January 31, 2025
Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors
70 West Hedding, East Wing, 10th Floor
San Jose, CA 95110
Via email: Supervisor.Lee@bos.sccgov.org, District5@bos.sccgov.org
Dear Santa Clara County Board President Lee and Supervisor Abe-Koga,
The Sierra Club Loma Prieta Chapter expresses our deep gratitude for your leadership in championing an ordinance to prohibit new installations of plastic grass. Supervisor Lee, your office and especially Emily Pachoud, helped us immeasurably.
By this past Tuesday, January 28, a coalition of more than 90 San Francisco Bay Area health and environmental organizations had written letters and provided public comments directly to the County Board of Supervisors asking to prohibit new installations of plastic grass on County-owned land, including in landscaping, dog parks, community gathering locations and, for one version of an ordinance, sports fields.
Though no vote prevailed, we were inspired by our partners and allies. An amazing 104 public comments were made by citizens in the run-up to voting, with 62 public comments for the ban and 41 against (and one that didn't say). That's a 3 to 2 ratio, which would be considered a landslide at a ballot. Medical professionals who commented were at an even higher ratio of about 9 to 1. Some of the environmental and justice organizations from across the County that joined together, in addition to the Sierra Club, included Green Foothills, Mothers Out Front Silicon Valley, Community for Natural Play Surfaces (CFNPS), Sí Se Puede, Santa Clara County Medical Association, Center for Environmental Health, Latina Coalition of Silicon Valley and many more, with a special thanks to Andrea Wald, a Co-founder of CFNPS, who tirelessly brought organizations on board.
As is well established in scientific writing by world renowned researchers, plastic mixed with chemicals outdoors sheds plastics and microplastics, with chemicals that may be needed to reduce flammability, suppress the effects of ultraviolet radiation, manage water flow, and add coloring. These plastic bits find their way into the land, air and water, and can be circulated into the upper atmosphere or into the ocean where they affect wildlife and, of course, human health, as well as increasing the effects of every aspect of climate change [Stockholm University Research Report, News Article Concerning the Research Report].
Though the Board ultimately took no action, rest assured that this is not the end for us. We will continue to advocate for children, for people wherever they live, especially for those who have less choice concerning their work or living accommodation, as well as for wildlife, all creatures of the world and for the entire planet’s health.
We will continue to fight back against big polluters and private equity groups that own exclusively self-interested profit-making organizations.
Thank you again for your support,
Susan Hinton
Chair, Plastic Pollution Prevention Committee
Sierra Club Loma Prieta Chapter
https://www.sierraclub.org/loma-prieta/plastic-pollution-prevention
Cc James Eggers, Executive Director, Sierra Club Loma Prieta Chapter