November Newsletter

SanDiego350 is building a movement to prevent the worst impacts of climate change and climate injustice through education and outreach, public policy advocacy, and mobilizing people to take action.

As we reach the end of a tumultuous year, SanDiego350 is already making plans to carry on the fight to reshape the future of climate leadership in 2021. Save the date for #GivingTuesday, December 1st, and please consider donating to support our continued work equipping and empowering activists to stand up against the corporations and politicians who work against our community’s well-being. We are focusing our efforts on providing training, workshops, and networking opportunities to build a diverse and powerful group of climate leaders.

By Masada Disenhouse, SD350 Executive Director

So… now that we’ll have a new president who lists climate change as a top priority (though we may yet need to fight for our votes to count), let’s focus on what happened in local elections, and what the results mean for us as climate activists.

Overall, significantly more progressive and pro-climate-action electeds will be taking their seats at the city and county level in the next month, giving us many opportunities to get some of the policies we need enacted. Definitely something to celebrate! Here’s why it matters and what changes and opportunities we expect to see:

The San Diego County Board of Supervisors flipped Democratic 

Who won: 

• In District 3 (North County) environmental champion Terra Lawson-Remer beat incumbent Trump supporter Kristin Gaspar.
• In District 1 (South Bay) Nora Vargas, beat fellow Democrat Sen. Ben Hueso, who we unsuccessfully lobbied on oil drilling setbacks over the summer.
  

Why it’s important: The County Supervisors oversee the needs of 3.3 million county residents (and directly govern nearly 500,000 people who live in the unincorporated county—including yours truly). They control a budget of $6.5 billion. They also manage courts, jails, public health and public lands, and have a strong say in regional transportation and housing.

What could change: Environmentalists can finally stop suing (third time’s the charm?)—and the County can stop spending money defending its terrible climate action plans (over $1M in taxpayer dollars to date). We can all get down (finally!) to developing an effective, accountable Climate Action Plan that gets us to 100% renewable energy. 

• Environmental justice and air pollution control initiatives via the new Air Pollution Control District can help the health department take a more active role on climate.
• End greenlighting new sprawl developments and prioritize infill and affordable housing.
• Switch from opposing to supporting transit and prioritizing communities of concern at SANDAG and MTS.

Of interest: In 2010 San Diegans voted to enact term limits for the County Supervisors. Those term limits put us on a path to the changes we’ve seen, with progressive candidates replacing conservatives who held their seats for (literally) decades. 

We have room to grow: LA County just elected its first all female Board of Supervisors. 

The City of San Diego went from 6 Democrats to 8 Democrats

Who won: 

• Todd Gloria will be the next Mayor of San Diego. San Diego’s groundbreaking Climate Action Plan was developed under Todd’s leadership (and Todd spoke at our People’s Climate March in 2014). 
• Council: In District 1, Joe LaCava won. Joe is a cofounder of our partner Democrats for Environmental Action. In District 3, Stephen Whitburn won. In District 5, Marni von Wilpert won. In District 7, Raul Campillo won. In District 9, Sean Elo-Rivera won. Sean is ED of our partner Youth Will.

What could change: All five incoming councilmembers are democrats (three of the races were between two Democrats) and almost all of them consider climate change a top priority. Combined with a Democratic Mayor, we’ll have a lot better chance of getting stronger climate policies.

This all means that the City’s representatives on key regional boards like SANDAG and MTS are more likely to share our priorities. With the County Supervisors and new representatives from other cities that shifted progressive, this adds up to a massive power shift on the SANDAG Board. We should see big changes on transportation, as the next Regional Transportation Plan is underway. This is something we’ve been fighting for since our organization started in 2011. 

It won’t all be smooth sailing though. There are many other critical issues, a funding crisis (because of COVID), and some of the CMs were elected with help from labor or other interests which don’t always support the climate policies we do. Mayor Gloria just chose someone from the Chamber of Commerce to be his Chief of Staff. We’ll keep working to push for equity and workers as well as reducing GHGs, and building a coalition.

Of interest: SD350 met with the five new councilmembers as part of nonpartisan visits with all the candidates over the summer, and will be scheduling follow-up meetings to build relationships with the CMs and their staff shortly. 

We’ll get a feel for how progressive the new CMs are by seeing who they choose as Council President - their very first vote when they get sworn in on December 10th. SD350 is supporting Monica Montgomery Steppe to be the next Council President (add your name!), and urging the CMs to vote for her. Which CM chairs the environment committee will also be important to us. 

Other Races and Propositions

Who won:

• Congress: Sara Jacobs won in the 53rd district. She and most of the other candidates supported a Green New Deal and climate action at the candidates forum we hosted with partners back in February. The work we did on the Green New Deal, including sit-ins at the prior congressmember Davis’, led to this result. Darrell Issa won in the 50th district. He received a climate change denier award in 2013, and ran in the 50th district after losing the seat he held for decades in the 49th district to Mike Levin in 2018.
• It’s looking like SD350 member and ally Jack Shu won a council seat in La Mesa and ally Marcus Bush won a council seat in National City (these haven’t been called yet). 

Of interest: Pia did a full write up on how our proposition recommendations fared (hint: it’s not pretty). Californians were not nearly as progressive in voting on the props as they were in voting for candidates. Why? Complex, nuanced, disputed props, huge amounts spent to misinform (Prop 22 was the most expensive ever, >$220 million), and wealth inequality leading to anti-tax sentiments at all costs. 

