In this newsletter, we look back on a year of significant accomplishments—and toward a new year of further progress! Find out what we did last year, what we've done in the past 10 years since we first started, and more.

1. 2021 Key Accomplishments
2. Celebrating 10 Years of Activism
3. Farewell from our Board President, Kim Kishon
4. Featured Volunteer: Carla Ruiz-Velazco
5. SANDAG’s Proposed Per-Mile Road Use Charge Is Misunderstood. But It’s Needed.
6. Upcoming Events
   
7. Exciting Volunteer Opportunities!
8. In the News

By Masada Disenhouse, Executive Director

This year, SanDiego350 …

Led bold, strategic campaigns

Pushed for Bold County Action

We organized coalition partners and hundreds of residents to call on County Supervisors to create a bold, equitable plan for regional climate action and be accountable for its implementation.

Exposed Sempra’s Fossil Fuel Agenda
We launched Sempra Fracks Our Future Campaign and protested Sempra’s Annual Shareholder Meeting to expose how their plan to grow fracked gas exports is inherently at odds with a sustainable, equitable future.

We’re Electrifying
The San Diego Building Electrification Coalition we launched expanded to 32 organizations and successfully advocated for a stronger Encinitas building electrification ordinance. 

Empowered Youth

Leadership Programs
Trained and mentored 11 high school & college interns. Provided hundreds of youth with leadership skills through a virtual summit and summer camp, and an in-person summer program.

Youth-Led Campaigns
Launched Youth v. Oil and Plastics-Free Gen Z campaigns. YvOil passed a resolution calling for an end to oil extraction at San Diego Unified and is asking the SD Council to do the same.

Inspired Youth to Act
Supported youth to lead climate strikes with over 4,000 participants. Convened a coalition of high school environmental clubs to stimulate peer learning and collaboration.

Mobilized and Skilled Up The Movement

Mobilized Thousands
We organized thousands of San Diegans to protest climate inaction, provide public input, meet with elected officials, and advocate for stronger local, county and state climate policies.

Educated and Empowered
We hosted dozens of workshops, trainings, forums and action hours featuring expert speakers on topics including building electrification, transportation justice, climate action plans, and net metering

Grew Volunteer Leadership & Staff
We supported dozens of climate leaders to play key roles in over 15 volunteer teams and grew our staff support to include a full time Campaign Coordinator and half time Youth4Climate Coordinator.

Advocated for Climate Justice and Equity

Stood in Solidarity
Served in coalitions and stood in solidarity with BIPoC-led organizations on policy, the city budget, and to oppose polluting power plants.

Built JEDI Capacity
Grew volunteer leadership of the JEDI team and integrated our JEDI and policy efforts. Held anti-racism trainings and workshops on climate justice.

Advocated for Climate Justice
SANDAG passed the bold, equitable Regional Plan we advocated for with the Transportation Equity Working Group.

The County Office of Environmental and Climate Justice we supported was created.

Read the full story and see the infographic here!

By Masada Disenhouse, Executive Director

In December 2011, 15 people got together to celebrate a successful climate action march and decided to create an organization to build the grassroots climate movement in San Diego. 10 years later, we’ve come so far! 

I wanted to take the time to reflect on our 10th anniversary, and thank our volunteers and supporters, who make everything possible:

In 2011 our march had about 350 people participating. In the last few years we’ve been able to turn out thousands of people to demand climate action, including 4,000 students in the Climate Strikes this year. 

In 2012 we raised a few hundred dollars, cash that our treasurer Janina, a grad student at UCSD, kept in a cookie box under her bed. Now we have a fundraising team, the equivalent of 4 full time staff, and head into 2022 with a budget of about $400,000. 

In 2011 we had no teams. The Public Policy Team was our first team, in 2013. Since then, the “PPT” has grown to include about 80 volunteers and 5 committees - working on everything from transportation to state legislation and Building Electrification. 

But some things haven’t changed—at all:

• We still believe that building an inclusive, people-powered movement is the way to get the policy, economic and societal changes we need to see—and that every person has the ability to make a difference. 
  
• We remain committed to centering equity in our work. 
  
• We know what we’re up against and we choose to fight the fossil fuel industry and their political allies to achieve a healthier, more sustainable, more just future. 
  
• We find joy and resilience in the community we’ve built and we depend on each other. 
  

