Dear Supporters,

This has been a busy month in our work to Save Newark Wetlands! On February 8 we filed a legal appeal, challenging the City of Newark’s approval of the “Sanctuary West” housing development. Then over the past two weeks we have attended meetings of state regulators, delivering your petitions to the agencies that urge them to exert their full regulatory authority to protect Area 4. Read below for more, and how you can help!

Legal Appeal Filed, Challenging City of Newark’s Approval of 469-Unit Development

Two of our Save Newark Wetlands coalition members - Citizens Committee to Complete the Refuge and Center for Biological Diversity - have been challenging the City of Newark’s approval of the “Sanctuary West” housing development in the courts, arguing the project’s environmental review was inadequate. While we were not successful in Alameda County Superior Court, on February 8 we appealed the decision to the First District Court of Appeal in San Francisco. Our attorneys believe that the trial court was not responsive to our arguments, and we firmly believe that the City of Newark needs more comprehensive review of this highly destructive project. We will keep you updated as the court case progresses. You can also read more about our appeal in this article from the San Jose Mercury News, which continues to cover our efforts. 

4,665 Petitions Delivered to State Agencies Responsible for Protecting SF Bay

Over the past two weeks, we were also proud to deliver our first round of petitions to the SF Bay Conservation and Development Commission and SF Bay Regional Water Quality Control Board. Citizens Committee to Complete the Refuge was joined by four of our partners, Center for Biological Diversity, Greenbelt Alliance, Sierra Club and San Francisco Baykeeper, to deliver the 4,665 petitions to the agencies’ monthly board and commission meetings, and provided comments on the importance of the agencies’ exerting their full regulatory authority to protect these lands. In addition to the 4,665 total petition signatures, we were particularly proud to share the over 800 individual comments you included when you signed the petition. Your voices are powerful -- and we will continue to make sure they are heard by decision-makers!

Here is a photo of us providing public comment at the SF Bay Regional Water Quality Control  Board’s meeting on February 10.

Donate to Keep Up the Momentum to Save Newark Wetlands!

To each of you who have signed and shared our petition - thank you! You are giving hope that the public supports defeating this irresponsible development and securing long-term protection of these valuable lands for the future. 

We are going to continue to do all we can to keep up the momentum -- in the courts, in Newark City Hall, in front of regulatory agencies, and in the court of public opinion -- to protect these invaluable baylands. Please consider helping the Citizens Committee to Complete the Refuge keep this momentum going through a tax-deductible donation to support our legal defense & organizing fund for Area 4. 

As an all-volunteer organization, who has fought tirelessly for over 50 years to create and defend the SF Bay National Wildlife Refuge and wetlands throughout the Bay, you can count us on to continue this 30-year effort for as long as it takes to permanently protect Newark wetlands. 

Thank you again for all your support -- we will continue to keep you updated.

Carin High
Co-Chair, Citizens Committee to Complete the Refuge
Save Newark Wetlands coalition