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PW OPINION PW NEWS PW LIFE PW ARTS •POWERPOINT• BY JOHN GRULA AWASH IN TRASH THE PASADENA AUDUBON SOCIETY WORKS TO KEEP WILDLIFE HABITATS SAFE IN A WORLD STEEPED IN PLASTIC REFUSE In “Albatross,” filmmaker Chris Jordan amply illustrates the huge negative impacts that plastic waste is having on large colonies of Laysan albatross on the remote Pacific island of Midway. As big as this story is, it is but a microcosm of the enormous harm that plastics are inflicting on all forms of marine life in the Pacific and the world’s other oceans. About 8 million metric tons of discarded plastic ends up in the oceans every year, according to a recent report in the Los Angeles Times. There it adds to plastic waste items already floating in what have grown into literal islands of garbage. This, of course, is not counting the mess that plastics have created on the planet’s terrestrial environment. On land, according to the Times, we have produced billions of tons of plastic junk that shouldn’t be landfilled, but is. In fact, 91 percent of plastic trash is not recycled, according to a report in the July 2017 issue of National Geographic Magazine. “Mass production of plastics, which began just six decades ago, has accelerated so rapidly that it has created 8.3 billion metric tons — most of it in disposable products that end up as trash,” writes Laura Parker, reporting on a study published last year in the peerreviewed journal Science Advances. “Plastic takes more than 400 years to degrade, so most of it still exists in some form,” as Parker reports. And, she writes, “Only 12 percent has been incinerated. … The prediction that by mid-century the oceans will contain more plastic waste than fish, ton for ton, has become one of the most-quoted statistics and a rallying cry to do something about it.” Making matters worse, plastic floating on the surface is hit by sunlight, causing it to disintegrate into tiny particles that birds and other marine creatures often mistake for food. As the situation stands today, scientists believe contamination of the entire marine food chain is possible. Unbeknownst to many, lovers of the albatross and other threatened bird species led the struggle for environmental protections in this country. In fact, this year marks the centennial of the landmark Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA) of 1918. One of the nation’s first major pieces of environmental law, the MBTA was enacted to protect migratory birds. The statute makes it illegal to pursue, hunt, capture, kill, or sell such birds without a waiver. Over 800 species are currently on the list. The legislation confers additional environmental benefits, such as protection of wetlands and forests. This law predated the Endangered Species Act by 56 years, with the MBTA setting a significant precedent for this important piece of modern-day legislation. The 113-year-old National Audubon Society deserves most of the credit for passage of the MBTA. Over the years, the Audubon Society has worked with the oil and utility industries to implement simple and cheap measures to protect birds from hazards like oil waste pits and power lines, according to the spring edition of Audubon magazine. The organization continues to be a leader on a wide range of environmental issues, such as plastic waste pollution. In Pasadena, we are fortunate to have a local group, the Pasadena Audubon Society, based at the Eaton Canyon Nature Center, where “Albatross” screened recently. In addition to organizing field trips and educating hundreds, it is a leader with respect to many local environmental issues. For example, the society’s Pasadena chapter, led by President Laura Grant, has taken the lead on monitoring and slowing the overzealous Hahamongna Watershed Park “Big Dig” project, which aims to remove over 2 million cubic yards of sediment from behind Devil’s Gate Dam. As a result of the local chapter’s efforts, LA County must analyze the cumulative effect on environmental quality and of habitat harm that could be caused by this project. The Pasadena chapter is also involved in other environmental projects such as cleaning up local parks and nature centers. In our evolving relationship with nature, what lies ahead seems clear. We can continue on this path and suffer the consequences, or we can take the action necessary to prevent our planet from being completely overrun by plastic garbage. ■ John Grula, PhD, is affi liated with the Southern California Federation of Scientists. 6 PASADENA WEEKLY | <strong>08.16.18</strong>
