A couple of friends noted my "cynical" comments and critical take on San Diego's Earth Day celebration at Balboa Park. I figured, since I am so willing to get up here on this pulpit and yell with my flat screened bullhorn, I should at least take a moment to contextualize my argument.
I readily acknowledge that I do not lead the most sustainable lifestyle. I drive way more than I necessarily need to. I have yet to create a garden in my backyard - a place in which I can grow my own fruits and vegetables as well as recycle any leftover, organic matter by turning it into compost. And, I consume more than my fair share of the Earth's resources, especially in comparison to most other human beings, and creatures, walking this planet.
Nonetheless, I find it difficult to stomach consumption all dressed up in the emperor's new clothes and given 21st century labels, such as "sustainable," "organic," and "green."
For those of you not familiar with San Diego, the region lives up to its southern California hype in terms of its automotive addiction. For decades, the downtown city center was predominantly a place where suits and ties commuted into every day for the weekly grind. The Gaslamp, with its gyrating discos and expensive eateries, was certainly a hip nightspot for the fashion forward. However, it just wasn't fashionable or cool to live amidst the transients, Mexican-American implants, and methamphetamine houses. At least, not until our beloved baseball team had a brand, spanking new $241 million dollar stadium built down near the shipyards on the Embarcadero. Ever since, the homeless have increasingly been targeted, the meth houses have been boarded up, and the sprawl of East Village has been dwindling.
Because the founding fathers of our small city never had the long-term vision to plan a seaside community of high rises that could accommodate thousands of people of varying means, San Diego has been a bubble of grossly inflated real estate prices. It was only a few short years ago when half-a-million dollars was the median range for a house in our community. Since 2004, when the Padres were bequeathed their new home, 1,000-foot-high mechanical arms have been a consistent part of this city's skyline. Someone is making a killing, but it isn't us. (Did you know that San Diego has been teetering on bankruptcy for years now? Our city is so broke that we can't even afford to pay the pension benefits of retired and soon-to-be-retired city employees.)
Suffice it to write, the planning that went into the city's public transportation system was equally poor and short-sighted. Within the city proper, trolleys run south, from Old Town to the border with Mexico, and east to SDSU (this connection was just finished recently) as well as to Santee (an eastern lying suburb where a women's detention facility is located). For commuting in between these southern communities, there is one train that runs from Oceanside, which is forty miles to the north, into downtown - at hours solely conducive to the traditional 9-5'ers schedule. Gratefully, the Sprinter was recently added to this train line - as it moves from Oceanside, across the northern tip of the county, and east into Escondido. Rounding out the city's transportation is a large fleet of "green" buses that take anywhere from 1-3 hours to complete their routes.
When I first moved to downtown San Diego six years ago, I was at the tail end of a "car-free" lifestyle. Thus, I relied on both public transportation and my bicycle to get me around the city streets. Bicycling around San Diego is an absolute privilege, one I sincerely wish upon all able bodies. Our now bustling metropolis is surrounded by a host of quaint neighborhoods. From the views of Tijuana in Golden Hill to the graffiti art of Chicano Park in Barrio Logan; from the friendly bars and delectable eateries in South Park to the grand Park Boulevard and University Avenue in North Park; from the gay pride of both University Heights and Hillcrest to the alternative coffee, video, and music shops of Kensington and Normal Heights; and from a diverse palate of exotic cuisine in City Heights to the slick pompadours of Little Italy - a bike is truly all one needs to see and experience San Diego at its finest. The parks, restaurants, cafes, bars, views, and casitas are rich with history, meaning, people, and culture.
Unfortunately, because there is no trolley running along University Avenue - a stretch of road that essentially begins in uptown and continues east, for miles, into La Mesa - most people drive their cars into and around our city. Each year, a handful of events, from Gay Pride to Earth Day and from the new Indie Music Festival to the beloved Adams Avenue Music Fest, draw hundreds of thousands of people into these surrounding neighborhoods. For the most past, a large portion of these people are using vehicles to get to their destinations. When it comes to sustainability, it appears that we are missing the moot point. I would declare this to be the case with the handful of annual cleanup events, as well. When we all pile into vehicles to travel to an agreed upon destination on an agreed upon date - how sustainable are we really? Then, to top it off, events such as Earth Day still end up creating an incalculable amount of waste and consumption. Is this really what the organic, green revolution is all about?
My goal, however, is not to rain on anyone's parade with a sour grapes attitude. Rather, my aim is to point out our very human contradictions and to provide some solutions. The "Kick Gas" Festival is coming to San Diego's Qualcomm stadium this October 24th. The trolley has a stop right outside the stadium, so come on down and learn how you can take the small steps in your everyday life to eliminate our nation's dependence on oil.
Roots, San Diego's Sustainable Food Project, is a meeting place for sustainable minds. Our coalition includes a sub-group called Victory Gardens, in which we come into your backyards, neighborhoods, and schools, build a garden, and teach you how to grow your own food. Victory Gardens relies on donations and grants, so if you do not have any money to give they are still willing to work something out. Roots also has tight-knit relationship with La Milpa Organica, a community farm in Escondido. La Milpa is currently launching its CSA program, so gather eight of your friends and order your fruits and vegetables directly from a local farm. La Milpa also hosts a monthly community potluck on its lovely grounds in which good people gather to enjoy live music, fresh baked pizza, a movie at dusk, and more. Ultimately, the point is that sustainability requires a local, grassroots effort here in the comfort of our own homes and neighborhoods. Let us champion a return to the days when we broke bread with our neighbors and when we came together in the spirit of a safe place for our children and a healthy environment for us all.
Last, but certainly not least, what we can do now is to move through the world with the mindset that every day is an opportunity to clean up, get involved, and make a difference. Going to the beach tonight after work? Pick up fifteen pieces of trash along your stroll. Driving to your weekly meeting, event, or gathering? Let people know where you're coming from and that you are open to carpooling. Are you a habitual coffee or tea drinker? Invest in a reusable mug and keep it on your person in times of need. The possibilities are endless. The important thing to remember is that, like anything else, sustainability requires small steps taken on a daily basis. Now is the time.
