Dear Friend of SSV,
January 2021 has been quite a year!
As of this moment, the fever pitch of the past few months seems to be cooling (knock on wood). The smoke and tear gas has cleared and an experienced, dedicated President begins to take on four cascading crises: the virus, the economy, racial and income inequality, and climate change.
While impatiently awaiting cabinet confirmations, President Biden has signed over 30 executive orders including reinstating the Paris Climate Agreement, canceling the Keystone XL pipeline permit and Arctic Refuge drilling leases, revising vehicle emissions and fuel economy standards, rejoining the World Health Organization, coordinating a COVID-19 response, mandating mask wearing on federal properties, advancing equity for all, counting everyone in the census and more each day.
The state of the State of California is changing with the new government. With 12% of the US population and 2% of Senate representation (an issue for another time), the fifth-largest economy in the world can resolve almost all of the 100+ outstanding lawsuits upholding clean air, clean water and civil rights. Trailblazing Vice President Kamala Harris heads a California contingent that includes Senator Alex Padilla, HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra and former VTA CEO now Federal Transit Agency Administrator Nuria Fernandez.
Closer to home, SSV wants to recognize the changing guard with the additions of Dave Cortese, Josh Becker and John Laird in the Senate as well as Alex Lee in the Assembly. And congratulations to veteran “new” council members Pat Showalter and Sally Lieber in Mountain View and Patrick Burt in Palo Alto.
One major lesson over this locked-down year is the impact that public policy and actions have on our lives. SSV strives to make good government work better. A return to cooperative and mutually beneficial intergovernmental relationships would be very welcome in the year ahead. Solid strategy and competently executed plans are important to battling the pandemic, restoring our economy and achieving some stability so we can work in an atmosphere that recognizes the urgency of climate change, the biggest crisis of all.
With that in mind, launch our 2021 WET (Water, Environment, and Technology) Talk series with Newsha Ajami, Director of Urban Water Policy at Stanford’s Water in the West. A recently-appointed member of the SFPUC Board rolling off of the Bay Area Water Control Board, she will talk about (among other things) her Brookings Institute piece entitled, “The hidden role of water infrastructure in driving a COVID-19 recovery.” Hope you will join us.
It has been often said that one campaigns (and inaugurates) in poetry and governs in prose. Examples of the many hills to climb below.
Stay Healthy. Be Safe. Keep Happy.
Jennifer Thompson & Dennis Murphy