What's new at Empower San Diego
Port approves landmark settlement agreement for Chula Vista Bayfront Master Plan
The San Diego Board of Port Commissioners on May 4 approved a settlement agreement between the Bayfront Coalition and the Port District that ensures significant community benefits, wildlife protection, and green energy practices are part of any development plan for the Chula Vista Bayfront. EMPOWER San Diego has endorsed this settlement and will be speaking at a public hearing at the Chula Vista City Council on Tuesday May 18th.
"The settlement agreement allows development to move forward without sacrificing the health of the South Bay. It will protect the environment and promote regional energy sustainability and recreational opportunities for this region," said Laura Hunter of the Environmental Health Coalition.
The Sweetwater Park Compromise Plan supported in the agreement will protect the environment and increase public access to open spaces. Most importantly, it will protect 100 acres of the Sweetwater District from high-rise development, removing all residential development from the lands adjacent to the Sweetwater Marsh and South San Diego Bay Refuges -a top priority for the community and environmental groups.
"The Sweetwater Marsh National Wildlife Refuge is one if the last safe points of refuge for endangered bird species in our region. This plan will ensure the protection of their fragile habitat while allowing more appropriate, less invasive development that is good for people and the environment," said Jim Peugh of the San Diego Audubon Society.
The plan reduces proposed residential units from a one-time high of 3,400 condos to 1,500. It also ensures that additional funding be made available for community benefits for Western Chula Vista, including additional funding for protection of natural resources, sustainability, affordable housing and education and culture projects. Two public participation committees - one for natural resources and one for design and culture - will ensure that these community and environmental benefits occur.
"This plan is economically feasible and contains significant commitments to use green and energy efficient technology," said Chula Vista resident Lynda Gilgun. "This agreement calls for sustainable development that moves us forward technologically and environmentally."
The Bayfront agreement is the result of a multi-year effort by the Bayfront Coalition to ensure that all commitments related to the Bayfront development were enforceable and funded. Bayfront Coalition organizations and members of the Environmental Health Coalition Community Action Team who live in Chula Vista negotiated the agreement.
Bayfront Coalition member organizations are: Environmental Health Coalition; San Diego Audubon Society; San Diego Coastkeeper; Coastal Environmental Rights Foundation; Surfrider Foundation, San Diego Chapter; Southwest Wetlands Interpretive Association; and, EMPOWER San Diego.
Celebrate
San Diego Grown Democracy
with EMPOWER San Diego
Special Guests:
The Honorable Bob Filner
&
Councilmember Todd Gloria
Honoring San Diego Grown Leaders:
Lorena Gonzalez
Secretary-Treasurer and CEO for the San Diego and Imperial Counties Labor Council, AFL-CIO
&
Colin Parent
The American Constitution Society and New Leaders Council
Saturday May 8th, 2010
5pm - Sunset Reception
6pm - Award Presentation
at the Historic home of Ron Oster
in North Park's Dryden District
3694 Pershing AveSan Diego, CA 92104
EMPOWER current members - $75 individual ticket
Non-members - $100 individual ticket
Host Committee - $250 VIP Ticket
As we celebrate San Diego Grown Democracy, we will also feature local wine and beer & locally grown food.
Join us in creating a more just, equitable, and sustainable San Diego.
co-sponsored by participants in the Democracy Dialogues Working Group.
How We the People of California Can Come Together and Find Solutions to the Challenges in Our Communities: An Introduction to Dynamic Facilitation and Wisdom Councils.
EMPOWER San Diego
would like to send a big
THANK YOU!
to all those who attended and supported our
2010 Kickoff Fundraiser
You all helped our event become a wonderful success! The event raised crucial funds for EMPOWER and motivated people to make a meaningful political change in our local community.
As EMPOWER launches our new year of voter engagement efforts to bring San Diegans more accurate and useful information about the issues on the June ballot, we hope you will continue to follow and support our work--especially our work to engage voters for the June 8th election.
Did you miss the event? Learn about EMPOWER's new Civic Matters Campaign for 2010
Thank you to Richard Barrera and Norma Damasheck for speaking about the many important issues surrounding our campaign.
Thank you to our Host Committee: Bill Powers, Eric Isaacson, Ian Trowbridge, Stephen Whitburn, and Mark Greenberg for their valuable contributions.
And most of all, Thank you to our Board Members, Interns, Volunteers, and Supporters -- without you this event would not have been possible.
The EMPOWERStudents! Intern Team is welcoming a new group and saying goodbye (and thank you) to our outgoing interns.
From left to right: Chi Dang, outgoing Programs Intern; Jackie Taylor, incoming Communications Intern; Emily Serafy Cox, Program Coordinator; Shasta Weinerman, incoming Student Organizing Intern
More about our incoming interns:
- Jackie Taylor is a senior at UCSD in International Studies and grew up in the Encanto neighborhood of San Diego. Jackie enjoys working behind the scenes and is helping EMPOWER with online communications and administrative tasks.
- Jillian Dyer is a senior at SDSU in Business Administration. She got engaged in politics during last year's presidential election and is excited to give back to her community. Jillian is helping EMPOWER with graphic design for our outreach and educational materials.
- Shasta Weinerman is a senior at UCSD in Political Science and was at President Obama's inauguration. She is interested in working for a non-profit after she graduates. Shasta is doing outreach to student groups in preparation for EMPOWER's voter engagement outreach on campus.
