Introduction from Elizabeth Patterson, April 29, 026
The California Chamber of Commerce has qualified an initiative on dismantling CEQA. Backed by Silicon Valley tech bros and lots of money, there is pressing need to inform voters. Below is the announcement of an informational zoom meeting. >EP
2026 CEQA Ballot Initiative Briefing
The Planning and Conservation League is hosting an informational zoom meeting about the CalChamber ballot initiative on Tuesday, May 5, at 5pm. The zoom registration link is here.
It is imperative that we spread the word about this CEQA-gutting measure and discuss ways our communities can combat it. People who will be presenting on the zoom include:
- Aruna Prabhala, Center for Biological Diversity
- Gabriel Tolson, Planning and Conservation League
- Rachel Hooper, Legal advisor to PCL
- Severn Williams, Public Good PR
As a reminder, the initiative applies to entire sprawl housing subdivisions in wildfire zones, toxic industrial projects like landfill gas facilities, large water infrastructure like dams and desalination plants, and all new freeway projects. For these projects, it eviscerates CEQA’s longstanding rules governing environmental review and radically curtails courts’ authority to issue injunctions and other appropriate remedies. The measure is heavily funded by corporate interests and billionaires – the proponents have already raised over $14 million, and have budgeted an additional $50-100 million to pass the measure.
Finally, we greatly appreciate everyone’s cooperation in signing the joint letter to the Legislature about the initiative. We will circulate the final letter to all signatories after it is submitted.
Best regards,
Gabriel
BenIndy Editor: For background on CEQA, see Elizabeth Patterson’s “Walking Back CEQA Protections Will Leave Californians Paying the Price for Ignoring Impacts”
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