San Bernardino County officials remember late Sen. Dianne Feinstein
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The death of longtime California Senator Dianne Feinstein, 90, on Thursday night, prompted a response from state, federal and San Bernardino County officials.
Feinstein, who planned to retire at the end of her term after facing concerns about her health and calls to resign, died at her home in Washington, D.C., according to her office.
Feinstein served as the U.S. Senator for California for 31 years.
San Bernardino County
The county on Friday ordered that flags be flown at half-staff at all county government facilities as a mark of respect for Feinstein, who “represented our state and county with dignity and honor,” county officials said.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with her family and loved ones,” county officials added.
The county posted a message from Supervisor Curt Hagman on X, formerly Twitter, which stated, “RIP Senator Dianne Feinstein. Thank you for your service! Senator Feinstein played a huge role in bringing Ontario International Airport back under local control. My condolences to her family, friends, staff, and colleagues.”
Rep. Jay Obernolte
Rep. Jay Obernolte also took to X to post “Mine and Heather’s prayers are with the family of Senator Dianne Feinstein today as we mourn her passing.”
Obernolte stated that Feinstein broke many barriers, and her decades of public service have left an enduring impact on the country.
“I wish her family and all those who loved her peace and comfort in this difficult time,” Obernolte said.
Attorney General Rob Bonta
California Attorney General Rob Bonta on Friday issued a statement on the passing of Feinstein.
"Senator Feinstein was a trailblazer in every sense of the word, and her passing is a great loss to many, including the people of California whom she dedicated her life to serving,” Bonta said. “From her time as Mayor of San Francisco, where she brought the city together in the wake of tragedy; to her selfless service in the Senate, where she led the fight to ban assault weapons and protect our environment, her leadership was second to none. That’s what she will be remembered for, not just to our great state, but to communities across this country.”
Bonta added that during this difficult time, “I send my deepest condolences to her loved ones, including her daughter Katherine and her entire family, as well as her team in the Senate."
Mojave Desert Land Trust
Mojave Desert Land Trust officials stated the death of Feinstein meant the California desert “has lost one of its greatest champions.”
“Senator Feinstein’s steadfast and inspirational leadership led to the protection of the California desert’s most important archeological and scientific wonders, world-renowned views and recreational opportunities, and critical habitat and water sources,” said Joint Land Trust Executive Directors Cody Hanford and Kelly Herbinson. “She helped shape California desert conservation on a landscape scale to forever support the natural connectivity of the region’s unique flora and fauna. She will be greatly missed but her legacy lives on in the growing community that is working to preserve the desert for future generations,”
Among the environmental achievements in Feinstein’s long career was enshrining in law greater protections for the most well-known public lands in the California desert.
Building on the foundational work of Senator Alan Cranston and conservationists, Feinstein introduced the California Desert Protection Act that was signed into law in 1994. The legislation created almost 9.2 million acres of public lands, establishing Death Valley and Joshua Tree National Parks, Mojave National Preserve, and 69 Wilderness areas over 3,570,000 acres.
On the 25th-anniversary of the California Desert Protection Act, Feinstein wrote: “When I think of the California desert, I think of magnificent landscapes and mountain vistas. I think of beautiful species like bighorn sheep, mule deer and desert tortoises. I think of unique vegetation like the beautiful wildflower blooms and iconic Joshua trees. And I think of the long history of local Native American tribes. The California desert is a true American treasure. Our efforts over the past 25 years have resulted in the largest areas of public lands protected in the lower 48 states – that is something truly to celebrate.”
Feinstein supported conservation groups in successfully petitioning President Barack Obama to designate Mojave Trails, Sand to Snow, Castle Mountains National Monuments using the Antiquities Act in February 2016.
In 2019, she co-sponsored the California Desert Protection and Recreation Act which designated 375,500 acres of wilderness and more than 70 miles of wild and scenic rivers, and added 43,000 acres to Death Valley and Joshua Tree National Parks.
Daily Press reporter Rene Ray De La Cruz may be reached at 760-951-6227 or RDeLaCruz@VVDailyPress.com. Follow him on Twitter @DP_ReneDeLaCruz
This article originally appeared on Victorville Daily Press: San Bernardino County officials remember late Sen. Dianne Feinstein
