Written by Ken Kobayashi, Edited by Emma Rodriguez 7/20  Roughly two weeks ago, we celebrated this nation’s 250th birthday and the great experiment that it represents: the rule of law and of democracy. Right now, numerous corrupt officials are testing our dedication to the idea that government is “of the people, by the people, and FOR the people.” However, we at SanDiego350 are confident that, just as this notion has triumphed over its challengers, we will once again come through this time of trial stronger than ever. Doing so, though, requires that all of us commit to taking sustained action

By Rachel Carton, Legislative Team Member As California works to meet its ambitious climate goals, the Legislature has an opportunity to advance policies that reduce emissions while protecting the communities most impacted by pollution. At SanDiego350, we support legislation that keeps fossil fuels in the ground, expands affordable clean energy, protects frontline communities, and ensures polluters, not taxpayers, pay for the costs of pollution. Bills we support  AB 1790: Close Corporate Tax Loopholes AB 1790 closes a major corporate tax loophole, generating an estimated $3 billion annually to help fund schools, healthcare, nutrition assistance, and climate programs. We support AB

By Rachel Carton, Legislative Team Member On May 28th, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) approved a change to the Cap-and Invest Program, authorizing the Manufacturing Decarbonization Incentive (MDI) in a 10-3 vote. It’s framed as a way to help industry reduce emissions while protecting affordability and preventing companies from leaving California. In reality, it is a $4 billion giveaway to big oil. What Is the MDI? Before getting into why that’s a problem, it’s worth understanding how California’s Cap-and-Invest program works today.  The state sets a cap on total emissions. Companies receive or purchase allowances that permit them to

By Melissa Reyes, Community Outreach Program Assistant BiographyMelissa is passionate about environmental justice, equity and intersectionality; and has highlighted her passions throughout her nonprofit work across San Diego County. She graduated from Cal State San Marcos with a degree in Environmental Studies and has worked as an environmental educator since 2018. Growing up in an marginalized community herself, she believes that with the power of community, anything is possible. As a Community Outreach Program Assistant, she hopes to bring affordable and equitable resources to many homes in San Diego, while also building meaningful connections with diverse and resilient communities. Role at

By Carmen Berry, SanDiego350 Member Artificial intelligence, the world’s fastest-growing technological sector, has met the people’s demand for instant security of mind, allowing access to a seemingly infinite wealth of information at the touch of a finger. As tech companies worldwide jump at the opportunity to capitalize on emerging consumer interest and integrate Artificial Intelligence technology into daily operations, our land, water, and electricity are being stolen to accommodate the financial interests of these tech giants.  Currently, AI models use exorbitant amounts of water and fossil-fuel-sourced electricity in order to power search engines and cool the supercomputers that store data

By Jessie Stein, Member of the Stand Up for Democracy Campaign The right to vote is one of democracy’s most essential institutions, and Americans are being asked to defend it in new ways. Escalating political attacks on election systems and voting access have the potential to create a chilling effect that discourages eligible voters from participating altogether, but we still have incredible power to influence electoral outcomes if we encourage our community to participate. During the 2024 general election, only 75.8% of registered voters cast ballots in San Diego County, the lowest for a presidential election in 20 years. This

By Tyler (Dre) Andre, Transportation Team Member & Events Team Co-lead If you’ve ever ridden the 215 bus from Mid-City to Downtown, then maybe you know the frustration. Local transit agencies promised (and spent $44 million) to convert an existing bus route with roughly 40-minute service to  a 30-minute rapid transit journey.That now routinely takes closer to 50 minutes or more. For the thousands of San Diegans who depend on this route every day (commuters, students, essential workers, seniors), that’s not a minor inconvenience. It’s lost time, lost opportunity, and a daily reminder that our city hasn’t delivered on its

By Youth v. Oil Members Kaylee T., Elias O., and Emma L. Right now, cities across the US are being hit with record-high numbers of wildfires, floods, and extreme temperatures. And as the biggest fuel companies continue to exacerbate the climate crisis while generating constant profits, US families and taxpayers are paying the price. But with one dangerous piece of legislation, this could be undone entirely — unless we fight back before it’s too late.   Legislation such as Climate Superfunds is being proposed in states across the nation to hold Big Oil accountable. In recent months, large fossil fuel companies

13 Youth v. Oil members traveled to the state capitol in Sacramento on April 15th to speak at a committee hearing and advocate for strong climate policies that protect our futures. This included making oil companies pay for cleaning up their wells, stronger regulations on datacenters, and a Polluters Pay Climate Superfund. Here are some reflections for our students: “Under an administration that has tried all it can to silence youth voices, this trip has made me feel empowered that I can make a change. Having the opportunity to miss school to lobby for a bill that I believe so

