Beth Caskie, labor representative with the California School Employees Association, spoke at the latest Idyllwild Indivisibles meeting. Photo by JP Crumrine<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\u201cWe improve the world through people, one person at a time,\u201d Caskie said.<\/p>\n
And the second rule was \u201cno a**holes.\u201d Her point was no degree of political insight and acumen overcomes the negative effect of being cranky or venting anger. Neither attracts people to your position or enables them to listen to your message.<\/p>\n
She finished with a brief discussion of some current educational and labor issues, such as automatic withholding of union dues.<\/p>\n
Hildner also began by encouraging participants to get informed about issues for which they have passion and to engage the process. Remaining alone and silently stifling one\u2019s views will be useless.<\/p>\n
Describing his emotions and attitudes following the November election, he said, \u201cI finally realized that my self-pity party was not effective. I had to get up and work more. One of the positive outcomes from the election is the mobilization of groups like these.\u201d<\/p>\n
Since the election, the San Gorgonio Chapter has seen 5,000 to 7,000 new members. While not all will be more active than writing a check, he hopes 2,000 of them will participate in more activities to protect the environment.<\/p>\n
\u201cPolitics is an import part of saving the environment,\u201d Hildner stressed. \u201cOur new four-word byline is \u2018Resist, recruit, train and sustain\u2019.\u201d<\/p>\n
Several of the environmental issues that occupy Hildner\u2019s time include the Dakota Access Pipeline, the reduced budget for the Environmental Protection Administration, stream protection and the recent announced review of national monuments.<\/p>\n
The latter could affect several local (in Riverside and San Bernardino counties) monuments.<\/p>\n
He also discussed the Cadiz water project, which would transport ground water from the Mojave Desert to Orange County. This has recently been revived.<\/p>\n
Hildner also mentioned the Buy Clean California bill (Assembly bill 262). This legislation encourages state agencies to consider minimizing greenhouse emissions when reviewing contractor bids for future construction projects and not just the bid\u2019s cost.<\/p>\n
Assemblymember Rob Bonta (D-Oakland) introduced the Buy Clean California Act on Feb. 1. It asks how materials, such as steel, concrete, asphalt and glass, which are to be used in state-funded projects, are created.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is a fascinating and wonderful possibility,\u201d he noted.<\/p>\n
On Sunday, May 28, the Indivisibles will sponsor an event \u2014 Diversity Works in Idyllwild \u2014 at the Town Baker from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Carol McClintic announced.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is a celebration of how Idyllwild works together ... we are just a few grassroots people who thought we should do something positive about our community in the wake of so much of a negative atmosphere in our country.\u201d McClintic said. The idea originated with Louie Torres, co-owner of the Town Baker, she added.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The Idyllwild Indivisibles brought two guest speakers to town last week. While both work for private groups, as part of their jobs, they regularly interact with politics. Beth Caskie, a labor representative for the California School Employees Association, and Jono Hildner, the political chair for the San Gorgonio Chapter of the Sierra Club, spoke to […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":58,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"amp_status":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[23],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\n
Indivisibles hear about involvement in labor, education and environmental issues • Idyllwild Town Crier<\/title>\n \n \n \n\t \n