Newsletter: A lesson in community-building with San Diego environmental activists and advocates
Plus, get to know some local environmental leaders
Hi friends!
This week marks the beginning of Earth Month. Each year, people celebrate environmental activism and its evolution since the modern movement began in 1970. More than 20 million Americans participated in the first Earth Day on April 22, 1970. Now, one billion people in over 200 countries participate each year, according to the National Archives.
Having covered local environmental demonstrations across the city, I’ve seen many familiar faces. I spoke with four local leaders about their journeys from studying environmentalism in other states and countries, door-knocking for political campaigns, and taking pay cuts to pursue activism to leading climate and environmental protests on the streets of San Diego.
While the power of community in their work was clear across the board, one of the leaders, Isaiah Glasoe, an activist focused on utility justice, said he feels “like the word ‘community’ gets thrown around too much recently.”
And I get it. Words can sometimes be overused and start to lose their meaning — a phenomenon apparently called ‘semantic satiation.’ When it comes to the word “community,” I fear we’re increasingly at risk of forgetting the significance of community-building, making it harder for people to get involved.
But these local leaders embody the power of joining other impassioned folks to demonstrate the need for action. Finding an environmental niche and taking time and energy to engage in activism and advocacy even when it’s not part of someone's work or personal necessities can be tough, the local leaders told me. But with the right resources and push, they said, it’s more accessible than we sometimes think or feel.
— Sam Barney-Gibbs
Meet some of San Diego’s environmental leaders
Four community leaders shared how they found their current work in environmental activism and advocacy, build grassroots movements, navigate moral existential questions, push through systemic oppression and cross borders to pursue their passions. They hope their stories show others that the right resources and communities can help people meaningfully participate in San Diego's environmental spaces.
— Sam Barney-Gibbs
This week, San Diegans can shop at multiple maker’s markets, take a class on writing ekphrastic poetry or journal in a community third space. For the bookworms, several blocks of North Park will be shut down to silently read in community or find a new book at a book swap in Oceanside.
— Maya Srikrishnan
ICE officers showed up at 13 airports around the country, but they didn't have an impact on the long lines to get through security caused by the partial government shutdown. A judge blocked the arrest of refugees planned in a Trump administration memo. Here's what happened last week in immigration news.
— Kate Morrissey
Washington is the latest state to tax ultra-rich
Washington isn’t the first state to pass a so-called millionaire tax, and it won’t be the last. Massachusetts’ millionaire surcharge has been in place since 2023, California may be voting to tax billionaires this fall, and at least a half-dozen other states are actively considering ways to balance budgets or help their working classes via taxes on the ultra-wealthy.
— Story by Mark Kreidler, Capital & Main
Other news
Business and community leaders may now apply to join the San Diego Workforce Partnership’s Development Board, according to a recent press release from the organization. With 335,000 residents living in poverty and 132,000 businesses struggling to fill roles, the board is looking for diverse perspectives to expand economic opportunity and improve employer-employee relationships. The online application is now open for a July 1 term start.
The ACLU Foundation of San Diego & Imperial Counties launched a hotline for residents to report alleged unlawful conduct by ICE, Border Patrol and other federal agents, including harassment, racial profiling, use of force and warrantless stops, City News Service and KPBS reported. The San Diego hotline is 619-467-1663, and Imperial County's hotline is 760-645-9335.
The San Pasqual Band of Mission Indians accused the city of Poway and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers of building a 41-unit housing development on an ancient burial site after human remains were uncovered there in October and March, according to an investigation by inewsource. The tribe is alleging the city never consulted them as required by state law and is demanding a full stop-work order.
Following a post-pandemic bump, new Census Bureau data shows San Diego County's population dropped by roughly 5,300 in 2025 as immigration into the region fell 65%, the steepest decline in 15 years. Economists told The San Diego Union-Tribune that the shrinking labor force is already hurting local businesses and could damage the local economy long term.
About 13,000 San Diego County residents lost CalFresh food benefits under new federal rules that took effect April 1, stripping eligibility from certain non-citizens, including asylees, refugees and people allowed in the country on humanitarian parole. NBC 7 reported that demand at local food banks is rapidly increasing, and businesses where many customers rely on electronic benefit transfer cards are bracing for a similar impact.
Upcoming Events
April 3
Koi Pond/Made Factory Market: The Koi Pond Market and San Diego Made Factory are hosting a new pop-up market, featuring food, art and vintage clothing. 10 a.m. - 7 p.m., San Diego Made Factory, 2031 Commercial St #114, San Diego, CA 92113
Community Yoga: Alchemystic Studio hosts a gentle community yoga session at The Brown Building every Friday. Reserve space online on a pay-what-you-can basis. 6 - 7 p.m., The Brown Building, 4133 Poplar St., San Diego, CA 92105
Foodies & Goodies Emergency Food Drive: The North County LGBTQ Resource Center hosts weekly food distribution every Friday. Food is first come, first serve. There are no requirements, but there is a short census with basic demographics. 12 - 2 p.m., 1919 Apple St., Oceanside, CA 92054. Non-perishable, pantry item donations can be dropped off Mondays through Thursdays, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
April 4
North Park Community Fair: Read Out: Verbatim Books is hosting a silent reading event taking over North Park Way, with book vendors, a dollar book sale and a book swap on site. Attendees are encouraged to bring something to sit on, something to read, snacks and drinks. 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., North Park Way from 29th Street to Ray St., San Diego 92104
Makers Arcade Spring Fair: San Diego Made is hosting a spring fair at Balboa Park featuring makers, shopping, live music, food and drinks. April 4-5, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m., Balboa Park, 624 El Prado, San Diego, 92104
Book Swap: Commonplace presents a book swap at Belching Beaver Oceanside. Bring at least one book to swap and take as many home as you'd like. Admission is $5 via Venmo to @jean-eh or cash at the door. RSVP online for a calendar reminder. 6 - 7:30 p.m., Belching Beaver Oceanside, 1334 Rocky Point Dr, Oceanside, CA 92056
Freeflow Sessions Vol. 1: Freeflow Collective invites San Diegans to the first installment of its third-space series featuring beverages, a journaling session, a live DJ and Filipino-inspired fragrances. 7 - 9:30 p.m., Easy Does It, 5375 Kearny Villa Road #113, San Diego, CA 92123
April 5
Awaken the Poet Within: Dr. Marit Anderson is leading a class on writing ekphrastic poetry, a style marked by vivid descriptions. Students should bring a pen and paper with them. Reserve tickets online on a sliding scale from $10 to $35. 3 - 5 p.m., Thread Spun, 1114 N Coast Hwy. 101, Suite 4, Encinitas, CA 92024
City Heights Food Distribution: The Abundant Grace Christian Center distributes food on Mondays from 9-10 a.m., Wednesdays from 4-4:30 p.m. and Sundays from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Distribution is open to everyone. Abundant Grace Christian Center, 5856 El Cajon Blvd., San Diego, CA 92115
Occupy Otay Demonstration: Demonstrators gather every Sunday on the sidewalk outside Otay Mesa Detention Center to protest the Trump administration's increase in arrests and detentions related to immigration enforcement. 2 - 4 p.m., 7488 Calzada de la Fuente, San Diego, CA, 92154
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