The Trump administration has moved to allow farming, drilling and mining in the habitats of endangered animals. Environmentalists called it the most severe cut to wildlife protections in 50 years.
The E.P.A. fired an official who wrote a memo requiring a fish farm to track microplastics, accusing him of trying to embarrass the agency.
The U.S. approved plans to test a giant satellite mirror, whose purpose is to reflect sunlight toward Earth and illuminate areas during the night.
SPEAK YOUR PIECE
As part of the Canadian federal government's Red Tape Review, Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) is proposing sweeping changes to the process used to approve cell tower proposals across Canada. These proposed changes would give telecommunications companies almost free rein as to when and where cell towers are installed, with severely limited local say. To voice your opposition, sign the petition created by Canadians for Safe Technologies.
Santa Feans concerned about City Council's decision to permit a Marriott Hotel project at the intersection of Cerrillos Rd. and St. Francis: By council rules, a councilmember who voted in the majority-- including Councilor Castro, who abstained-- can ask to rehear the appeal. Call and/or write to the following five city councilmembers and ask them to rehear the Old Santa Fe Association's appeal to the Planning Commission's (very narrow) approval of the Marriott Hotel project. They need to hear from a large number of voters-- ASAP! This will take you five minutes and will make a BIG difference.
Alma Castro District 1: 505-531-7612 agcastro|AT|santafenm.govEmail address
Patricia Feghali District 1: 505-955-6813 (email preferred) pcfeghali|AT|santafenm.govEmail address
Elizabeth Barrett District 2: 505-469-4693 eabarrett|AT|santafenm.govEmail address
Lee Garcia District 3: 505-955-6814 lagarcia|AT|santafenm.govEmail address
Jamie Cassutt District 4: 505-955-6817 jcassutt|AT|santafenm.govEmail address
CLAIM YOUR LANDLINE
While AT&T claims that copper legacy landlines are "obsolete" and attempts to pull the plug on this reliable network, which millions of people depend on, the state of California is defending landlines: they can continue to function for days during power outages. In 2024, the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) recognized that during AT&T's 2024 nationwide cellular outage, 25,000 calls to 911 failed to complete; and it denied AT&T's request to be relieved of its "Carrier of Last Resort" (COLR) obligations in California. Now, AT&T has sued the CPUC and California's Attorney General, and asked the Federal Communications Commission to preempt California's rules and allow them to disconnect customers. AT&T is also pushing for a state constitutional amendment that would eliminate the CPUC's jurisdiction over telecom. While The LA Times has picked up this issue, focusing on landline connectivity's irreplaceability, AT&T is grandfathering landline service for affected customers on July 19th. This means no more new landlines in California. If you want or need a new landline, order it NOW (don't wait until July 19 because this may take multiple days). See attached guide (AT&T PSA) on how to do this. Call AT&T at 1-800-288-2020. If they refuse, escalate to the AT&T Presidents Office at 1-800-355-9542 and file a complaint with the CPUC Consumer Affairs Branch at 1-800-649-7570.
Thursday, July 16, 11am PST, the CPUC will welcome public comment (of up to one minute) by phone or in-person (at CPUC's Auditorium, 505 Van Ness, San Francisco) at the start of its regular business meeting. Call in 10 minutes or more before 11 am to get a place in line and become one of the first callers to speak after 11:00. N. B. that people present in the auditorium are taken first.
" English Phone: 1-800-857-1917, passcode: 9899501#
" Spanish Phone: 1-800-857-1917, passcode: 3799627#
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