One of the oldest and most influential environmental organizations in the United States, the Sierra Club, is facing a decline in membership in San Diego County and California overall.
In order to address this issue, the local chapter is actively focusing on recruiting members from South Bay, an area with a predominantly Latino, working-class population that faces some of the most severe pollution and environmental challenges in the region.
Charles Rilli, a 27-year-old member of the Sierra Club, has been tasked with the responsibility of changing the organization’s current demographics and interests.
Local South Bay reporter Jim Hinch has closely followed Rilli’s efforts and the broader efforts of the Sierra Club to shift its focus.
Historically, the San Diego chapter has been dominated by members from North County, who have prioritized issues such as slowing residential housing development, preserving open spaces, and fighting climate change.
However, if Rilli is successful in increasing interest from South County residents, it could lead the Sierra Club to redirect its substantial political influence towards critical local issues, including air and sewage pollution, access to parks, and affordable housing options.
This shift in focus is essential as San Diego Unified School District has also been making headlines regarding its inflated graduation rates.
In 2016, the district claimed an astonishing 92 percent of seniors were on track to graduate that year, a figure significantly higher than the state average.
However, the situation raised suspicions given that the district had just implemented more rigorous graduation standards.
Mario Koran, a then-education reporter, uncovered that thousands of students, beginning their high school careers at a district school, were excluded from the graduation rate calculations.
Additionally, low-performing students were often guided to transfer to charter schools, further skewing the graduation data.
These findings indicated that the district had manipulated its graduation rates, creating an inflated perception of academic success.
Turning to local governance, the county Board of Supervisors held a busy meeting on Tuesday, addressing various issues impacting the county.
Supervisors authorized staff to begin negotiations with the state over a planned $2 million acquisition for a tiny home project in Lemon Grove.
This development has encountered unforeseen challenges, primarily due to federal opposition to an earlier proposed lease deal of just $1 per month, further complicating the county’s efforts to establish a homeless shelter.
In another significant decision, Board Democrats supported Supervisor Monica Montgomery Steppe’s initiative to explore the creation of an inspector general’s office focused on overseeing the sheriff’s department, which would be accountable to the Board of Supervisors.
Additionally, Chair Terra Lawson-Remer’s proposals, aimed at clarifying the protocols for federal authorities accessing county facilities, along with considering legal avenues against suppliers of counterfeit equipment used by kidnappers, were positively received by the board.
In a bipartisan effort, the board approved Supervisor Joel Anderson’s proposal to safeguard county documentation, enhancing its resilience against potential federal disasters, thus aiming to mitigate complications with Federal Emergency Management Administration reimbursements.
This initiative will involve a competitive bidding process, expected to commence and complete within 120 days, while also implementing data privacy and civil liberties safeguards.
Anderson, in an unexpected move, sided with the board’s Democratic members to reject a proposal from fellow Republican, Supervisor Jim Desmond, which advocated for state restrictions or bans on foreign investment in housing.
In other local news, a new firefighting helicopter is being added to the county’s resources, a development that has been highly anticipated given the recent wildfire season.
In a thrilling announcement, NASCAR revealed plans for a 16-turn, 3.4-mile race course at Naval Base Coronado, marking the 2026 NASCAR San Diego Weekend scheduled for June 19 to June 21.
The event will also celebrate the Navy’s 250th anniversary, adding a festive touch to the racing excitement.
In an unusual incident, a small plane was forced to land on Mission Beach’s shoreline due to engine failure, fortunately with no injuries reported among passengers or bystanders, and without damage to the aircraft.
In a notable investment move, NBA star and Poway resident Jimmy Butler is backing the San Diego Wave, the local professional women’s soccer team, showcasing support for women’s sports in the community.
Meanwhile, the San Diego Public Library system faces potential disruptions as it must re-order thousands of books from its main vendor, Baker & Taylor, which has ceased supplying book orders.
Lastly, a San Diego City Council committee will soon determine whether a proposal to tax vacation home operators will appear on the 2026 ballot, a measure aimed at addressing the ongoing housing and affordability crisis in the region.
image source from：voiceofsandiego
