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Action Items in Your Area! Read More in this eNewsletter.
► We're Hiring, full time: a Bay2030 Campaign Manager and a Communication Specialist.
► Help Choose the Mascot of Your Loma Prieta Chapter's Bay2030 Campaign!
Take our 1-minute, two question survey.
► San Jose: Dec 15th: Support the gas prohibition ordinance
► Cupertino: Dec 15th: Protect birds and reduce light pollution
► El Camino Real: Nov 16th through Dec 17th: Comment on the El Camino Real Roadway Renewal Project
► 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 photo of an Anna's Hummingbird. Photo credit to Becky Matsubara.
December 15th: Support Birds and a Clear Starry Sky in Cupertino
Update: Cupertino City Council has delayed the vote to December 15th, asking staff to return to them with modifications to the ordinance.
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 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, access the meeting agenda here. |
We're Hiring! Use your profession skills to be a local environmental hero!
IMPORTANT NOTE: recently updated job descriptions (use links 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 a full-time Bay2030 Campaign Manager and a full-time Communication Specialist.
Applications can only be accepted through the links given above.
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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 Dec 14, 6 - 7 pm, 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 |
Multiply Your Gift to Your Loma Prieta Chapter with Your Company’s Matching Program
If you work for a company, there’s a great chance that it will match your charitable gift. In these challenging times, company donation matching programs are a great opportunity to double and sometimes triple your support of a cause you care about. Find details here.
The $20,000 Challenge Match is Still On!
If you have already participated in our exciting matching challenge, thank you! If you haven’t you still have a chance to go twice as far in your support of our local efforts for a healthy environment. Find out here how to get your donation matched.
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Local Environmentalists Meet with Assemblymember Ash Kalra
Assemblymember Ash Kalra and his Communications Director, Roseryn Bhudsabourg, met on December 1st with local environmental activists representing the Loma Prieta Chapter of the Sierra Club and several allied organizations. Mary Buxton, Sue Chow & Susan Lessin participated to represent Sierra Club Loma Prieta Chapter. |
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.
San Jose Becomes the Largest City in the Nation to Pass a Natural Gas Prohibition
On December 1st, San Jose made history by becoming the largest city in the nation to prohibit new fossil gas pipelines in new buildings. San Jose's new all-electric buildings are cheaper to build, healthier to live in, and pollute much less than gas fueled buildings.
The law will return to City Council for a second reading on December 15th. While overall the law is strong, it unfortunately contains an exemption for gas fuel cells, which operate 24/7 while emitting methane into the atmosphere.
Questions? Email us. |
Above Image by Oliver DIxon: Rather than favoring Sea Walls (like the one pictured above) FEMA will focus on natural solutions to sea level rise
FEMA Ends Policy Favoring Floodwalls Over Green Protections
Excerpts from the full article:
"FEMA's policy boosts the nationwide push for "nature-based" flood control such as wetlands, open space and reefs over traditional flood barriers that are built to contain rivers and coastal storm surge and can disrupt the natural environment."
"Those projects can provide a variety of environmental benefits such as species habitat, improved air and water quality, climate moderation, and erosion control. They also can have aesthetic and recreational value." |
Above image by CGP Grey: Oil pumps in California
California Regulators Issue Improper Oil Permits
A Department of Finance Audit found that California regulators violated their own rules in issuing improper oil permits.
An example of these violations is the use of "dummy folders" to move oil projects forward without review or approval.
Read the CalMatters summary by clicking here and scrolling down.
Read the full Department of Finance Audit here.
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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. |
Above: A tribute video to Byron Sher, by Mike Kerhin
Donors and Volunteers made Benefit the most successful EVER! Despite unprecedented hurdles this year, local donors and volunteers made the 2020 Guardians of Nature Benefit for the Loma Prieta Chapter the most successful in our 83 year history! We are enabled, inspired and enraptured by the incredible generosity of our Loma Prieta Community and will continue to work to protect our local environment with the encouragement of our many strong supporters. Thank you to all of the guests who attended and contributed! Experience the excitement and inspiration via video!
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Above image by Doc Searls: Redwood City Salt Ponds
Thank You to Our Redwood City Volunteers!
The Loma Prieta Chapter would like to thank the 23 intrepid volunteers who helped us connect with Redwood City voters about the threat they face from sea level rise flooding, the importance of the Cargill salt ponds for climate resilience, and the urgent need to elect a City Council that is committed to climate action and responsible development. Together we sent over 12,000 texts, made hundreds of phone calls and broke through a very crowded field of election messages to ensure that every candidate addressed flooding, climate adaptation and the salt ponds on the campaign trail. |
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 found 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 note cards.
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. |
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 |
“Your generation must come to terms with the environment. Your generation must face realities instead of taking refuge in ignorance and evasion of truth. Yours is a grave and a sobering responsibility, but it is also a shining opportunity. You go out into a world where mankind is challenged, as it has never been challenged before, to prove its maturity and its mastery—not of nature but of itself.” - Rachel Carson, speaking to the class of 1962 at Scripps College |
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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Yosemite Heroes Lisa Barboza and Brian Roach
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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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