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Bill to protect Allensworth historic site advances

SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- A bill that would prohibit construction of a pair of large dairy farms next to one of the state's most historic monuments in black history cleared the first legislative hurdle Wednesday.

The measure, AB576, would create a 2.5-mile buffer zone around Colonel Allensworth State Historic Park, a site of a Tulare County town founded by African Americans nearly 100 years ago.

Supported by Assembly Speaker Fabian Núñez, D-Los Angeles, and the California Legislative Black Caucus, the bill was approved by the Assembly Water, Parks and Wildlife committee in a 9-3 vote.

The measure was introduced in response to last month's decision by Tulare County's Board of Supervisors to approve the final environmental impact report and special-use permit to allow Etchegaray Dairies to build and operate large dairy feed lots on lands adjacent to the park...

[O]pponents, including the California State Association of Counties and Tulare County officials, have argued that the state has no business meddling with local land-use decisions and the bill restricts private property rights.

Related Links

  • California Attorney General files suit to stop dairies at Allensworth
  • Read entire article at San Francisco Chronicle