There are so many accomplishments to celebrate, that it’s hard to focus on just a few, but I’ll try:

• My conservative estimate is that we’ve mobilized more than 25,000 San Diegans to take action on climate change since 2011.
  
• We have more than 15 volunteer-led teams, many with their own working groups, and engaging hundreds of active volunteers in ongoing campaigns and efforts. 
  
• Since our youth4climate program began in 2019, it has empowered, mentored, and engaged hundreds of young people in San Diego County through youth-led programs and campaigns.
  
• We’ve built coalitions with diverse partner organizations to advance climate action, including environmental justice, social and economic justice, youth, labor, faith, and other organizations. 
  

Looking back on 2021, we are amazed at the resiliency and commitment you have all shown. As we continue to navigate the many changes and challenges of the pandemic era, we have all found a new rhythm that allows us to continue our mission to fight for a healthy, equitable, sustainable world while maintaining our deep sense of community. 

While we decided to postpone our “Celebration for a Brighter Future” an in-person fundraiser to celebrate our successes over 10 years and raise funds to support the organization’s campaigns, we hope the evolving pandemic situation will allow us to reschedule it soon for sometime in the spring. Stay tuned!

We could not do any of this without the dedication of our volunteers and the generous contributions of our donors. You make it possible for SD350 to be proactive, organized, effective and BOLD! I am so grateful for every one of you!!!

Please join me in celebrating everything we’ve built together as SanDiego350 continues to lead the way on climate activism and movement building in San Diego.  

This year, board president Kim Kishon departs from SanDiego350. We want to take this moment to thank Kim for her years of leadership and service. Below are her remarks.

As you may have heard by now, I’ll be stepping down from my role as Board President this month, to prepare for becoming a new parent! Before I go, I want to reflect on all that I’ve done with SanDiego350 and all that SanDiego350 has given me during my 8 years as a volunteer. 

For starters, here’s a short list of what SanDiego350 has given me:

• Lasting friendships
• Hope and inspiration
• Movement-building education
• A part-time job, paid in meaning and fulfillment
• Hundreds of Google Docs
• A network of kind, caring, dedicated people
• Meeting one of my climate heroes, Bill McKibben, twice!
• Invaluable experience building a grassroots nonprofit organization
• A greater understanding of the climate crisis and how to advocate effectively for policy solutions
• Volunteer leadership experience
• Teamwork, collaboration, community and a sense of belonging (which is woefully undervalued & under-prioritized in our society)
  

The list could go on for days, but I’ll stop there.

So, what did I do to earn all of that?

In my time as a volunteer, I have tried many things that were new to me, growing and learning with others along the way. Most of the time, I worked behind the scenes to develop our leadership structure and guide our strategy. I led efforts to hire our first staff members, develop a larger and more active board, create internal policies, support conflict resolution and delicately guide difficult conversations that helped us stay on track. One of my most rewarding recent experiences involved laying the foundation for our JEDI (Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion) Team, by hiring and supervising our first Justice & Equity intern and supporting volunteer leaders. Most of the time, I handled odds and ends that needed to be done, to care for the health and growth of SanDiego350: planning fundraising parties, interviewing candidates, onboarding volunteers, plus writing email blasts and speeches. I did none of this alone: it’s true that collaboration and teamwork are essential to moving anything forward.  

After 8 years of movement building with SanDiego350, I’m thankful to each of you who have given me inspiration and hope for the future. In this organization, I have met some of the most genuine, kind, driven and passionate people. Together, we have marched, assembled last minute rallies, facilitated workshops, created countless Google Docs, painted an office space we barely used (thanks, pandemic), and everything in between.

Our marches and rallies have brought me to tears: overwhelmed with sorrow by the crisis we face and overjoyed and empowered by the sight of so many people who care enough to do something about it.  (Photo – 2017 People’s Climate March)

Our meetings and events have given me tangible actions to make an impact locally, helping me feel part of the solution.

Our press coverage has filled me with pride: every time I see SD350 on the news (or the front page of the Union Tribune, which has happened at least four times!), I am in awe that I have the privilege of being part of such an impactful group.

I’ve witnessed SanDiego350 grow from a handful of 10 committed volunteers who met in a church basement and kept our funds in a jar under Janina’s bed, into an organization with hundreds of volunteers, well over ten teams, paid staff (green jobs!), solid funding, an active board, and frequent impact on local policy.