The 2010 initiative that changed California to a “top two primary system” has significantly increased single party general elections (mostly Dem-on-Dem west of the 125).

You’re not alone. It is seriously time to retire the electoral college. 

Bottom line: We’ll have more opportunities to advance climate solutions in San Diego County in 2021 and we’ll need your help more than ever. So roll up your sleeves. Let’s get to work!

By Pia Piscitelli, Co-Leader, Public Policy Team

This election season has been unlike any other. Despite the pandemic and many other obstacles, we saw more voters than ever before—more youth voters, more first-time voters, more mail-in voters. In San Diego County, we had a 82.9% voter turnout and that number will be even higher once all the votes have been counted.

We also saw more volunteers than ever before working to support our democracy and make climate a priority issue.

SanDiego350 is grateful for all our volunteers and voters who came together these past few months. Thank you for voting to support climate justice and social justice!

Here are the results from SanDiego350 ballot measure recommendations:

In the City of San Diego, one of the two measures we endorsed was successful. Measure B, which establishes an independent Police Commission, passed with almost 75% voting in support. Though more than 57% voted yes for Measure A (affordable housing bond), it fell short of the two-thirds approval required. 

Oceanside’s Measure L (sprawl development) was successfully defeated with more than 67% voting no on the measure.

On the state level, we were disappointed with the results. Though Prop 17 (restoring voting rights for parolees) was successful with around 59% support, four of the five props we supported failed to pass. We were especially disappointed to see Prop 15, Prop 16, and Prop 18 fail. Prop 15, which would have increased funding for schools and services by closing property tax loopholes for big businesses, was defeated with around 52% voting in opposition. Prop 16, which would have reinstated affirmative action and was heavily supported by social justice leaders and organizations, was defeated with around 57% voting in opposition. Prop 18, which would have allowed 17-year-olds to register to vote in the primaries if they turn 18 before the same year’s general election, was defeated with nearly 56% voting in opposition. 

Though we’re taking a moment to reflect and celebrate our wins, we know there’s more work to be done. Join us on 11/17 to discuss next steps for the climate movement in San Diego and beyond.

Amanda Ruetten, SD350 Policy Organizer & Masada Disenhouse, Executive Director 

This week has been a whirlwind. On Monday we got the news that San Diego City Council President Georgette Gómez sent a memo to Mayor Faulconer stating that she will not docket the Mayor’s bad Franchise Agreements deal and was instead requesting a one-year extension. That would mean the franchise agreements would be in the hands of our next City Council and Mayor.

But then last night we learned that SDG&E is playing hardball with our energy future, and refusing to negotiate a one year extension.

As you know, we’ve been working to ensure the City gets a good franchise deal that allows us to meet our climate, equity and just transition goals. To that end, we’ve met with San Diego Councilmembers, given public comment at Council meetings, and submitted over 1,200 petition signatures.

We are committed to stopping this bad franchise deal and secure our clean energy future. We will continue to reach out for your support, and with your help we will prevail.

For more information about the franchise agreements see our Explainer.

By Lorenzo Nericcio, Newsletter Editor

The meat, poultry, and dairy industries are some of the leading contributors to global climate change. It’s also very clear that animals are thinking, feeling, sentient beings that should not be subjected to the horrors of being raised for exploitation and slaughter. Those facts make Thanksgiving a little awkward: what should you eat instead of turkey, buttery mashed potatoes, and pumpkin pie? 

As a vegan of 2 years and a vegetarian of 6, I have a few suggestions. Here’s how I replace 5 of the most common Thanksgiving mainstays:

• Turkey: The central feature of most Thanksgiving dinner tables might seem impossible to replace, but luckily, there are some great alternatives out there. Brands like Tofurkey, Gardein, and Trader Joe’s all make vegan “turkey”-loaves with stuffing that deliciously replace the actual bird. If you’re not into mock meat, don’t worry; a vegan pot pie can also be a great turkey substitute!
  
  
• Mashed potatoes: Every mashed potato recipe usually calls for plenty of whole milk and butter to make them creamy. This one is a simple fix, and the results taste exactly the same. Sub out cows’ milk for oat milk or soy milk (almond milk has too distinct a flavor) and use a brand like Earth Balance vegan butter.
  
  
• Gravy: Nothing beats mashed potatoes and gravy. Thankfully, you don’t need to use a giblet or any other animal bits to make delicious, savory gravy. You can whip up your own gravy with just three cups of vegetable broth, ¼ cup of flour, a tablespoon of soy sauce, and spices and diced onions or garlic to taste. A few mushrooms can also add great flavor!
  
  
• Rolls: If you like to make your own rolls, it’s easy enough to find a simple recipe online that doesn’t require any milk, butter, or eggs—or just uses the vegan version of those things. My favorite thing to do out of convenience, though, is find “accidentally vegan” rolls. Pillsbury original crescent rolls and original breakfast biscuits, for example, are totally plant-based (though they’re not marketed that way)! 
  
  
• Pumpkin pie: Let’s not forget about dessert. Pumpkin pie is traditionally egg-based, but there’s an easy swap. If you have some garbanzo beans lying around, you can use the liquid the beans float in (it’s called aquafaba) and whip it into a meringue. Use about a half-cup of this liquid, and whip until it’s thoroughly frothy and thick (you might need two cans to get enough liquid). You can use this as you would use egg in your pumpkin pie—add two tablespoons of cornstarch, too. 

Enjoy your feast in a way that’s ecologically and morally responsible by ditching animal products and choosing fun, easy, and delicious plant based alternatives. Happy Thanksgiving!

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