environmental protection – Save Mission Trails

SMT Upcoming Events – Join us!

It’s spring! And that means EarthFair in Balboa Park and Explore MTRP Day in east Mission Trails. Stop by our booths and say hello to Save Mission Trails volunteers!

EarthFair in Balboa Park
Sunday, April 17, 10 am to 5 pm
Kick off the day with the Children’s Earth Parade at 10:30 am – about 30 minutes long. Hang out by our booth for a great view! Or…have kids? Dress them as their favorite animal and join our contingent!
At the SMT booth (space #235 at El Prado East near the Natural History Museum), children can create a cool nature craft, and grown ups can view a map to find out about all the slated development encroaching Mission Trails — and what can be done to preserve our park, community, and the adjacent East Elliott area.
If you’d like to volunteer to help out at the SMT booth, please contact us right away at savemissiontrails@gmail.com.
Here is the EarthFair website with details, including public transportation and parking.

Explore Mission Trails Day
Saturday, May 21, 9 am to 2 pm
Look for the SMT booth in the East Fortuna Staging Area (formerly known as the Equestrian Area), which can be accessed from Mast Blvd at West Hills Pkwy.
Children can create a cool nature craft, and grown ups can view a map to find out about all the slated development encroaching Mission Trails — and what can be done to preserve our park, community, and the adjacent East Elliott area. Also, there will be free pony rides (until 12:30), a mini mountain bike track, a climbing wall, live animals, and other crafts and fun for children. Family events will take place throughout the park.
If you’d like to volunteer to help out at the SMT booth, please contact us at savemissiontrails@gmail.com.
Here is the MTRP website with event details, including a schedule, map, and parking.

Because of You!

Save Mission Trails was honored with the People’s Mic Award on Saturday, August 3, 2013, at the Mission Trails Regional Park Visitor Center. YOU earned this award for your determination and resilience. Every letter written, sign waved, rally attended, comment spoken, and seat taken contributed to the CPUC denial of the SDG&E power purchase agreement and the one-year suspension of the Quail Brush Power Plant. A great big thank you to YOU!

The award was presented by new radio/online station KNSJ 89.1 FM / KNSJ.org during their launch party which celebrated San Diego’s Community Radio. KNSJ’s call letters stand for Networking for Social Justice. Please proudly view your award:

Keep the Pressure On! “Attend” from home this week and next…

Keep the Pressure On the CEC and CoGentrix and continue your dedication to stopping the Quail Brush power plant. While you’re at work or home, here are two events you can easily “attend” by calling in on your phone (put your phone on mute) or via online on Dec. 4 and 10. Easy steps are below. Listen in and be counted (and/or participate if you wish) to these California Energy Commission (CEC) meetings about Quail Brush. Click for detailed agendas and instructions (p. 1-3 for agendas, and p. 7 for instructions), but here is all you really need to know:

1) TUESDAY, December 4, 2012 – Beginning at 3:00 PM This is primarily a closed meeting, but it opens with a brief public comment portion. The CEC invites the public and interested agencies to listen in and participate.

TELEPHONE ONLY (NO COMPUTER ACCESS)
Call 1-866-469-3239 (toll-free in the U.S. and Canada) and when prompted enter the meeting number for the specific date: 12/4/12 – meeting number: 923 152 206
or
VIA ONLINE (“WEBEX”)
Go to https://energy.webex.com and enter the meeting number 923 152 206 When prompted, enter your information and the meeting password: pwd#1516
If you have a phone number with a direct line (not extension): After you login, a prompt will appear on-screen for you to provide your phone no. In the Number box, type your area code and phone no. and click OK. You will receive a call back on your phone for the audio of the meeting. If you have a phone number with an extension: After you login, a prompt will ask for your phone no. Click “CANCEL.” Instead, call 1-866-469-3239 (toll-free in the U.S. and Canada). When prompted, enter the meeting number above and your unique Attendee ID number which is listed in the top left area of your screen after you login.

2) MONDAY, December 10, 2012 – Beginning at 10:30 AM
Same instructions as above, different meeting number: 927 041 698 (password same as above, pwd#1516)
This is a Status Conference with the following Agenda:
1. Call to Order
2. Reports from Applicant, Staff and Intervenors regarding the status of the Quail Brush Generation Project AFC.
3. Public Comment
Members of the public and other interested persons and entities may speak up to three minutes on a matter appearing on this agenda.
4. Closed Session (if necessary) Committee closed session consideration of the following Item: Deliberation by the Committee on any matters submitted for decision by the Committee including, but not limited to pending motions and scheduling.
5. Adjourn

If you have difficulty joining the meetings, please call the WebEx Technical Support number at 1-866-229-3239. To see if your computer is compatible, visit http://support.webex.com/support/system-requirements.html.
Please be aware that the meeting’s WebEx audio and on-screen activity may be recorded.

