In 2020, Iliana Nicholas was finishing her master’s degree in city planning and working for Climate Resilient Communities (CRC) when her supervisor suggested she sign up for the Green Foothills Leadership Program. Iliana was well versed in topics such as housing and land use planning, and the Leadership Program offered an opportunity for her to add to her skill set by learning about environmental advocacy, which would be helpful in her role at an environmental justice organization like CRC. Her supervisor had completed the Leadership Program several years earlier and found it worthwhile, and Iliana says the program lived up...
Community Ambassadors Shine During Earth Month
In March we launched our new Community Ambassador Program by recruiting volunteers to represent Green Foothills at community events. Through the program, these volunteers spread awareness about Green Foothills’ work on pressing environmental issues that impact San Mateo, Santa Clara, and San Benito Counties. So far, six dedicated volunteers have stepped up for the opportunity and were trained just in time for Earth Month in April. Welcome and thank you to Paulina Acosta, Lizbeth Amador, Kimberly Meade, Nicole Moutoux, Jim Petkiewicz, and Zana Vartinian, our first Community Ambassadors! They each bring their own story and energy to this role, but...
Coastal Commission Approves Pacifica LCLUP and Special Shoreline Resiliency Areas
Thanks to everyone who took the time to email the California Coastal Commission regarding the approval of Pacifica’s Local Coastal Land Use Plan (LCLUP) update. Unfortunately, on May 9th, the Coastal Commissioners voted 8-1 to approve Pacifica’s LCLUP that includes the new, controversial “Special Shoreline Resiliency Areas.” These areas allow for neighborhood-scale seawalls in Rockaway Beach and West Sharp Park. While this was not the outcome we had hoped for, Green Foothills will continue advocating for the preservation of our shoreline and beaches, and we will keep you informed about how you can help. California Coastal Commission Approves Pacifica LCLUP...
Protect California’s Beaches – Please Email the Coastal Commission
Next week, the Coastal Commission will vote on a decision that could affect the entire California coast. The city of Pacifica has asked the Coastal Commission to approve a coastal land use plan that would allow neighborhood-scale seawalls, which are known to cause beaches to shrink and ultimately disappear. Please email the Coastal Commission by 5:00 p.m. on Friday May 2, and ask them to reject Pacifica’s coastal land use plan as currently drafted! What’s Happening Pacifica, like all coastal cities and counties, must have a Local Coastal Land Use Plan (LCLUP) approved by the Coastal Commission. The plan describes...
“Builder’s Remedy” Fuels Sprawl, Threatens People and Nature
Rural areas across Santa Clara County are under threat from a flood of harmful “builder’s remedy” development proposals that would hurt people and wildlife. Almost all of these projects are located on prime farmland or hillside habitat, in floodplains or wildfire hazard areas, and lack water and sewer access. If approved, these projects would result in an unprecedented loss of farmland and open space throughout unincorporated Santa Clara County. Please tell the County Supervisors that you support the County’s longstanding policies protecting farmland and open space! What Is the “Builder’s Remedy” and How Does It Affect Santa Clara County? California’s...
Students Learn How to Get Elected Leaders to Listen
Do elected leaders really listen to what community members have to say? If you’re a Green Foothills supporter, you probably know that they do. You probably also know that when trying to persuade a local official to take action, some approaches work better than others. This month, Green Foothills Leadership Program participants learned how to get local leaders to listen. The highlight of the April session was a visit from Joe Simitian, a former California state legislator whose distinguished career included serving in the State Assembly and State Senate, as well as on the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors,...
Why Habitat Linkages Are Essential for Wildlife
This is an updated version of an article that was originally published on May 24, 2022. At Green Foothills, we focus some of our strongest advocacy efforts on the habitat linkages that are the key to protecting local wildlife. Only a few of these critical linkages are left in the Bay Area — and they’re increasingly at risk from development. Because Green Foothills focuses on San Mateo, Santa Clara, and San Benito Counties, we’re especially focused on preserving habitat linkages that allow wildlife to migrate in and out of the Santa Cruz Mountains. The Santa Cruz Mountains: A Fragmented Landscape...
Healing in Nature: A Journey of Connection, Growth, and Equity
As Green Foothills concludes our Healing in Nature program, we reflect with deep gratitude and pride on what we’ve learned, built, and shared. Supported by generous funding from the Santa Clara Valley Open Space Authority and San Mateo County District 3, this program was more than just a series of outings, it was a bold step toward creating a conservation movement that prioritizes inclusion and justice. Over the past two years, we hosted eleven special Healing in Nature outings that offered deeply intentional experiences for veterans, farmworkers, Spanish-speakers, families, seniors, and system-engaged youth. For many of them, these outings were...
Nicole Fernandez: Shaping Policy and Community
When Nicole Fernandez signed up for the Green Foothills Leadership Program class of 2016-17, she was looking for new and interesting ways to contribute to her community. Dedicated to making the world a better place, she was working at the time in the elder abuse prevention unit of San Mateo County Aging and Adult Services. She was looking for ways to expand her networks and learn more about advocacy and leadership. In particular, she wanted to learn more about sustainability and the environment. The Leadership Program met her expectations. She appreciated the diversity of topics and speakers that the program...
New Housing for Half Moon Bay Farmworkers Taking Shape
The January 2023 mass shooting that left seven coastside farmworkers dead shone a spotlight on the deplorable conditions where many of the victims had been living. Now, a new community of homes in Half Moon Bay will help to relieve their plight. Green Foothills supported this farmworker housing project, which provides much-needed affordable housing in the right location. Stone Pine Cove: A New Community For Farmworkers If you are driving to Half Moon Bay over Highway 92, you may soon spot a new community of manufactured homes sprouting on a former field of potted plants along Pilarcitos Creek. A total...