Dear Friends,
Thank you for showing up and making our voices heard! The turnout at the protest was incredible, and thanks to your dedication, we’ve gained major media attention and put this issue in the spotlight.
The turnout was overwhelming, the media coverage was extensive, and together, we made it clear that we will not stand by while our coastline is put at risk.
Now, we must keep the pressure on. The next step is calling and emailing our elected officials—let them know we demand immediate action. Call list provided below.
The beaches must be thoroughly and immediately cleaned of hazardous debris before it becomes too late. If not addressed now, these toxic particles will continue to break down, blending into the sand and water, making proper remediation far more difficult and dangerous.
Special Thanks to:
Councilwoman Traci Park: We sincerely appreciate Traci for taking time out of her busy schedule to engage with the community during this challenging post-fire recovery period. She stands firmly against the use of the Will Rogers parking lot as a toxic debris sorting site, a position we deeply respect. What we admire most about Traci is her results-driven approach—she gets things done. She answers questions directly, and if she doesn’t have an immediate answer, she makes a genuine effort to find the right person who does. Her leadership and responsiveness are truly commendable.
Spencer Pratt: You showed up for your hometown and brought more people out to the cause. Staying loyal to your community, using your social media following to bring more awareness to the cause. We thank you.
Eric Balfour: We owe Eric a huge debt of gratitude for bringing his kids and even his dog to protest and protect our beaches. Eric also stepped up against a voice of opposition by deescalating a situation, protecting our message of peace and protection for our beachside lifestyle.
Oscar De la Torre: Former Councilmember for the City of Santa Monica proves his love and commitment to this city isn’t just politics. It IS true to his message – coming out with support for grassroots movements and showing that he cares about our community whether in or out of office.
Together, we are making a difference. But we must keep pushing. Our coastline, our health, and our future depend on it.
Because of yesterday’s success, today has been busy and trying to respond to all the people reaching out. We are trying to reply as quickly as we can, so please be patient with us.
With gratitude and urgency,
Ashley Oelsen
aoelsen@me.com / @luv4sol
email: coastal alliance.net@gmail.com
Coastline Alliance
Santa Monica Environmental Commissioner
Former Chair, Clean Oceans and Beaches Committee
P.S. If you have more photos/videos from the protest, please send them my way! We need to continue documenting and exposing this crisis.
📞 CALL IMMEDIATELY TO DEMAND CHANGE
☎ California Governor Gavin Newsom
📞 (916) 445-2841
☎ Lindsey Horvath – LA County Supervisor (3rd District)
📞 (213) 974-3333 | 📧 ThirdDistrict@bos.lacounty.gov
☎ Congressman Ted Lieu (CA-36)
📍 Washington, DC Office: (202) 225-3976
📍 Los Angeles Office: (323) 651-1040
☎ EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin
📞 (202) 564-4700
☎ US Senator Adam Schiff
📍 Washington, DC Office: Hart Senate Office Building #112, Washington, DC 20510
📞 (202) 224-3841
☎ US Senator Alex Padilla
📍 Los Angeles Office: 255 E. Temple St., Suite 1860, Los Angeles, CA 90012 | 📞 (310) 231-4494
📍 Washington, DC Office: 331 Hart Senate Office Building, Washington, DC 20510 | 📞 (202) 224-3553
☎ Key California State Senators
• Benjamin Allen (D-24) – 📞 (916) 651-4024 | 📞 (310) 414-8190
• Maria Elena Durazo (D-26) – 📞 (916) 651-4026 | 📞 (213) 483-9300
• Lena Gonzalez (D-33) – 📞 (916) 651-4033 | 📞 (562) 256-7921
• Henry Stern (D-27) – 📞 (916) 651-4027 | 📞 (818) 876-3352
☎ Rick Chavez – Assembly Democratic Caucus
📞 (323) 436-5184
🔹 What to Demand:
✅ Remove compromised lithium batteries from saltwater exposure to prevent toxic explosions.
✅ Stop storm drain runoff into Topanga Creek & Santa Monica Bay before the storm worsens contamination.
✅ Honor tribal consultation on this NAHC-registered sacred land before any further action.
✅ Freeze Phase 2 operations and allow the Army Corps of Engineers to assist with proper cleanup.
Our voices matter—let’s demand immediate action before it’s too late! 🚨
📢 Protest Press Coverage
We made headlines! Check out the coverage and share widely:
🔹 ABC 7: Protest Planned Against EPA's Fire Debris Site at Will Rogers Beach
🔹 CBSNews: Activists Protest EPA’s Decision to Use Will Rogers State Beach for Wildfire Debris Site
🔹 MSN: Protesters Demand EPA Scrap "Reckless"Plan for Toxic Fire Debris at Will Rogers Beach
🔹 Westside Current: Protesters Demand EPA Reverse Hazardous Waste Plan
Our impact is real—but we must keep up the pressure.
🚨 Urgent: Massive Storm Next Week – We Must Act NOW!
We are facing three times the rainfall in half the time compared to the last storm, which means a huge risk of toxic runoff, flooding, and further contamination.
🚨 Immediate Threats:
🔹 Compromised lithium batteries near saltwater—a risk of toxic explosions.
🔹 Storm drains continue to funnel hazardous waste into the ocean.
🔹 EPA’s waste site is on NAHC-registered sacred land—tribal communities must be consulted.
🔹 Topanga Creek & surrounding burn scar areas are at extreme risk of flooding and mudslides.
We must demand immediate action before this storm worsens the crisis.