• NEWS • PASADENA | ALHAMBRA | ALTADENA | ARCADIA | EAGLE ROCK | GLENDALE | LA CAÑADA | MONTROSE | SAN MARINO | SIERRA MADRE | SOUTH PASADENA ANOTHER BITE? FAMILY PETITIONS FEDERAL APPEALS COURT TO RECONSIDER RULING OVER ADAM AND EVE PAINTINGS P. 8 TAX CONTAGION PASADENA CHAMBER SURVEY SEEKS OPINIONS ON TAX INCREASE, GLENDALE AND BURBANK ALSO PLACE TAX HIKES ON NOVEMBER BALLOT P. 8 STILL THERE AFTER FOUR YEARS, MORE THAN 30,000 TERRORISTS STILL IN IRAQ AND SYRIA P. 8 WEB EXCLUSIVE ‘OF GREAT CONCERN’ LA COUNTY CIVIL GRAND JURY JABS MOST CITY POLICE AGENCIES FOR INTIMIDATING COMPLAINT PROCEDURES AND LACK OF CIVILIAN OVERSIGHT BY ANDRÉ COLEMAN In its 2018 report, the Los Angeles County Civil Grand Jury (CGJ) expressed dismay over the lack of civilian oversight boards in local police departments. “The absence of civilian oversight in 44 of the 46 law enforcement agencies in Los Angeles County is a problem and should be an issue of great concern,” states the report, which was released June 30. Currently, only the Long Beach and Los Angeles police departments, along with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, have civilian oversight. Each year, the grand jury decides which topics to investigate. They invite experts and government officials to speak and visit local government agencies. The grand jury has investigative powers over operations, accounts and records of local government, including county, cities and school districts. The report also takes several departments to task, among them Pasadena, for forcing people to sign complaint forms against police officers under the penalty of perjury if they make false statements. “Some individuals may be reluctant to file a complaint for fear of reprisal from the officer or officers they are complaining against or the police department itself,” the report states. “Ideally, the complaint form and process should not in any way intimidate or discourage persons from making complaints.” The grand jury examined police departments in Pasadena, Bell Gardens, Burbank, Culver City, El Monte, Glendale, Inglewood, Pomona, San Fernando, South Gate, Torrance and West Covina. Of the 12 departments reviewed by the grand jury, only Pasadena and Glendale have complaint forms that contain perjury warnings. Forms in Torrance and South Gate include warnings that false statements could lead to prosecution and the complaint form in West Covina warns that officers and civilians could be required to take a polygraph during the investigation of a complaint against a police officer. CHIEF CONCERNS CITY TO HOLD PUBLIC HEARINGS ON POLICE CHIEF RECRUITMENT Pasadena City Manager Steve Mermell on Friday announced several public meetings as part of the recruitment process for the city’s next police chief. The public will have a chance to tell officials with the executive search firm Teri Black Steve Mermell & Co. LLC, which qualities they want in the next police chief. Interim Police Chief John Perez told the Pasadena Weekly several weeks ago that he would be applying for the job. Perez replaced former Chief Phillip Sanchez after Sanchez left the department in April. “Public input is crucial to selecting the best individual to lead the department,” said Mermell in a prepared statement. “I encourage all community stakeholders to attend the upcoming forums and share their thoughts on the characteristics and professional background they feel are most important when selecting a new chief.” Community forums will take at 6:30 p.m. on Sept. 6, in the City Council Chambers at City Hall, 100 N. Garfield Ave. Two additional meetings will take place on Sept. 8. The first will be held at 9:30 a.m. in the Villa-Parke Community Center auditorium, 363 E. Villa St. The second meeting on that day will be held at 11:30 a.m. in the Jackie Robinson Community Center, 1020 N. Fair Oaks Ave. Applications for the position will be accepted in September. Screenings and interviews are expected to take place in October and November. The interview process will include a community panel in addition to law enforcement professionals and municipal agency administrators. Activists have called for a transparent process in which the names of finalists are released before a final decision is made. Teri Black & Company, LLC offers executive search services to throughout the Western United States. Black has nearly 20 years of experience in public sector executive recruitment and network-building, including exceptional depth in local law enforcement. Anyone who would like to offer input but cannot attend the meetings can do so online at Online comments can be left at cityofpasadena.net/PoliceChiefRecruitment. WEEKLY WEATHER THU 89° FRI 91° SAT 91° SUN 92° CONTINUED ON PAGE 8 MON 92° TUE 91° WED 92° — André Coleman THU 92° <strong>08.16.18</strong> | PASADENA WEEKLY 7
Page 1 and 2: of Pasadena BEST VOTING CONTINUES!
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