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Action Items in Your Area! Read More in this eNewsletter.
► Help Choose the Mascot of Your Loma Prieta Chapter's Bay2030 Campaign!
Take our 1-minute, two question survey.
► Sunnyvale: Nov 30th: Learn about Sea Level Rise in Moffett Park and provide public input
► San Jose: Dec 1st: Support the gas prohibition ordinance
► Cupertino: Dec 1st: Protect birds and reduce light pollution
► El Camino Real: Nov 16th through Dec 17th: Comment on the El Camino Real Roadway Renewal Project
► Palo Alto: Dec 8th: Learn about the natural environment in Palo Alto's Climate Action Plan
► Santa Clara County: Learn about electrifying your home with SVCE's eHub
► San Mateo County: Take advantage of new EV rebates from Peninsula Clean Energy |
Above image: Sunnyvale's Moffett Park Bay edge. Photo credit to NASA.
Nov 30th: Sea Level Rise in Sunnyvale's Moffett Park Specific Plan
The Moffett Park Specific Plan covers 1,156 acres of industrial land and borders a vital and vulnerable wetland habitat along the San Francisco Bay.
November 30th: Sunnyvale will conduct two events about sea level rise in the Moffett Park Specific Plan:
4 - 6pm: Public Workshop
6 - 7pm: City Council Study Session
We encourage Sunnyvale residents to participate and learn more about these events.
Our Loma Prieta Chapter volunteers are engaged in this planning process as a part of our Chapter's Bay2030 Campaign.
To join us, email Bay2030@LomaPrieta.SierraClub.org |
Above image from 2019: Chapter Conservation Assistant Dashiell Leeds celebrates with community members, activists and City staff after the San Jose City Council agreed to pursue the gas prohibition.
Dec 1st: San Jose Gas Prohibition for New Buildings: We Need Your Support for Climate Action
The gas industry is pushing back on San Jose’s gas prohibition for new buildings. They have lobbied the City to allow gas fuel cells, which emit methane and rely on gas pipelines.
Gas is unnecessary thanks to the renewable electricity from San Jose Clean Energy.
Take Action:
- Leave an e-comment for item 6.1.
- Comment during the vote: agenda and zoom link.
Please ask San Jose to pass the Gas Prohibition without making exemptions for the fossil fuel industry.
Questions? Email us. |
Above photo of an Anna's Hummingbird. Photo credit to Becky Matsubara.
December 1st: Will Cupertino City Council Vote to Protect Birds and the Night Sky?
Cupertino City Council will consider an ordinance that can prevent bird deaths and protect wildlife and humans from disruptive artificial light at night. The ordinance contains Bird-Safe Design techniques and Dark Sky techniques.
In less than 5 minutes, you can email City Council (citycouncil@cupertino.org) and tell them that you appreciate local birds and the beauty of the night sky. Your voice can have a real impact!
To speak at the Council Meeting, click the zoom link inside the meeting agenda. |
Above diagram from CalTrans: the project area
Online Public Forum to Discuss the El Camino Real Roadway Renewal Project
Forum: November 16th to December 17th.
Do you want El Camino to be a pedestrian and bike friendly street? This is a great opportunity to learn more and provide your input.
Caltrans is launching this forum for the public to review the alternatives available for the El Camino Real Roadway Renewal Project.
Learn more about the Project and Public Forum.
Join your Chapter's Sustainable Land Use Committee to discuss this project and others in your community: email gd@devarchitects.com. |
The 3x Match is On!
Did you know that only a sliver of your Sierra Club membership dues is returned to us? Now for a limited time, our Sierra Club will triple 100% of your support to your Loma Prieta Chapter! Find out more about the opportunity here. |
We're Hiring! Use your profession skills to be a local environmental hero!
IMPORTANT NOTE: recently updated job description (use link below).
Sierra Club is the largest, oldest and most influential grass-roots organization in the nation!
The Loma Prieta Chapter, founded in 1933, protects San Mateo, Santa Clara and San Benito Counties. See how we do it in our Annual Summaries.
Your Loma Prieta Chapter is seeking one full-time Bay2030 Campaign Manager
Applications can only be accepted through the links given above.
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Above photo: Palo Alto Baylands by King of Hearts
Dec 8th Palo Alto Webinar: The Importance of the Natural Environment in Meeting Our Sustainability Goals
December 8th, 6:30pm - 7:30pm
The Natural Environment will play an important role in Palo Alto's ongoing Sustainability and Climate Action Plan (S/CAP) Update. In this webinar hosted by Palo Alto, learn about the community benefits that nature provides, and how Palo Alto plans to protect nature in their S/CAP.
