Reversing Global Warming In Our Own Backyard

- Jared Blumenfeld, Director, San Francisco Department of the Environment (SFE)

Global warming has no borders and threatens us with higher temperatures, a rising sea level, and other possible catastrophes. It is important that we do what we can locally to change our course of action through clean energy investments.

San Francisco is leading the world in working to reverse global warming. Earlier this week, I joined with the Mayor, and the SF Public Utilities Commission to announce that the City will formally study the possibility of generating electricity from ocean tides under the Golden Gate and will form an advisory group to further explore the technology.

Tidal energy has the potential to generate enough electricity to power up to 38,000 residences and put San Francisco on the map with the first-ever tidal power pilot project along the Pacific Coast. The opportunities presented by renewable energies are endless when it comes to safeguarding the environment and our communities.

The Road to Health Access for All

Delving into a historically complicated issue, Mayor Newsom and Supervisor Ammiano signed the San Francisco Health Care Security Ordinance last month.  The legislation creates and in part funds a program to provide health care for all of San Francisco’s residents.  This ambitious plan makes San Francisco the first U.S. city to provide universal access to health care.

The Mayor recognized the severity of the situation facing the 82,000 San Francisco residents who are currently uninsured – many of whom do not qualify for Medi-Cal or Medicare, yet cannot afford private insurance premiums.  The uninsured delay care, making it more costly to treat health conditions when they arise – and when they do get care, it is often at an emergency room.  Those uninsured who are employed miss work and become unable to meet their obligations when they get sick.  Everyone pays for these costs.  The Mayor’s November 2005 promise in the State of the City to provide universal access to health care resulted in a plan to directly address this need, and fulfils a moral obligation to make health care universally accessible.