July Newsletter + Port of SF lunch & learn this Thursday!

For those of you who are new to Urban Environmentalists - welcome! Our mission is to address the climate and inequality crises by transforming cities and towns into inclusive communities designed around people rather than cars. We value healthy environments supportive of all life; vibrant, diverse, and nurturing urban communities with abundant housing and opportunities for all; and efficient, equitable use of our planet’s resources, especially land. We look forward to seeing you at one of our upcoming events!

Recently we had three great events - if you missed them, check out the recordings below!

• Dani Mahrer presented the incredible work that GRID Alternatives is doing to support sustainable multifamily development, clean mobility, and workforce development. See the full recording here.
• We hosted Berkeley city council candidate Terry Taplin for a conversation on climate justice, race, and housing. See the full recording here.
• We also held our second meeting with the San Francisco County Transportation Authority on their proposed congestion pricing project for downtown San Francisco. See the full recording here.

Upcoming Events

• Sustainability, Resilience, and Social Justice on the Waterfront with the Port of San Francisco: Thursday, July 23rd, 12pm Pacific. RSVP Today!
  Our next lunch & learn is co-hosted by the Association of Women in Water, Energy and Environment (AWWEE) and features Diane Oshima, Deputy Director of Planning & Environment for the Port of San Francisco. Diane will discuss some of the many ways the Port impacts the environment, urban life, and social justice in the city. Attendees will also receive a special discount code for AWWEE membership.

• We also have an event with the Greenbelt Alliance in the works... Stay tuned!

Today’s Actions - SB 902 + SB 288

• SB 902 (Streamlining Rezoning up to 10-plexes)Senate Bill 902, authored by Scott Wiener, would also allow cities to zone parcels in a transit-rich area, a jobs-rich area, or an urban infill site for up to 10 units. To support SB 902, we suggest contacting your State Assemblymember. Find Your Representative.

• SB 288 (CEQA Streamlining)
  Senate Bill 288, also authored by Scott Wiener, would exempt bus rapid transit and regional rail services on existing public rail or highway rights of way from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). To support SB 288, we suggest asking your local city council for a resolution of support for the bill. To learn more about the bill, please see this presentation from SPUR.

What we’re reading/watching:

• I’ve Seen a Future Without Cars, and It’s Amazing - Farhad Manjoo, New York Times
• Back to the drawing board: A plan to make SF a bike and pedestrian utopia - Peter Hartlaub, SF Chronicle
• Bay Area backyard cottages boom as elderly parents and college students flee coronavirus - J.K. Dineen, SF Chronicle