Chris Sturken applied to the Green Foothills Leadership Academy at the recommendation of his cousin, Andrea Savage (class of 2014). “It was right up my alley,” says Chris (class of 2017) who was taking a grassroots organizing course as an Environmental Studies major at San Francisco State. “I was excited and ready to soak up everything like a sponge.” Keeping a Family Legacy Alive Coming from a line of public transit workers – his father worked for Caltrain and his grandfather and great grandfather worked for Southern Pacific Railroad – Chris hoped to apply the skills and knowledge he gained...
Update on Pillar Point Bluff Off-Leash Dog Pilot Program
Many thanks to everyone who wrote or spoke up for wildlife at the Board of Supervisors in support of maintaining the existing On-Leash Dog requirements at Pillar Point Bluff. Unfortunately, the Board of Supervisors voted 4-1 – the dissenting vote came from Supervisor Carole Groom – to allow a 12-month Pilot Program for Off-Leash Dogs at Pillar Point Bluff. As we previously pointed out, Pillar Point Bluff and adjacent Ross’ Cove beach and tidepools have more special status species than any other comparable County Park area. Many songbirds, raptors, and shorebirds, the federally protected California red-legged frog, and marine...
A Historic Moment: Coyote Valley Finally Protected From Urban Development
Last week, San Jose took a historic step by declaring Coyote Valley a place for open space and farmland. The unanimous vote by the San Jose City Council reversed decades of misguided planning policy and declared over 3,000 acres of open space off-limits to urban development. We thank the City Council, staff, and all our environmental, tribal, and community partners for their efforts in achieving this landmark moment! City Council Decision Signals New Era for Coyote Valley The City Council voted unanimously on November 16 to change the General Plan land use designation in North Coyote Valley from industrial to...
Victory in San Jose for Coyote Valley! Now County Will Consider Climate Resilience District
We did it! Last night, the San Jose City Council unanimously voted to change the land use in North Coyote Valley from industrial to open space and agriculture, and to remove the Urban Reserve designation from Mid Coyote Valley. Now, our efforts move to Santa Clara County where the Planning Commission will consider the Coyote Valley Climate Resilience District this Thursday, November 18. Please email the County Planning Commission and ask them to recommend approval of the Coyote Valley Climate Resilience District to the Board of Supervisors! County Should Designate Mid and South Coyote Valley a Climate Resilience District With...
Pídale a East Palo Alto Que Retrasa la Decisión Sobre un Desarrollo Masivo de Oficinas
Read the English version here. El 18 de noviembre, el Concejo Municipal de East Palo Alto decidirá si estudiará un plan para permitir edificios de oficinas de 8 pisos junto a vecindarios residenciales tranquilos y los sensibles humedales de la Bahía. Muy pocos miembros de la comunidad saben que se tomará esta decisión. ¡Utilice el formulario a continuación para enviar un correo electrónico al Concejo Municipal para pedirles que retrasen esta decisión hasta que hayan tenido noticias de la comunidad! Desarrolladores estan pidiendo triplicar el tamaño del plan Ravenswood En 2013, East Palo Alto aprobó el Plan Específico del Distrito...
Ask East Palo Alto To Delay Decision on Massive Office Development
Lea la versión en español aquí. On November 18, the East Palo Alto City Council will decide whether to study a plan to allow 8-story office buildings right next to quiet residential neighborhoods and the sensitive Bay wetlands. Very few community members are even aware that this decision is happening. Please email the City Council and ask them to delay this decision until they have heard from the community! Developers Asking to Triple Size of Ravenswood Plan to Over 4 Million Square Feet In 2013, East Palo Alto approved the Ravenswood Business District Specific Plan to allow 1.2 million square...
Say No to Off-Leash Dogs at Pillar Point Bluff
On Tuesday, November 9, the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors will consider allowing off-leash dogs at Pillar Point Bluff, a coastal gem adjacent to the Fitzgerald Marine Reserve in Moss Beach. Speak up to protect the sensitive wildlife there! Please email the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors by 5 pm today, opposing off-leash dogs at Pillar Point Bluff. What’s Happening County Parks is proposing a pilot program that would allow off-leash dogs at Pillar Point Bluff under new rules requiring that: (1) Off-leash dogs must be under voice and sight control, (2) dogs must remain on designated trails...
Amazon-Style Warehouse/Distribution Center Threatens Coyote Valley
In an alarming 5-4 vote on October 27, San Jose’s Planning Commission decided against protecting Coyote Valley. Rejecting the recommendations from Planning staff and the 36-member General Plan Task Force, they voted to recommend against changing the land use in North Coyote Valley from industrial development to open space and agriculture. It is up to the San Jose City Council to make the final decision about the fate of Coyote Valley on November 16. Please use the form below to email the Council now and ask them to finally protect Coyote Valley by approving the staff recommendations. Planning Commission Votes...
We Are So Proud of Our Leadership Academy 2021 Cohort!
From climate resiliency teams in North Fair Oaks to the protection of Juristac, the 2021 Leadership Academy cohort shined in their efforts to create environmental protection campaign plans through a racial equity lens. As part of the training program, participants formed 5 separate workgroups around these current issues: Establishing Climate Resiliency Block Action Teams in North Fair Oaks. Persuading local city governments to support resolutions to protect Juristac, the Amah Mutsun’s most sacred site and a critical wildlife corridor. Assessing the efficacy of community outreach by developers for the Ravenswood Business District Specific Plan. Understanding the equity context around the...
Ofelia Bello – In Service of Community in EPA
The daughter of Mexican-born immigrants, Ofelia Bello knew at a young age that she wanted to make an impact through community organizing. She studied Urban Planning and achieved early career success as a regional housing policy analyst. But she felt that the work she was doing was too disconnected from her home and her community. Born and raised in East Palo Alto, she wanted to have a direct impact in her hometown. “I wanted to transition from sort of vanilla desk work to talking with people day in and day out. Do real community organizing.” So, in 2017, Ofelia looked...