One of the oldest and most influential environmental organizations in the nation, the Sierra Club, is experiencing a significant drop in membership within San Diego County and across California.
In response to this decline, the local chapter is actively recruiting new members in the South Bay region, where a largely Latino and working-class population is affected by severe pollution and environmental issues.
Charles Rilli, a 27-year-old in charge of these recruitment efforts, aims to change the demographics of the Sierra Club’s San Diego membership.
In the past, the Sierra Club has been dominated by membership from North County, where the organization has focused on issues such as limiting residential housing growth, preserving open spaces, and combating climate change.
If Rilli can effectively engage the South County community, the Sierra Club could shift its influential political resources toward addressing critical local matters, including air quality, sewage pollution, park access, and affordable housing.
This recruitment campaign underscores a broader initiative within the organization to diversify its membership and better represent the communities most impacted by environmental challenges.
In other news, a significant development arose concerning the San Diego Unified School District’s graduation rates, which have consistently hovered around 80% for nearly a decade.
Back in 2016, an astonishing announcement claimed that 92% of seniors were on track to graduate that year, a rate far exceeding the statewide average despite the district supposedly adopting more rigorous graduation standards.
However, former education reporter Mario Koran uncovered that this figure was misleading.
His investigative reporting revealed that thousands of students who began as ninth graders at a particular San Diego Unified school were excluded from the final graduation tally.
Additionally, many low-performing students were counseled to transfer to charter schools, further inflating the reported graduation rates.
Moreover, a recent clarification was issued regarding federal task forces involving the San Diego Police Department (SDPD).
The San Diego City Council approved new rules, leading to the update that none of the current federal task forces the SDPD participates in would be banned under these regulations.
Councilmember Sean Elo-Rivera affirmed that there are no known SDPD task forces related to immigration enforcement or targeting protected personal characteristics, indicating that all current task forces will remain operational.
At a separate event, San Diego County’s Board of Supervisors convened for another busy Tuesday session.
Key decisions made included authorizing county staff to initiate discussions with the state regarding the purchase of a $2 million plot of land intended for a tiny home project in Lemon Grove, facing previously unanticipated costs.
The Board’s Democrats also advanced a proposal by Supervisor Monica Montgomery Steppe, aiming to explore the feasibility of creating an inspector general’s office for the sheriff’s department that would report directly to the supervisors.
Furthermore, Chair Terra Lawson-Remer’s proposals were approved to clarify rules regarding federal authorities entering county facilities and consider legal options against suppliers of counterfeit equipment potentially used by kidnappers.
In an unexpected bipartisan move, the board unanimously supported a proposal by Republican Supervisor Joel Anderson to ensure county documentation of facilities is “Trump proof,” thereby safeguarding against potential mishaps with Federal Emergency Management Administration reimbursements in the event of a federal disaster.
The board also directed county staff to commence and complete a competitive bidding process within a 120-day timeline, emphasizing data privacy and civil liberty protections.
In a more contentious decision, Anderson joined Democratic supervisors in rejecting another proposal from fellow Republican Jim Desmond that sought to support statewide restrictions or bans on foreign investment in housing.
On a lighter note, San Diego will soon be getting a new firefighting helicopter to bolster its emergency response capabilities.
In other local news, NASCAR has announced plans to create a 16-turn, 3.4-mile race course at Naval Base Coronado for the upcoming NASCAR San Diego Weekend, scheduled for June 19 to June 21 in 2026, which will honor the Navy’s 250th anniversary.
A small plane made an emergency landing on Mission Beach’s shoreline amidst engine failure, but authorities confirmed there were no injuries to passengers or bystanders, and the aircraft remained undamaged.
NBA star and Poway resident Jimmy Butler has invested in the San Diego Wave, the local professional women’s soccer team, signaling growing interest in the sport in the region.
Residents may face delays when checking out library materials at San Diego Public Library branches due to the necessity of re-ordering thousands of books after their primary vendor, Baker & Taylor, ceased supply operations.
Additionally, a San Diego City Council committee is set to decide whether a proposed tax on vacation home operators will appear on the 2026 ballot, a measure aimed at addressing the housing and affordability crisis.
The Morning Report was compiled by MacKenzie Elmer, Lisa Halverstadt, and Jenna Ramiscal, with editorial oversight by Andrea Sanchez-Villafaña.
image source from：voiceofsandiego
