To protect and celebrate California’s public lands, local and federal leaders join together for mural unveiling

Culver City, CA: California Environmental Voters and the League of Conservation Voters were joined by Representatives Judy Chu (CA-28), Sydney Kamlager-Dove (CA-37), and Culver City Mayor Freddy Puza on April 25 to unveil a new mural dedicated to celebrating and calling for protecting California’s public lands. Dozens of community members came to the Ima Members Lounge, where the mural is displayed alongside Ballona Creek bikepath, to celebrate local art and California’s iconic public lands.

The art piece was created by Victor Ving, a California local mural, street, and graffiti artist who has worked out of his North Pasadena company for over 20 years.

“Our public lands and national monuments must be protected. They allow us to connect to Mother Nature and leave us in awe of the natural beauty of our planet,” said Representative Sydney Kamlager-Dove. “This beautiful mural properly celebrates these sacred spaces and inspires us to visit and preserve them. As Trump and Republicans threaten to roll back protections and sell our lands to the highest bidders, I’ll keep fighting to defend these landmarks. I’m grateful to the League of Conservation Voters and California Environmental Voters for commissioning and unveiling this artwork right here in Culver City and for being in this fight with us.”

“We need to do everything we can to preserve our public lands,” said Representative Judy Chu. “The San Gabriel Mountains are [located near] 18 million people within Los Angeles County who would otherwise not have access to nature. Unfortunately, we have a president who is doing everything he can to undermine [our public lands]. He’s designated 175 million acres for selling off and leasing to corporations for drilling, for timber sales, and for mining. We have to stand up for our environment and our public lands.”

“Public lands are where our communities come to life,” said Culver City Mayor Freddy Puza. “They are where families gather, where people find connection, and [where] we’re reminded that some things belong to all of us. Protecting them isn’t just good policy, it’s a part of who we are. That’s why this mural matters: it’s more than art, it’s a message–a daily reminder of the importance of stewardship and the role each of us plays in caring for our environment.”

“California is leading in protecting public lands like the San Gabriel Mountains National Monument. It is home to more national monuments than any other state” said LCV Conservation Program Director America Fitzpatrick. “And that’s all thanks to incredible leadership by public lands champions like Congresswomen Chu and Kamlager-Dove. We must fight to ensure they endure for generations to come.”

“Right now, Republicans in Congress are doing everything they can to either sell off our public lands or cut funding for programs that make them safe and available for all of us,” said California Environmental Voters Federal Advocacy Coordinator Aaron McCall. “We want this mural to inspire people to celebrate and fight for our public lands.”

California is home to more than 45 million acres of some of the most diverse and breathtaking public lands in the world. Public lands enjoy widespread support and are engines of local economies, generating billions of dollars in revenue and supporting countless jobs in nearby communities. A 2024 report found that public lands are responsible for generating $45 billion in economic output and nearly 400,000 jobs in surrounding communities.