The S/CAP is a long-term planning document that outlines the City's greenhouse gas reduction goals. The plan will contain a variety of measures to reduce emissions and provide community and ecological benefits.
Register for the Webinar
See Past S/CAP Webinars
Learn More about the S/CAP |
Climate topics to discuss during this holiday break with your relatives
View the Climate FAQ, which cover the largest emissions sources and steps which you can take to significantly reduce emissions on your own.
Thank you to Climate Action Leadership Team volunteer Desiree Grahn for creating this! |
Above: A tribute video to Byron Sher, by Mike Kerhin
Donors and Volunteers made Benefit the most successful EVER! The 2020 Guardians of Nature "social distancing" Benefit honoring Byron Sher was one of the most extraordinary events our Chapter has ever organized. Nearly 250 guests responded to our invitation, which is especially important to us in these times of abundant virtual gatherings. Thanks to the generous support of our sponsors and other donors, more than $60,000 was raised for the critical local environmental work of your Loma Prieta Chapter. Experience the excitement and inspiration via video!
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Local Leader Honored by Sierra Club California!
Loma Prieta Chapter’s own Bruce Rienzo was honored with a ‘SPECIAL RECOGNITION” award from Sierra Club California for his long-time outstanding work as Treasurer at all levels within the Sierra Club: Chapter, State and National.
Bruce has been active with the Loma Prieta Chapter for nearly 20 years, leading outings and serving as the Chapter Outings Chair for several years. He has been our Chapter Treasurer for fourteen years and for Treasurer for Sierra Club California for five years. He has also been our Chapter Chair for six of the last seven years. He is a volunteer administrator that has truly shown enduring dedication to the Club. |
Above photo: Sierra Club for pre-pandemic hike
Are you new a Sierra Club member? Have you been a member for a long time, but want to learn more about the work our Chapter does?
Join us for a 1-hour introduction to the Loma Prieta Chapter!
Planned Program:
1. Short Icebreaker
2. Introduction to Club Structure
3. Political and Legislative Committee
4. Outings
Click Here to Register |
Bay Area's Wastewater Treatment Infrastructure is Vulnerable to Sea Level Rise
Most communities in the Bay Area send their wastewater downhill to treatment facilities that sit at the edge of the Bay. These facilities are vulnerable to sea level rise and will require significant investment to both protect them and to upgrade them in the near future.
A utility in Menlo Park has come up with a creative solution, citing a small treatment plant processing up to a half million gallons per day in Sharon Heights and producing recycled water for a local golf course, reducing municipal water usage by 14% in summer months.
Click Here to Read More |
Help Us Tell Our Story: Donate Your Photos
Photos can speak louder than words. Help us powerfully tell our story by donating your photos. We will use them in our publications like The Annual Summary, on invitations, and our Chapter postcards.
If you’d like to share with us your high-resolution photos of local nature with or without people, please contact our Development Coordinator Justyna Guterman, Justyna.guterman@sierraclub.org |
Above: image of a train at the West Oakland BART station. Photo credit to Pi.1415926535
SamTrans and VTA Should Take a Climate Healing Page from BART
BART will build 762 homes at the West Oakland BART station on the current parking lot of which 30% will be affordable. There will 175 parking spots (which should be unbundled), and more than 30,000 sq ft of retail. SamTrans and VTA should prioritize housing at their stations. Parking lots are a losing investment that could eventually bankrupt the agencies. There is an opportunity to create value and captivate customers through Transit Oriented Development.
- Conservation Committee Co-Chair Gladwyn d'Souza
There's more to learn! |
Raise Your Voice as a Volunteer for Our Chapter’s Communications Committee
Interested in using your writing skills to help your local ecosystem? Our Chapter is looking for volunteers who are willing to write 150 – 800 word pieces. You can help write Letters to the Editor and Op-Eds for local papers, as well as create blog content.
More interested in reading than writing? We are also looking for volunteers to monitor local newspapers in their town.
Interested Volunteers should contact our Conservation Committee Co-Chair Gladwyn d’Souza at godsouza@mac.com
Your voice is powerful in combating misinformation! |
Silicon Valley Clean Energy has Launched an eHub to Help You Electrify Your Home, Car and Appliances
Save money and reduce your emissions with eHub, Silicon Valley Clean Energy’s free, one-stop-shop for transitioning to electric living. With SVCE, you already receive clean electricity, eHub gives you the power to use that energy to power your home, car and appliances. Browse efficient, electric appliances with the Appliances Assistant, compare electric vehicles with the EV Assistant and explore additional clean energy options with the Solar+Battery Assistant.
Click here to visit eHub today |
Peninsula Clean Energy is expanding its program offering rebates to help first-time buyers of new electric vehicles.
