Author: Save The Bay

In March of this year, the SF Bay Water Quality Control Board asked their staff to bring back an enforcement order against Caltrans for the agency’s multi-year failure to clean trash from Bay Area highways before it pollutes local creeks and the Bay. Despite this clear and urgent direction, an enforcement order has yet to be presented. That’s why close to 80 local elected officials sent a letter to the Board last week urging them to take action immediately and demand cleaner highways for our region and the Bay.

 

This dynamic duo joined Save The Bay in 2008 ready to dig in and help our team restore San Francisco Bay. From early morning commutes and all staff planting days, to nursery programs and trash cleanups, Fuego and Red are at the heart of the Save The Bay Family.

Meet Fuego

Fuego is known as the truck with the big personality. She enjoys throwback hits from the 90’s and playing jokes on Save The Bay’s Habitat Restoration Team! Her favorite prank is taking control of the radio’s volume. If the team wants to listen to music, she will crank up the tunes to start her own little party. Fuego also likes to keep the team on their toes when it comes to her AC, which only works on low or hurricane strength.It is never a dull moment when you get to work with Fuego! Besides her silly side, Fuego has a passion for educating the public and inspiring the next generation of Bay Savers. Her favorite work days are spent helping the restoration team run public volunteer programs. Fuego loves to meet new people and teach them about how they can give back to the Bay she loves.

Meet Red

The other half of our duo is Red. She loves power lifting, off roading, and likes to live life on the edge (of the Bay). Red doesn’t mind getting down and dirty for a good cause like restoring tidal marshes. Unlike her playful counterpart, Red prefers a peaceful morning commute with the team listening to NPR. But don’t be fooled, she loves to give the team a good surprise by unexpectedly popping her hood sometimes! Red takes her work with Save The Bay very seriously. She likes to spend her days in the nurseries doing the heavy lifting of water, plants, and tools that the team needs to build up wetlands.

Over the last ten years these two workhorses have helped our team transplant over 400,000 plants and have driven roughly 240,000 miles across the region! But this hard work has taken a toll on our beloved family members. We need your help because the wheel bearings wear out on the trucks due to our proximity to the salty bay, the heavy loads we haul, and the pothole ridden freeway 880.

Join us this Giving Tuesday, November 27, as we work to raise $15,000 or more toward a new Restoration Truck!

Those who commute in San Mateo County know how bad the traffic is. If you’ve driven through the 101-92 interchange recently, you know something needs to be done to relieve congestion and improve commute time. To achieve this, we must not only fund highway projects, but also enhance public transit options, support alternative modes of transportation, and connect high-quality transit to affordable housing.

Measure W will do just that by raising $2.4 billion over 30 years for projects that will take thousands of cars off of highways every day, fix potholes and maintain streets throughout the County, and make it safer to travel to schools and employment centers by bike and on foot. Read More

Improvements and upgrades to Bay Area roads and public transit are decades overdue. Not only does this outdated, inefficient, and crumbling infrastructure impact our daily lives—especially for those traveling from the outskirts of our region—it threatens the health of the Bay.

We need to invest in our transportation infrastructure to protect the Bay and improve quality of life in our region. But Proposition 6 will do the opposite by eliminating more than $700 million in statewide investments in public transit, road and bridge repairs, and initiatives to increase bicycle and pedestrian mobility. Read More

YOU can keep fish, birds, and Bay Area communities safe as sea levels rise. YOU can make sure our tap water is truly safe to drink. YOU can slash greenhouse gas emissions and improve public transit across the region. All you have to do is VOTE!

But with so much on the November ballot, where should you begin? Right here! Below you’ll find all the information you need to shape San Francisco Bay’s future – right from the ballot box. Read More

Every year, Facebook gives hundreds of their interns the chance to leave their laptops behind and make a difference outdoors, along the Bay.

“People need that connection with the Earth,” says Lauren Swezey. “When I’ve been inside all day, and then I take a step outdoors and inhale, exhale… I can feel my mood changing.”

As Sustainability and Community Outreach Manager, Lauren forms partnerships with environmental organizations like Save The Bay. “It’s important for us to pass a healthy Bay on to our kids and grandkids. The next generations are what drive me to improve our environment, to get others passionate about renewable energy, sustainable homes, and the natural world.” Read More

Why does San Francisco Bay need your support before the clock strikes midnight on the last day of the year?

We can’t put it better than Cadence: “The Bay needs our help because it’s getting polluted and creatures are endangered.”

Time is running out to protect our Bay, the heart of our home.

But if you make a generous donation before 2018, Save The Bay can keep working to reduce pollution, create habitat, and inspire thousands of students (like six-year-old Cadence!) to dig into science right by the shoreline.

We wish you a safe and a happy new year, and we’re grateful that you’re part of our caring community.

Save The Bay is devastated for everyone affected by the powerful Napa and Sonoma wildfires. What began as a weekend of celebration for the Bay Area – with the second annual Bay Day, Hardly Strictly Bluegrass, Fleet Week, and other joyous events taking place around the region – has turned into a week of fear and loss for many Bay Area residents. Our hearts go out to our many supporters and partner organizations in the affected areas, as well as all who love them.

Seven million residents live in the Bay Area, and the Bay unites us all. We at Save The Bay hope for the safety and security of everyone in the fires’ path, and for speedy rebuilding and recovery from this horrible disaster.

Sincerely,
Save The Bay

Jacob W. is a 7th grader at a local school on the Peninsula who selected Save The Bay for his Tzedakah project, which honors the Jewish value of obligatory giving. Each student chooses a Jewish value and a social issue that aligns with the value, as well as an organization working on the issue. Students then commit to volunteering, advocating, and fundraising for the organization.

Jacob chose the value of Bal Tashchit and identified Save The Bay as an organization working to prevent environmental degradation. He fundraised $1271.42 dollars for Save The Bay as part of his Tzedakah project, which he presented to Executive Director David Lewis.

In his own words, this is why Jacob chose Save The Bay for his Tzedakah project:

“The value I chose for the 7th Grade Tzedakah Project was Bal Tashchit (בל תשח׳ת), which means to protect our world. Save The Bay is an organization in the Bay Area that works to prevent water pollution, restore the shoreline and overall protect the Bay from harm. Their work enacts Bal Tashchit because they are caring, protecting and healing the Bay Area. I chose them because they are the largest regional organization working on what they do and because of their success.”

Thank you, Jacob, for your commitment to protecting our world by supporting Save The Bay!

The Bay Area is full of stunning views, amazing nature, vibrant cities, diverse communities, and a beautiful Bay that connects us all. We love this place, and it wouldn’t be the same without San Francisco Bay. That’s why we’re inviting you to celebrate the second annual Bay Day on Saturday, October 7. 

Last year, thousands of people took part in over 50 events across 39 cities, and 7 counties declared Bay Day as an official annual celebration. This year’s Bay Day is set to be bigger and better!

So, stay tuned for more information about outdoor and on-water activities, hands-on programs from our partners, and free and discounted events happening around the Bay on Oct 7! In the meantime, don’t forget to add Bay Day to your calendar.

We hope you’ll join us in marking this one-of-a-kind regional holiday this fall.