I am in awe of the people who dedicate themselves to this organization– you give me hope, which I need as I prepare to bring another human into the world. I’ll miss my day-to-day involvement and I can shift my focus, knowing that SD350 is devoted to a brighter future.  

I want to especially thank Masada and Joyce:

Masada has been throwing opportunities and ideas at me since 2013, helping me grow right alongside SanDiego350. Masada’s devotion, creativity and bravery keep taking the organization to bold new heights. Masada is the primary driver for SanDiego350’s grassroots power.  And thank you to Joyce, whose steady, compassionate leadership led the Public Policy Team, putting it on the path to being the powerhouse it is today and who has served tirelessly on the organization’s Executive Committee. Joyce will guide the organization as she fills the role of Board President.

Carla has been essential in our efforts to organize, fundraise, and educate on climate issues. We interviewed her to ask what motivates her climate activism.

Carla Ruiz-Velazco

How did you first get involved with SD350, and when was that? 

I got involved in the summer of 2019. I actually started by signing up for the newsletter and I wanted to educate myself on how to make a difference in the environment by relying less on fossil fuels.  I attended the monthly volunteer meeting which then was held in-person. I was enticed by the snack table with hummus but mostly inspired by leaders from high school students to retirees. I felt at home. I spoke with Bee Mittermiller and was thrilled to learn about the Transportation Committee which she heads. I have since joined and kept an eye on my email to take any action I can, from making a phone call to submitting a public comment. I  have enjoyed collaborating on several projects since then.

What drives your activism?

Not accepting the status quo when there is something harming the environment and us as people. For instance, it's unacceptable that kids in our city are suffering from severe asthma due to diesel pollution in their neighborhoods. I feel strongly about making our democracy work for us. I'm really driven by my curiosity to learn more about environmental issues and create solutions.

What do you recommend to people who want to have a larger impact through the environmental movement? What do you prioritize in your own activism?

I would love to know what someone with more experience as an activist would say! Besides trying to walk the walk by eliminating car idling and similar habits, I can only say to just start by being curious, educating themselves, having conversations with others, contributing with the skills they have, using their voices, and really just showing up to any cause in the environmental movement that they understand and believe in. For example, my passion for economic justice and quality of life has led me to work toward an equitable gas-powered leaf blower ban.

We need to find the right balance between perseverance and taking care of ourselves so we don't burn out. I also recommend that people find a well-informed community they enjoy spending time with and celebrating victories with; this will make their work as activists more fun, powerful, and meaningful! 

I prioritize creativity and I try to find common ground in my activism as much as possible. It's simple, being in a cleaner world benefits us all.

By Steven Gelb & David Grubb

As featured in the San Diego Union Tribune

Grubb is transportation chair of Sierra Club San Diego. He lives in Linda Vista. Gelb is transportation co-chair of San Diego 350. He lives in Cardiff.

The recent public discussion of a proposed future “road use charge” unduly alarmed and outraged many citizens due to the omission of context and the spread of misinformation. To give one example, citizens were lured to Town Hall meetings with the irresponsible and false claims that “Local politicians are directing the county’s SANDAG transportation agency to move forward with imposing a mileage tax starting in 2023 to track your mileage and charge you anywhere from 4 to 6 cents per mile you drive!”

Yet a road use fee is currently only under study, and the timeline for implementing such a fee is not until 2030. Moreover, the San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG) has indicated that it would seek robust public engagement as it examines the possible implementation of road use fees. There is no specific mileage charge of 4 to 6 cents, or of any size, presently up for approval, although San Diego’s proposed Regional Transit Plan estimates possible future charges that depend entirely upon the outcome of studies and public input. The anger generated by the fabrication that politicians are about to implement a back-door tax hike jeopardizes our ability to rationally consider policy options to address the climate crisis and to maintain our roads.

Missing is the acknowledgment that we already have a road use charge, known as the gas tax. There are both state and federal excise taxes included in the price we currently pay for gasoline and diesel fuel. These taxes have been in place for many years. Originally, they covered much of the cost of building and maintaining roads. However, because they were pegged at cents per gallon, they failed to keep pace with inflation, and their real value has been steadily declining. Gas taxes now cover only about one-third of the costs of building and maintaining our road network. The rest of the cost must be taken from other tax revenue such as income, property and sales taxes.

