Action required to save special events in the city of San Diego!
URGENT UPDATE from SACRAMENTO:
We just received a request from the Committee hearing in Sacramento urging people to do more to save of our events - please see below to learn what you can do:
Here is the e-mail again with all the e-mails for committee members. Below is a form e-mail that you can have your supporters send to Senator Simitian at: senator.simitian@sen.ca.gov and to his legislative director at heather.scott@sen.ca.gov. Send letters, write emails and please share on your Facebook and Twitter!
Senator Joe Simitian: senator.simitian@sen.ca.gov
Senator Christine Kehoe: senator.kehoe@sen.ca.gov
Senator Alan Lowenthal: Senator.Lowenthal@sen.ca.gov
Senator Fran Pavley: senator.pavley@sen.ca.gov
Senator Sam Blakeslee: senator.blakeslee@senate.ca.gov
Senator Tony Strickland: senator.strickland@sen.ca.gov
Senator Loni Hancock: Senator.Hancock@sen.ca.gov
RE: Support SB 973, The Save Our Events Act
Dear Senator / Assemblyman,
Marathons, charity walks, farmers markets, and Fourth of July fireworks are at risk. A ruling of the San Diego Superior Court considers special events as projects under the California Environmental Quality Act. This will affect special events up and down the entire state, impact communities, and the state’s economy.
Smaller events, like community fairs and parades, would most likely cease to exist because they cannot afford the cost of hiring a consultant to prepare an environmental impact report for an event that is here today and, literally, gone tomorrow. It also means that events that drive travel and tourism, like the Susan G. Koman Walk for the Cure, the Rock and Roll Marathon, and the Farmer’s Open golf tournament could reduce the scope of these types of charitable events or hold their events in other states. Allowing the application of CEQA to special events will drive down California’s travel and tourism industry and harm California communities.
SB 973 (Vargas), the Save Our Events Act, exempts events from CEQA’s regulations and protects them from lawsuits brought under CEQA. SB 973 would narrowly amend CEQA to ensure that temporary special events would continue and focus their efforts on supporting communities and raising much needed charitable funds. That’s why I am urging you to support SB 973, the Save Our Events Act, when it comes up for consideration.
Sincerely,
Name
Organization
UPDATE: The bill in support of preseving local special events - SB 973 - will most likely go before committee on April 23rd. Please be sure to let your elected official know that you support local events throughout the city of San Diego by SIGNING HERE.
UPDATE: A press conference will be held this FRIDAY, January 27th at 11am on the corner of Balboa Dr. at El Prado. To show your support of the bill Senator Juan Vargas will be authoring (SB973) be at the press conference and wear your neighborhood or organization t-shirts - this will help illustrate how many different groups, neighborhoods and organizations are being affected by the law suit.
The Ocean Beach MainStreet Association would like to get you involved in a critical movement to save special events throughout the city of San Diego. Make your voice heard today by signing the petition on the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce "Save Our Events Coalition" website. Without drafting and implementing an expemtion to the CEQA Review legislation, all special event permits issued in the city - ranging from family birthday parties to to non-profit events - will be affected by being subjected to unecessary fees, reviews, delays and potentially cancelations. The mission statement of the Ocean Beach MainStreet Association is to find a unique balance of economic development, within a neighborhood setting and, through special events, to contribute to the health and welfare of the entire coastal community. We strongly believe the unique character of our community would be greatly diminished if our events were subjected to some of the complications that can be caused by a CEQA review. The cost of a CEQA review would put many events out of business right out of the gate. In addition, we are already adhering to all environmental requirements at our special events.
Please take a moment to show your support of our community and this organization's efforts by signing the petition.
SIGN THE PETITION by clicking here.
TO READ MORE about CEQA Review and the Save Our Events Coalition click here.
For more information on the Save Our Events Coalition, read below:
The Save Our Events Coalition has formed to help protect temporary special events from disappearing in the San Diego region and across California. Each year the City of San Diego approves more than 500 special events and 20,000 park use permits, bringing in hundreds of millions of dollars in tourism and charity.
The costs of these low-budget events can easily escalate as vendors try to abide by local regulations and restrictions. But now in addition to existing expenses, special use and park use permits are required to undergo California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) review – a costly and time-consuming review process.
Temporary special events come in all varieties and can range from family birthday parties to firework displays to non-profit fundraising races and parades. See the organizations that will be affected by this ruling.
Learn more about the coalition or get involved today! To show your support for new legislation to amend CEQA to exempt special events and park use permits from costly and time-consuming review, sign our online petition now! JOIN THE COALITION!
