March 25. Rally to $ave SF’s Climate Action Plan - before, during & after
As the spring equinox followed the hottest end-of-winter ever seen in this city, we appreciated our heat pump's ability to switch into air conditioner mode. If we happened to have a heat pump. Which brings me to an uncomfortable truth: The City of San Francisco is leaving its most vulnerable residents behind as global warming gets worse. Here are some updates and alerts.
The February 25th rally was a smashing success (read some news coverage here). If you stood up and took action with us to fund the City's Climate Action Plan by meeting with the Mayor February 12, meeting with a Supervisor, signing your organization on to our letter to the Mayor, signing our petition, making signs, rallying on the steps of City Hall February 25, giving public comment at the Budget and Appropriations Committee hearing the same day, and/or helping to organize any of it - thank you! We are deeply grateful. We believe all these actions are having an effect. With your help, we’ll continue pushing the Mayor and Supervisors to restore and increase SF Environment Department's General Fund allocation in the coming months, to safeguard continued progress toward Climate Action goals, and not to lay off the very staff doing that work. _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Coming Up April 6: Land Use & Transportation Committee
The Supervisors’ Land Use and Transportation Committee meets Monday, April 6 at 1:30 pm. The Committee will be voting to approve an ordinance (file #260177, introduced February 24) amending the Environment Code to incorporate the updated 2026 Climate Action Plan in Chapter 9. Chapter 9 describes what the City's Climate Action Plan (CAP) goals will be, and outlines specifically how these goals will be achieved through the reduction of greenhouse gases.
Please join us to give a shout out to the detailed work the Environment Department has put into updating the CAP, and to urge the Committee to approve the ordinance. That much is on the agenda (find it here, closer to the date). But there’s more to say.
A whole lot of us said it at the rally, and we’ll say it again. As we urge approval of the ordinance, we will remind the Committee (Melgar, Chen, Mahmood) - and also remind the Mayor - sponsor of this legislation - that it is futile to incorporate these climate goals into the City code if there is no funding and no staff to enact them.
Since its fate is still up in the air, we also need to express (also again) strong disapproval of the Mayor's Commission Streamlining Task Force’s recommendation to downgrade the Commission on the Environment, responsible for the oversight and management of SF Environment Department, from a governance body in the Charter to an advisory body that will sunset after three years. The Commission on the Environment is a public forum that provides for community input and oversight on the methods, goals and funding of the Environment Department. Thanks to all of you who sent letters about this to the Task Force, the Board, and the Mayor. If you haven’t done so, you can still send a letter here. The good news is that unlike the Task Force and the Mayor, the Supervisors appeared to listen. Keep it up!
Here are talking points for April 6. Please join us to keep the pressure on electeds by continuing to demonstrate strong support for funding effective climate action in San Francisco. If you can't attend, you can send a quick letter to the Committee Clerk at [email protected]. Cc the Mayor at [email protected], and include File #260177 in the subject line.
Please join us to give a shout out to the detailed work the Environment Department has put into updating the CAP, and to urge the Committee to approve the ordinance. That much is on the agenda (find it here, closer to the date). But there’s more to say.
A whole lot of us said it at the rally, and we’ll say it again. As we urge approval of the ordinance, we will remind the Committee (Melgar, Chen, Mahmood) - and also remind the Mayor - sponsor of this legislation - that it is futile to incorporate these climate goals into the City code if there is no funding and no staff to enact them.
Since its fate is still up in the air, we also need to express (also again) strong disapproval of the Mayor's Commission Streamlining Task Force’s recommendation to downgrade the Commission on the Environment, responsible for the oversight and management of SF Environment Department, from a governance body in the Charter to an advisory body that will sunset after three years. The Commission on the Environment is a public forum that provides for community input and oversight on the methods, goals and funding of the Environment Department. Thanks to all of you who sent letters about this to the Task Force, the Board, and the Mayor. If you haven’t done so, you can still send a letter here. The good news is that unlike the Task Force and the Mayor, the Supervisors appeared to listen. Keep it up!
Here are talking points for April 6. Please join us to keep the pressure on electeds by continuing to demonstrate strong support for funding effective climate action in San Francisco. If you can't attend, you can send a quick letter to the Committee Clerk at [email protected]. Cc the Mayor at [email protected], and include File #260177 in the subject line.
No Kings SF march and rallyOrganized by Indivisible SF. 11:30am - gather at Embarcadero Plaza. 12 noon - march to Civic Center Plaza. 2:00pm - rally at Civic Center Plaza. Fulton Plaza Tabling Fair 12 noon - 4:00pm at SF Civic Center.
Human Banner at Ocean Beach11:00 am — 12:30 pm at 1000 Great Hwy, Stairwell 17
Human Banner at Ocean Beach11:00 am — 12:30 pm at 1000 Great Hwy, Stairwell 17
We're all in this together.
SF Climate Emergency Coalition recently joined the SF People’s Budget Coalition, who did a fantastic job spreading the word about the Feb 25 rally! PBC’s mission involves standing together to protect community-based services, to advance bold revenue solutions, to strengthen public infrastructure, and to ensure that the people most impacted by budget decisions are shaping them. Coming up for PBC:
Tabling at No Kings
next door in Fulton Plaza Saturday after the march (see above). The table will be near Larkin St and you are encouraged to bring your organization's literature to share if you would like. Email [email protected] to get involved and let her know if you're interested in marching with PBC, tabling, or both!
People’s Budget Town HallTuesday, Apr 7, 7:00 to 8:30pm, 2070 Mission St.
San Francisco is facing over $100 million in proposed cuts to community services. Attend a People’s Budget Town Hall to learn what’s happening, share community impacts, understand how budget decisions are made, and get involved in the fight to protect our communities.