When the gas tax was first imposed, it was a reasonable approximation of road use. People who drove more, or who drove heavier vehicles, paid more. As fuel economy started to improve after the oil price shocks of the 1970s, the gas tax became less equitable as drivers of newer, more efficient cars paid less, and drivers of older, less efficient cars paid more.

With the introduction of hybrid and electric cars, the gas tax has become an anachronism. Drivers who can afford fully electric cars, such as Teslas, pay no gas tax at all although they continue to contribute to wear and tear of the road network.

The current system is increasingly unfair and unsustainable. As more consumers purchase electric vehicles, gas tax revenue will continue to decline, even as the cost of maintaining our highway network continues to rise. If nothing changes, less affluent drivers of older, gas-driven cars will pay a larger and larger share of costs.

Clearly, some other form of revenue will be needed to replace the current gas tax. Municipalities across the country are studying road charges as a tool for equity. Seventy-three percent of drivers in a 2017 California pilot study found a road use fee to be more equitable than a gas tax. And SANDAG has centered equity in its 2021 Regional Transportation Plan, committing itself to ensure that any future fees are not disproportionately burdensome to disadvantaged and vulnerable people.

The road use charge should cover a substantial fraction, but not all, of the costs of maintaining roads. Everyone benefits from having a network of roads, including people who never drive on them, so some of the cost should be covered by general revenue.

All road users should pay their fair share of the costs. The road use charge should be based on the number of miles driven, and not how the vehicle is powered. Heavier vehicles cause more road wear and damage, so they should pay more.

A portion of the road use charge should be collected and disbursed locally, not at the whim of politicians in Sacramento or Washington, D.C. SANDAG is best positioned to collect and distribute local road use charge proceeds because it is governed by board members who are accountable to voters.

Those who attack the idea of a road use charge need to be asked what they would propose to replace the disappearing revenues of the gas tax. An equitably structured road use charge is a promising step toward a greener and more equitable future.

01/06/2022 @ 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm

Join us for San Diego 350's action hour, focusing on doing the work around organizing for climate-friendly policy in San Diego. We will meet bi-weekly and focus each week on taking a concrete action and learning more about how YOU can impact an issue. This week we will be contacting Gov Newsom around Rooftop Solar and Net Energy Metering. We will provide you with the background information and everything you need to know to complete an action.

01/08/2022 @ 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm (on Zoom)

Join Youth4Climate for our January Community Service Hour Program Meeting, where you can learn how to receive service hours while supporting youth climate action!

Youth4Climate's new Community Service Hour Program is geared towards students who want to receive community service hours to go on college applications or resumés by doing concrete, supportive tasks for Y4C.

01/12/2022 @ 9:00 am – 12:00 pm

Come make your voice heard at this County Board of Supervisors (BoS) meeting by giving public comment. Join our chorus to ensure the County sets BOLD goals to combat this existential crisis. We will guide you through the process and provide talking points about our policy priorities at the county level. Come make your voice heard for environmental justice!

Please sign up to speak and we will contact you with more information including instructions and talking points. You are welcome to attend the meeting in person or call in virtually. It's easier than you think and really makes a difference!

Jan 20 @ 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm

Join us for San Diego 350's action hour, focusing on doing the work around organizing for climate-friendly policy in San Diego. We will meet bi-weekly and focus each week on taking a concrete action and learning more about how YOU can impact an issue. This week we will be contacting our Board of Supervisors on sprawl-related issues. We will provide you with the background information and everything you need to know to complete an action.

If you enjoy creating a welcoming environment for others and connecting about Climate Action—contact us to volunteer with our Member Engagement Team. You will help:

• Reach out to new members of SanDiego350 and help them feel welcomed into our community
  
• Assist with planning the content and activities of Monthly Membership Meetings
  
• Develop content that helps new members learn more about SanDiego350
  

For all volunteer opportunities, please email Paloma at paloma@sandiego350.org

• Major energy storage project — enough to power 110,000 homes for 2 hours — coming to San Diego (Union Tribune)

• In 2021, climate ambitions soared and crashed in the U.S. and around the world (NPR)
  
• California regulators sign off on phaseout of new gas-powered lawn mowers, leaf blowers (LA Times)
  

• Joe Manchin may have doomed American climate policy (KPBS)
  

• ‘Heal the past’: first Native American confirmed to oversee national parks (The Guardian)