By Kaylee Tichenor (she/her) Youth4Climate member Youth4Climate’s 2026 Summit, themed Butterflies Taking Flight, brought together over 130 attendees – with over 100 of them being youth – making it our largest Youth4Climate Summit yet. The atmosphere was inspiring and uplifting, serving as a strong reminder of the power of youth voices.  The summit was an amazing opportunity to network with other passionate youth and local San Diego environmental organizations. Although many of us had never met prior to the summit, the friendly, relaxed environment made starting conversations and making new connections effortless and fun. The tables set up by local

Hear from our new Energy Affordability Team co-leads at SanDiego350! SanDiego350’s new Energy Affordability Team works to reduce energy costs for San Diegans by fighting the political power of investor-owned utilities, especially San Diego Gas & Electric. They seek state legislation to reduce excessive profits, promote clean energy and level the playing field between the public and investor-owned utilities at the California Public Utilities Commission. At the local level, the team fights for a better deal for San Diego residents from SDG&E. Beth Tennyson How did you first get involved with SD350, and when was that?
I first got involved with

By Katharine Harrison, SanDiego350 Legislative Team Lead Article by The Jumping Off Place “One of the most powerful [tools for political pressure], when well organized, is the boycott: to change where you park your money and where or what you buy.” There are many tools for exerting political pressure: strikes, marches, letters to the press, letters or calls to politicians, public comment at meetings of elected officials, town halls, petitions. One of the most powerful, when well organized, is the boycott: to change where you park your money and where or what you buy. Famous boycotts that made a difference include

By Sofia C. (she/her) Youth v. Oil Intern If you’re familiar with Youth v. Oil and Youth4Climate’s recent work, you’ve likely heard of our priority campaign from the past year: the Polluters Pay Climate Superfund Act of 2025 (AB 1243 and SB 684). These bills were landmark pieces of legislation that would make the top fossil fuel companies pay for the climate damages they’ve inflicted. We lobbied in Sacramento to pass the law, passed three resolutions at city councils, organized walkouts with over 1,300 students across San Diego, and more. In partnership with the statewide coalition, this work shifted Polluters

By Carmen Berry, SanDiego350 Volunteer In American pop culture, flexing cars represent the ultimate freedom – endless expanses of open road and a future unbound by systemic shortages to public transportation systems. Like our landscapes, cars have dominated American pop culture, redefining our personal relationships to space, sustainable development, and freedom. Car-centric development has impeded the expansion of existing public transportation systems nationwide, partially due to federal cuts and impermanent local revenue sources. Facing these escalating attacks on public transportation which foster car dependency, we must reconsider media narratives that stigmatize mass transit and discourage engagement with regional transit systems.

By Ruby Melchior, SanDiego350 Member Climate change disproportionately impacts communities that contribute the least to global greenhouse gas emissions, making climate migration one of the most urgent justice issues of our time. The wealthiest 10% of the global population is responsible for over half of climate-related damages, while the poorest 50% contribute only 7% of emissions. These inequities drive displacement as low income populations face increasing exposure to heatwaves, drought, wildfires, and food insecurity with limited capacity to adapt. California—and particularly San Diego—sits at the center of this crisis, where climate impacts intersect directly with immigration policy and border enforcement. 

By Ken Kobayashi, MD Earlier today, the White House announced that “We are officially terminating the so-called endangerment finding, a disastrous Obama-era policy that severely damaged the American auto industry and massively drove up prices for American consumers.” With these words, the Administration has embraced climate denial as official U.S. policy, ignoring the life-threatening impacts of climate change that millions of Americans face every day. This is no longer a partisan issue. Climate change is increasing costs for all of us by damaging property, disrupting businesses, causing workers to miss work, and increasing the costs of healthcare, electricity, and insurance. 

By Parke Troutman, Utility Campaign Manager New year, new approach to fighting SDG&E’s profitmongering!  Although SanDiego350 has long agitated against San Diego Gas & Electric and its parent company Sempra, we are excited to announce our new volunteer-led Utility Justice team dedicated to fighting for clean and affordable energy and we’re kicking it off with a training on Saturday, January 31st and SDG&E protest on Feb 2nd. LET’S UNDERSTAND THE PROBLEM WITH SDG&E… Solar has become the cheapest form of energy globally, yet sunny San Diego has some of the highest electricity rates in the nation. Why? The explanation has