THANK YOU to all those who took action with us on World Ocean Day!

On June 8th, folks came out to the Let's Go! San Diego Launch to support better transit in San Diego. Let’s Go! San Diego will be on the San Diego County November 2024 ballot. If passed, it will impose a half-cent sales tax to fund transit in San Diego County.

Later that day, SD350 volunteers set off on their kayaks to clean our local wetlands with Ocean Connectors.

Let's Go! photos // Kayaking photos.

Seeing the empty waters of Imperial Beach a few days after reading Surfrider’s Clean Water Report, and knowing it’s been closed for over 900 days because of the poor water quality, was sobering. I thought of the devastating impacts of the flooding in this area earlier this year, and the two hours it would have taken me to get there had I wanted to take public transit that morning. Both the infrastructure and increased water pollution are indicative of the lack of investment in the area. 

To kick off World Ocean Day, June 8th, SanDiego350 and many of our partners were set up for the launch of Let’s Go! San Diego (photos), a ballot measure for the November election. Increasing public transit ridership will not only help connect our city, but will also combat climate change and promote public health. 

After attending the launch, I made my way to San Diego Bay, for SD350’s “Kayaking to Clean Our Wetlands” event (photos). California has lost over 90% of our wetlands in the last century, but there are lots of people working to protect our wetlands and fight climate change both locally and across the state. 

- Roran Ausman, SD350 Volunteer

On May 31, 2024, a remarkable rally was held at one of San Diego’s most dangerous intersections for pedestrians and bicyclists: Market and 19th Street in Sherman Heights. At that intersection, in 2020, Jason Gordon was crossing the street when he was struck and killed by a hit-and-run driver. He left behind his wife Katie and his two one-year-old daughters. The “Fix the Fatal 15” rally, draws attention to the fact that the 2024/25 budget proposed by Mayor Todd Gloria only contained funding for making necessary safety fixes to 8 of the 15 most dangerous intersections in San Diego. The Fatal 15 intersections have the highest rates of death of pedestrians and cyclists over the past several years. 

The SD350 Transportation Team is actively working to promote alternative modes of transportation to passenger vehicles, which are the single largest contributor to GHGe in California. Unsafe streets is a significant impediment to people choosing to walk or bike to work.

On June 10, the San Diego City Council announced that the revised 2024/25 budget earmarks $785,000 to fix the remaining seven deadly intersections.

- Chris Roberts, Transportation Team Leader Co-lead, SanDiego350

SD350’s Microtransit Subteam, has developed a new capability using maps to help cities and communities zero-in on areas where microtransit can best serve those with greatest need. Microtransit refers to a shared-ride neighborhood shuttle service that operates like a pooled Uber or Lyft. It provides low or no cost on-demand service to fixed transit stations or other community destinations within a zone of unserved demand. Thus, microtransit overcomes the problem that, while major transit arteries exist, getting people to and from them is the challenge.

Microtransit can help residents who don’t have cars, cannot drive, or don’t live close to a transit station. Clean, electric vehicles are the power behind microtransit in many zones in our region. 

Microtransit is in use in San Diego. City of San Diego has FRED (Free Ride Everywhere Downtown)

The SD350 Microtransit Team is collaborating with SANDAG, Via Transportation, and local communities and cities to help develop the best microtransit approach to advance transportation equity.

- Sanjiv Nanda and Wendy Mihalic on SanDiego350’s transportation team

Youth4Climate’s 2024 Summit, themed Rise Up Rooted, was an unforgettable gathering of passionate young minds and hearts. Over 50 activists, 37 of them youth, came together to learn about and drive forward climate action.

Seeing a small local youth activist group, initiating such significant changes in their community was truly energizing. Speaker Holly Harwood motivated me to be a lifelong activist and how to balance it with my academic life. Daniel Hernandez taught me the importance of utilizing my voice and voicing the concerns of my community to our government. Speakers Izzy, Alexis, and Anna revealed how we can educate young children about global warming in an approachable manner. Additionally, this event gave me hope for a world where we do not have to worry about climate change.

- Taarika Sethee and Allison Lee, SD350 youth climate leaders

What drives your activism? As part of the youth and future, I know that if we don't act, no one else will. Yet I didn't think I could act until The Sweetwater Union High School District electrification resolution passed, showing me that although I'm a student, we can make change for the better of our community and environment.

Anything else you would like people to know about you? After an environmental event, be it speaking at a rally or a meeting, I’ve made it a tradition to go hiking or to a nearby park as soon as possible to remind myself why I do this. - Daniel Hernandez, Youth4Climate & Youth v. Oil volunteer

Looking for a way to support the work we do at SanDiego350? Visit our donations page to help drive climate-focused policy in San Diego County.