Category: Water Issues

Coming Tuesday, Oct 6th: The drought and climate change

On By potrerohilldemocratsIn Environment, Uncategorized, Water Issues

droughtWhat is the impact of the worst drought in 1300 years on San Francisco, its residents and the Bay environment? Are we doing enough? Come hear and question the experts on anything related to the current (and future?) drought. The panel:

  • Jennifer Clary, Water Program Manager, Clean Water Action
  • Barry Nelson, Bay Conservation & Development Commissioner; Principal, Western Water Strategies
  • Adam Scow, California Director, Food & Water Watch

 

Moderator: Loretta Lynch, former president, CA Public Utilities Commission

WHEN: Tuesday, October 6th at 7pm
WHERE: Potrero Hill Neighborhood House, 953 De Haro at Southern Heights

Tues Feb 4th: WATER IN A TIME OF DROUGHT

On By potrerohilldemocratsIn Elections, Environment, Uncategorized, Water Issues

Feb 2014 Water meetingA presentation about PUC policy and proposed water rate hikes by the SF Public Utilities Commission‘s Yolanda Manzone (center left), Environmental Justice and Land Use Analyst, and Jamie Querubin (center right), SFPUC Financial Analyst,  was followed by a very lively conversation about the drought, its implications and, yes, opportunities, with Jennifer Clary (left),Water Policy and Legislative Analyst for Clean Water Action, the SFPUC reps, and moderator, former CA PUC President Loretta Lynch (right). Photo by John O’Neill.

Club business included  election of  2014 Club Officers.

WHEN: Tuesday, February 4th at 7pm
WHERE: Potrero Hill Neighborhood House, 953 De Haro St

Tuesday, June 4th: Oil & Waterfront

On By potrerohilldemocratsIn Environment, Money in politics, Uncategorized, Water Issues

Citizens Climate Lobby carbon fee slideshowOIL. The upper safety limit for atmospheric CO2 is 350 parts per million (ppm). We’ve just hit 400 ppm. Dave Massen (SF group leader) and Jeff Whittington of Citizens Climate Lobby (click here for recent NY Times article about CCL) want to cut greenhouse gas emissions and promote transition to a green energy economy through carbon fee and dividend:  taxing carbon pollution from fossil fuels, and returning the proceeds to American households. This idea is an alternative to cap and trade, which now exists in California. After the presentation (photo above by Maulik Shah), Club members voted to sign on to a letter urging Congress to enact carbon fee & divArt Agnos and Rick Weltsidend legislation.

WATERFRONT. Is the proposed Golden State Warriors Arena development project for Piers 30-32 being rushed through without appropriate scrutiny? Former Mayor Art Agnos of the San Francisco Waterfront Alliance thinks so, and he told us why.  Warriors President and Chief Operating Officer Rick Welts joined Mayor Agnos with a different perspective. Many questions, much passion, a great meeting.
Photo by Linda Post

WHEN: Tuesday, June 4th at 7pm
WHERE: Potrero Hill Neighborhood House, 953 De Haro St

Tuesday, April 2nd meeting: The future of our water

On By potrerohilldemocratsIn Education, Environment, Gun control, Money in politics, Water Issues

With increased population growth, climate change, and the inevitable “big one,” securing San Francisco’s water supply will require creative and forward-looking plans. Attendees heard from experts about these and other water issues in our city and in the state, including: the dangers fracking in California; ways that San Francisco is slowly mitigating its practice of treating rainwater runoff as if it were wastewater; chemicals in drinking water in other parts of the state; taxing fertilizer to offset the contamination it causes. Conversation-starters Jennifer Clary of Clean Water Action, Ellen Levin of SF Public Utilities Commission, and Adam Scow of Food & Water Watch opened the program, followed by breakout groups and a final Q&A session. Earlier in the meeting, PHDC members updated the group on past topics, including the CA DISCLOSE Act, gun safety legislation, and saving City College.

WHEN: Tuesday, April 2 at 6:45pm (meeting at 7pm)
WHERE: Potrero Hill Neighborhood House, 953 De Haro St

Tuesday, May 1st: Clean Energy, Clean Air & Water

On By potrerohilldemocratsIn Environment, Water Issues

To continue the momentum of Earth Day, this meeting was all about the environment:

• Jason Fried (left), Senior Program Officer, SF Local Agency Formation Commission, described CleanPowerSF, last heard about at PHDC in 2010. The City’s custom-tailored community choice aggregation program (CCA) is the culmination of a collaboration of City agencies to develop a cleaner, more renewable energy alternative for residences and businesses.

• Evan Wynns (center), Executive Director of San Francisco Energy Co-op, talked about the new renewable power co-op aimed at raising awareness among all city residents, especially renters, about the benefits of green energy available to almost anyone: sustainable power, resulting in some profit for everyone who invests.

• Adam Scow (right), California Campaigns Director, Food & Water Watch and an old friend of PHDC, returned to talk about water: the corporate water grab via a $50 billion pipeline to benefit Big Ag, and fracking going on right here in CA.

Jason Fried  Tuesday, May 1, 7:00pm    Evan WynnsAdam Scow


 

 

August 2nd Meeting update, with links

On By potrerohilldemocratsIn Uncategorized, Water Issues

Neal DesaiMichelle MyersDawn Kamalanathan (below) of SF Recreation & Parks duked it out with Neal Desai (left) of National Parks Conservation Association and Michelle Myers (right) of Sierra Club SF Bay Chapter over the future of Sharp Park Golf Course. Members tabled a vote on the issue, needing more information. Here are the links to information received:

• From the Sierra Club and Wild Equity Institute:
Summary fact-sheet of the campaign and what the legislation they are crafting (with Supervisor Avalos and the City Attorney’s office) would do
Executive summary of all the studies, reports, and articles that have been published on the issue
• From SF Public Golf Alliance (absent a response from Rec & Parks, a member of the audience sent this): Frequently-Asked Questions Memo
Dawn Kamalanathan
Supervisor Malia Cohen unfortunately had a family emergency and had to reschedule. Tom Gallagher presented a resolution in support of Barbara Lee’s Afghanistan withdrawal bill, which passed unanimously. We’re looking forward to our August 14th Members Party & Auction. Rebecca Shearin photos.