ENVIRONMENT

I believe that San Diego’s natural resources are a precious asset and must be safeguarded for future generations. Protecting these resources is critical for public health, our quality of life, ecosystem integrity and economic prosperity.

Unfortunately, many people believe that we must sacrifice economic health in order to preserve our environment. Just the opposite is true. Environmental sustainability and economic vitality can successfully coexist for the benefit of all.

We must also evaluate environmental impacts on a regional scale, understanding how each impact affects the entire interconnected ecosystem. This approach will allow us to make more informed decisions with more meaningful results.

As your Councilmember, I will:

Secure a Safe and Reliable Water Supply. One of the most pressing issues we face in San Diego is securing clean and safe sources of drinking water. Since we import more than 85 percent of our water and historic droughts continue to persist in the western United States, we must employ a comprehensive approach to ensure an adequate water supply for our City. I support a multitude of methods to achieve this goal including conservation, improved water infrastructure, gray water, and water reuse.

Preserve Canyons and Open Space. Canyons are one of the signature features of District 3’s neighborhoods and a resource that must be enhanced and preserved. These open spaces are critical to the urban neighborhoods that surround them and for the residents who use them as an opportunity to interface with nature. I will protect our canyons by classifying as many of them as possible as dedicated open space that is off limits to developers. I will support the efforts of the various friends groups who do so much of the work to maintain our canyons. Finally, I will aggressively pursue funding like state and federal grants to do remediation and restoration projects in our canyons and other open spaces like the Chollas Creek.

Advocate for Clean Water. Our beaches and bays are a national treasure, valued by residents and tourists alike. Public opinion polls have consistently found that protecting water quality is a number one priority for the City. Much of the pollution comes from storm drains that carry urban runoff from land to our oceans, rivers and watersheds. I will work to protect our waters from urban runoff.

Fight for Responsible Development. Growth always presents challenges, and I support efforts to limit sprawl and place new development along transit corridors throughout the City. However, in areas like District 3 that suffer from inadequate infrastructure to handle new growth, I will fight to make sure that new infill development includes funding to pay for the impact of that growth and upgrade existing infrastructure.

Pursue Clean and Green Energy. The City has implemented many proactive policies to encourage development that is energy efficient and powered by solar energy, including incentives for private developers and mandates for new city buildings. Much still needs to be done, however, to ensure more private development projects incorporate green building practices. I will make green building one of my top priorities and collaborate with stakeholders to create new market-driven ideas.

Be A Champion for Environmental Justice. From high asthma rates in Mid City children to mold and roach infested homes in City Heights, District 3 residents must deal with a variety of issues that represent real examples of environmental justice problems. I will push for more enforcement of municipal codes that will promote better housing quality in our neighborhoods and more air monitoring at school sites near freeways. We must do everything we can to make the environment that our children and families live in are as healthy as possible.

If San Diego can secure an adequate water supply, preserve its shorelines, canyons, and open spaces, promote responsible growth, green energy and environmental justice we will have a City whose quality of life is second to none. Taken all together, I believe these steps will not only preserve San Diego’s world famous natural environment, but will result in a more vibrant local economy. This is a goal worth pursuing!