San Diego County Supervisor Dianne Jacob Opposes Power Plant

Below are the concerns that Dianne Jacob shared with Robert B. Weisenmiller, Chairman of the California Energy Commission. Click to see a copy of the letter.

“Dear Mr. Weisenmiller:

As Supervisor for the Second Supervisorial District for the County of San Diego, I am writing you today to express my opposition to the Quail Brush Genco LLC Generation Power Plant. I appreciate the opportunity to briefly comment on this project.

On March 28, the City of Santee formally took a position to oppose this project. I support this action and share the concerns the City has raised including potential impacts to the surrounding area due to noise, air quality, visual aesthetics, biological, water and emergency response that would be generated by this project.

Enclosed is a copy of the City of Santee’s resolution of opposition and comment letter to the proposed project. The California Energy Commission must fully consider the information provided in both of these documents. It is my intention to keep working closely with the City and demonstrate that this is the wrong location for this power plant.

Again, thank you for the opportunity to comment on this project. If you would like to discuss anything further, please feel free to contact me at (619) 531-5522 or via www.diannejacob.com“

Sunset Silhouette, Mission Trails

A very magical time at Mission Trails is the Golden Hour – just before sunset. Every one of your senses comes fully alive. The scent of sage, the sound of a hawk’s cry, the feel of a warm breeze, the beautiful scenic views that all come together to create a spiritual experience unsullied by industrial cacophony. Mission Trails has been set aside as Open Space for now and for our future. We who love and frequent Mission Trails believe that East Elliott land parcels adjoining our park should also remain Open Space and not be rezoned to Heavy Industrial. If you feel the same way, send your messages opposing the Quail Brush Power Plant to the San Diego Planning Commission and San Diego City Council Members.

Send your note of opposition today RE: 11-AFC-03, Quail Brush Power Plant, City of San Diego Project #270282 to:

planningcommission@sandiego.gov

CEC Project Manager
Eric Solorio ESolorio@energy.state.ca.us

CEC Commissioners:
Karen Douglas <kldougla@energy.ca.gov>
Carla Peterman <cpeterma@energy.ca.gov>

Mayor Jerry Sanders JerrySanders@sandiego.gov

SD City Council
Anthony Young <anthonyyoung@sandiego.gov>
Carl DeMaio <CarlDeMaio@sandiego.gov>
David Alvarez <davidalvarez@sandiego.gov>
Kevin Faulconer <kevinfaulconer@sandiego.gov>
Lori Zapf <loriezapf@sandiego.gov>
Marti Emerald <martiemerald@sandiego.gov>
Sherri Lightner <SherriLightner@sandiego.gov>
Todd Gloria <toddgloria@SANDIEGO.GOV>

Ducks Unanimously Oppose Power Plant at Their Home

Yep, it’s official. The ducks inhabiting Mission Trails Regional Park have weighed in on the matter of the Quail Brush power plant, and they think the idea is WHACK!

The Foxes are in the Hen House

How disillusioning to notice on the latest flyer for the 10th Annual “Explore Mission Trails Day” coming up on May 19th, that Quail Brush Genco, LLC is listed as a “Community Sponsor.”

Really????!!!!!

Dictionary.com defines the word “community” as:

1. a social group of any size whose members reside in a specific locality, share government, and often have a commoncultural and historical heritage.

2. a locality inhabited by such a group.

The Santee City Council which represents the community living directly downwind of the proposed Quail Brush power plant has already made it plain that they are opposed to the construction of the power plant (in any way, shape or form) by voting unanimously against it, and installing banners opposing it that can be seen WITHIN THE COMMUNITY.

I’m sure this bribery of the Mission Trails board is only the beginning of the dirty tricks that Sempra and Cogentrix will be pulling out of their greasy bag during the 60-day continuance that has been granted them to make this power plant idea more palatable to the community.

Don’t they get it? There is no price they can pay for the “church” where many of us go to “worship” Nature.

That is why we must now redouble our efforts. Don’t just sit back after signing a petition at StopTheSanteePowerPlant. Show up en masse to these Planning Commission meetings. Bring your family. They have shown that they are digging their heels in and our beloved Mission Trails are under siege by monopoly Sempra Energy and North Carolina carpetbagger Cogentrix which appears to have some very large coffers. They have started to sprinkle dollar bills on community groups believing that their money will muffle any opposition.