From PCE's Oct 1 press release:
"The 2020 New EV Rebate Program will offer rebates of $1,000 towards the cost of a new fully electric vehicle and $700 for a plug-in hybrid purchased by San Mateo County residents between Oct. 1 through Dec. 31.
Eligible vehicles are any new EVs that have a purchase contract cash price of $45,000 or less, before sales tax.
Peninsula Clean Energy is also providing residents the opportunity to experience driving an EV with a $200 rebate toward the rental of an EV and assistance in setting up at-home or at-dealership test drives."
Read more here |
Let it go, let it go! When the trade-in value’s too low, let it go, let it go!
Your best move is donating your vehicle to support your Loma Prieta Chapter. Call 844-6-SIERRA (844-674-3772) or donate online. We accept cars, classic cars, trucks, boats, RVs, and more. Plus, your gift is tax-deductible.
VERY IMPORTANT: tell CARS that you want to support the Loma Prieta Chapter through the Sierra Club Foundation. |
Top Posts recently on Loma Prieta facebook page
Follow us on facebook and you'll see most stories before the eNewsletter,
and other stories and action alerts that don't make it into the eNewsletter.
#3. Hey Redwood City, Vote for the Bay
#2. Real vs. Artificial: Which Kind of Christmas Tree is Worse for the Environment?
#1. Supreme Court Case Marks Sierra Club Lawyer's Debut |
Social Media Channels for the Loma Prieta Chapter
facebook: Chapter, 20s – 30s, Sierra Singles
YouTube; Twitter; Instagram; Spotify
MeetUp: Chapter conservation and education meetings (2667 members),
Hiking events (5031 members), Singleaires outing section (1775 members),
Day Hiking section (1646 members), Guadalupe Regional Group (553 members), Peak Climbing (467 members), Gay & Lesbian Sierrans (403 members),
Black Mountain Hiking section (392 members), 20s - 30s (150 members),
Family Explorers (95 members)
Social media volunteers needed. Chapter Director James.Eggers@sierraclub.org |
Got Mail? Too much Sierra Club mail? You can take control; it's easy!
If you feel overwhelmed you can easily manage what you receive. See the simple tutorial |
Patriotism is proud of a country's virtues and eager to correct its deficiencies;
it also acknowledges the legitimate patriotism of other countries,
with their own specific virtues.
The pride of nationalism, however, trumpets its country's virtues and denies its deficiencies, while it is contemptuous toward the virtues of other countries.
It wants to be, and proclaims itself to be, "the greatest", but
greatness is not required of a country; only goodness is.
- Sydney J. Harris |
Health and safety to all,
and Happy Trails to you.
James Eggers, Director
Sierra Club, Loma Prieta Chapter
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Thank you to our 2020 Guardians of Nature Benefit Sponsors
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Sierra Nevada Sentinels Mary Buxton and Ron Hess
Anonymous Yosemite Heroes Lisa Barboza and Brian Roach
Anonymous Sequoia Champions Marilyn Brewer
David and Nancy Crabbe
Sue Chow
Gladwyn d' Souza
Sidney and Linda Liebes
Larry L. Lundberg
2018 Guardians of Nature Honoree Joe Simitian, and Mary Hughes
Sigal Tzoore |
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Baylands Stewards
Shawn and Lisa Britton
Peter and Melanie Cross
Rick DeGolia
Susan DesJardin
Edith and Jeb Eddy
San Jose City Councilmember Pam Foley
Caroline Y. Hicks and Bert Fingerhut
San Jose City Councilmember Sergio Jimenez
Arthur Keller
Natalia Kloda
Ginny Laibl
Lucinda Lenicheck
Mary and Alex Nemerov
2019 Guardians of Nature Benefit honorees Enid Pearson and Emily Renzel
San Jose City Councilmember Raul Peralez
Bruce Rienzo
Lennie Roberts
Landa Robillard and Kelly Maas
Charles and Jamie Schafer
Rene Spring
Anonymous |
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| As people across the country protest in defense of Black lives, the Sierra Club recognizes the need to dismantle systemic racism in the United States and within our own organization. We must reckon with how white supremacy -- both past and present -- has shaped our institutions and do the critical anti-racism work necessary to repair the harm done. The environmental movement does not exist in a vacuum, and it is our responsibility to use our power to help abolish systemic racism, which is destroying lives, communities, and the planet. |
| The COVID-19 crisis has not passed and continues to disproportionately harm Black, Indigenous, and Latinx people and other communities of color. The pandemic has revealed how the communities hardest hit are often the same communities that suffer from high levels of pollution and poor access to healthcare. The fight for environmental justice cannot be separated from the fight for racial justice. |
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