage of this bill once and for all.

We ask you to join Californians for GE-Free Agriculture in protecting
local communities democratic right to protect their citizens in the
absence of adequate state and federal regulation of genetically engineered
crops.

Take Action!

1. Call, email or fax your own Assemblymember to ask them to oppose SB
1056. Cal GE-Free coalition member, True Food Network has set up an
online action page at: http://ga3.org/campaign/CA_preemption, or using the
sample letter below. Call your local elected officials and encourage
them to do the same.
2. Attend the Assembly Agriculture Committee hearing in Sacramento on
June 28th to voice your opposition (for more details, contact Becky at
510-647-3733 or becky [at] calgefree.org)
3. Forward this email to everyone you know in California and urge them
to take action!


4. Encourage your colleagues and friends to join the Cal GE-Free
listserve (http://www.calgefree.org/mailerregform.shtml) for regular updates
on preemption.


Sample Letter:

To: [Address of your Assemblymember]

cc: The Honorable Barbara Matthews
Chair, Assembly Agriculture Committee
1020 N St., Rm 362
Sacramento, CA 95814


RE: Pre-emption of local authority – OPPOSE

Dear Speaker Nunez:

I am very concerned that there will be an attempt in the 2006
legislative session to pass legislation that will pre-empt local authority and I
want to record my STRONG OPPOSITION to this. During the 2005
legislative session there were two attempts to amend bills in legislative
committees with language that would prohibit counties, towns and cities from
passing any local regulation on seeds (AB1508 and SB1056). Such attempts
are an anti-democratic attack on the rights of local citizens and local
governments to act in a legal manner to protect their interests, which
are not otherwise protected by law.

I insist that this opposition be formally recorded for any upcoming
hearing.

Sincerely,

(name)


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Our address:
15290 Coleman Valley Road | Occidental, California 95465
Californians for GE-Free Agriculture
http://www.calgefree.org
p. (510) 816-0631