Environmental Issues in Our Next Election
Ruth Sandven | Published on 11/1/2023
November 2023 marks one year until 2024 election. The October SEAC meeting hosted the first ballot initiative we are looking at from Power San Diego. Bill Powers presented a ballot initiative to create a not for profit, public utility for the City of San Diego. This utility would be governed by an independently appointed 5 member board of directors who would be responsible to a community oversight group. The goal is local control over energy and to lower energy rates. The ballot measure encourages energy conservation and promotes roof-top solar.
You can read the ballot measure proposal submitted to the City Council Rules Committee HERE.
As it is LWV policy to hear all viewpoints on any proposal before taking a position, we will hear from a group who does not support this ballot measure in one of our early 2024 meetings.
For the SEAC November meeting, we will join with the Public Policy Committee on Monday, November 6 @ 9:30 am. to hear about another ballot proposal from Let’s Go San Diego. This measure proposes a sales tax at the rate of one-half of one percent (.5%) within San Diego County to fund transportation priorities within the County, including funding transportation infrastructure projects by the San Diego County Regional Transportation Commission. Please join us to hear about another important measure that we will be voting on.
Cross Border Pollution Crisis. There are almost daily updates in the news about the Tijuana River pollution and the effect on surrounding communities.
Mark your calendars for our November 30th 6:30p.m. Zoom event on this looming crisis. Register for attendance Here.
Our speakers will be Imperial Beach Mayor Paloma Aguirre, International Boundary Water Commission Commissioner Dr. Maria Giner and Voice of San Diego environmental reporter MacKenzie Elmer. Spanish translation will be provided at the event. Pure Water Demonstration Facility Tour The LWVNCSD and LWVSD have organized a tour of the Pure Water Demonstration Facility! Join us to see first-hand and to learn about one of San Diego’s major infrastructure investments in our future water supply.
Tour date and time: Tuesday, January 2, 2024 2:00-4:00 pm. Guests must wear pants and closed-toed walking shoes. Personal protection equipment will be provided. The tour is limited to fifteen people, so make your reservation early! Reserve a spot by emailing Anne Omsted: daomsted@gmail.com or Ruth Sandven at: ruths@lwvsandiego.org Additional details will be provided upon registration.
Wildflowers Lastly, as we learned last March at the SEAC presentation from Justin Daniels of the Native Plant Society, November is the month to spread your wildflower seeds! Help keep San Diego beautiful with native plants and choose from one of the 1,800 plants indigenous to San Diego County!