Gov. Schwarzenegger lauded three Inland leaders for their environmental work Monday, pointing to the trio as proof that it's possible to be "green" and promote economic growth at the same time.
Schwarzenegger, the keynote speaker at the event sponsored by the Inland Empire Waterkeeper, said the three are "heroes" and have helped improve the state's future. The Inland Empire Waterkeeper, a little-known environmental group that monitors the health of the region's creeks and rivers, held the awards ceremony and fundraiser at the Riverside Convention Center.
Riverside County Supervisor Marion Ashley received the Waterkeeper Award; Jane Block, a Riverside Land Conservancy board member, received the Land Protection Award; and Ali Sahabi, president of SE Corp., known for developing Dos Lagos in Corona, received the Visionary Award.
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Terry Pierson / The Press-Enterprise
Gov. Schwarzenegger, at the Riverside Convention Center, says the state fosters environmental progress and economic growth.
Schwarzenegger went on to enumerate his own environmental successes since first campaigning for governor in 2003, saying the state has accomplished a lot in the past few years.
"There were a lot of environmental protesters when I appeared out there in public because they said to themselves, 'How could this guy driving a Hummer, flying private jets and he's a Republican. ... How could he be an environmentalist?' " Schwarzenegger told the crowd of a few-hundred invited guests.
Schwarzenegger didn't offer any explanations for his seemingly contradictory behaviors to the mixed crowd of developers, environmentalists, tribal leaders and local elected leaders, but said the state is making strides toward improving greenhouse-gas emissions, protecting marine life and advancing other environmental causes.
"We have changed the conventional wisdom which used to say you couldn't protect the environment and the economy at the same time," he said.
Schwarzenegger sat briefly at the head table with area leaders, such as Robert Martin, the chairman of the Morongo Band of Mission Indians; the award recipients, and members of the Inland Empire Waterkeeper. The long table was decorated with containers of wheat grass that stretched nearly the length of its surface.
State Controller John Chiang, a Democrat, echoed Schwarzenegger's comments, praising Sahabi specifically as an example of someone who promotes environmental stewardship and economic growth.
Chiang presented a resolution from his office to each of the honorees who he said will "transform the landscape of our globe."
The Inland Empire Waterkeeper sponsored Monday's fundraiser for the more established Riverside Land Conservancy as a way to garner some attention for the Waterkeeper.
The conservancy has preserved thousands of acres of parkland across the region.
The group was formed in 2005 and is an offshoot of Orange County Coastkeeper, a grass-roots advocacy group formed in 1999 by Garry Brown, a University of Redlands graduate. Such "keepers" are affiliated with the national Waterkeeper Alliance.
Reach Michelle DeArmond at 951-368-9441 or mdearmond@PE.com.