At this town hall, we will:
When we fight, we win! Times are hard but you can do something about it. Be part of the fight for a People’s Budget.
For all of us,
SF Climate Emergency Coalition
Tabling at No Kings
next door in Fulton Plaza Saturday after the march (see above). The table will be near Larkin St and you are encouraged to bring your organization's literature to share if you would like. Email [email protected] to get involved and let her know if you're interested in marching with PBC, tabling, or both!
People’s Budget Town HallTuesday, Apr 7, 7:00 to 8:30pm, 2070 Mission St.
San Francisco is facing over $100 million in proposed cuts to community services. Attend a People’s Budget Town Hall to learn what’s happening, share community impacts, understand how budget decisions are made, and get involved in the fight to protect our communities.
At this town hall, we will:
- Break down the budget in plain language so everyone understands what’s at stake and where the cuts are coming from.
- Understand the power held by City Hall, including how Supervisors and the Mayor shape the final budget decisions.
- Figure out how Trump's plans are playing out in our budget and charter reform processes.
- Hear from community leaders and organizations about the real impacts these cuts will have on our neighborhoods.
- Organize next steps together and onboard to the fight for a People's Budget!
When we fight, we win! Times are hard but you can do something about it. Be part of the fight for a People’s Budget.
For all of us,
SF Climate Emergency Coalition
February 18. $AVE SF’s Climate Action Plan
$AVE SF’s Climate Action Plan
City Hall front steps, Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place
Wednesday, February 25, 12 noonDemand strong climate action from elected leaders!
Politicians claim they almost never hear climate concerns from constituents. But we know people do care deeply - they just don’t speak up that much. As a result, the local press, too, largely ignores the crisis. Rally rsvp here.
The situation is urgent.This year's initial City budget proposal mandates drastic cuts to SF Environment Department (SFE). SFE has already been forced to cut 3 full-time-equivalent staff positions this fiscal year, with another 7.8 FTEs slated for elimination in July. With them goes the department's core climate capacity, years of expertise and most of its climate program staffing. Programs at risk of ending::
• Planning, progress & oversight of green-house gas emissions-reduction programs
• Building electrification (the Climate Equity Hub would vanish)
• Replacement of gas-fired landscaping equipment with electric
• Expansion of EV charging infrastructure • Biodiversity programs
Also at risk are millions in future grants. Since 2022-23, General Fund support - though tiny! - of SF Environment Department has brought in $29 for every dollar invested. Spending on SFE is leverage, not overhead.
COMMENT at 1:30pm special Budget & Appropriations Committee hearing.If you can't make the hearing - or even if you can - send a quick letter to the whole Committee before the hearing, using our handy letter-writing tool. If you haven't yet, you can still sign our petition to the Mayor, which we will drop off at his office on the way to the hearing. Thank you!
In San Francisco, the buck stops with Mayor Lurie.During his campaign, the mayor wrote that "we need large scale public sector investments in climate infrastructure and electrification” and that he "will prioritize climate action not just in words, but in dollars and policy.” During his first year, he has ignored his own words. Of course we appreciate his support for public transit, which is essential to reducing emissions - but it's not enough on its own.
People expect San Francisco to lead - especially with the federal government hell-bent on destroying the climate - but on this all-encompassing issue we are going backwards. San Franciscans need to know what's really happening. Please come to the rally and show that we want strong local climate leadership. Bring your organization's banner if you have one! Find a flyer here. Feel free to print and post it!
Questions? Email [email protected] Learn more & RSVP to the rally here.
City Hall front steps, Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place
Wednesday, February 25, 12 noonDemand strong climate action from elected leaders!
Politicians claim they almost never hear climate concerns from constituents. But we know people do care deeply - they just don’t speak up that much. As a result, the local press, too, largely ignores the crisis. Rally rsvp here.
The situation is urgent.This year's initial City budget proposal mandates drastic cuts to SF Environment Department (SFE). SFE has already been forced to cut 3 full-time-equivalent staff positions this fiscal year, with another 7.8 FTEs slated for elimination in July. With them goes the department's core climate capacity, years of expertise and most of its climate program staffing. Programs at risk of ending::
• Planning, progress & oversight of green-house gas emissions-reduction programs
• Building electrification (the Climate Equity Hub would vanish)
• Replacement of gas-fired landscaping equipment with electric
• Expansion of EV charging infrastructure • Biodiversity programs
Also at risk are millions in future grants. Since 2022-23, General Fund support - though tiny! - of SF Environment Department has brought in $29 for every dollar invested. Spending on SFE is leverage, not overhead.
COMMENT at 1:30pm special Budget & Appropriations Committee hearing.If you can't make the hearing - or even if you can - send a quick letter to the whole Committee before the hearing, using our handy letter-writing tool. If you haven't yet, you can still sign our petition to the Mayor, which we will drop off at his office on the way to the hearing. Thank you!
In San Francisco, the buck stops with Mayor Lurie.During his campaign, the mayor wrote that "we need large scale public sector investments in climate infrastructure and electrification” and that he "will prioritize climate action not just in words, but in dollars and policy.” During his first year, he has ignored his own words. Of course we appreciate his support for public transit, which is essential to reducing emissions - but it's not enough on its own.
People expect San Francisco to lead - especially with the federal government hell-bent on destroying the climate - but on this all-encompassing issue we are going backwards. San Franciscans need to know what's really happening. Please come to the rally and show that we want strong local climate leadership. Bring your organization's banner if you have one! Find a flyer here. Feel free to print and post it!
Questions? Email [email protected] Learn more & RSVP to the rally here.
