Civic Border Dialogue and Engagement that Leads To Real Solutions — Executive Director and Co-Founder of WILDCOAST, Serge Dedina
Release Date: 12/01/2023
San Diego’s Innovative Fisherman’s Market Bringing Local, Sustainable Seafood — Pete Halmay, Tuna Harbor Dockside Market and San Diego Fisherman’s Working Group
The Finest City
This episode features Pete Halmay, President of San Diego Fisherman’s Working Group and one of the founders of the Tuna Harbor Dockside Market. With over 50 years of commercial fishing experience, Pete shares fascinating insights into the challenges of creating a fisherman’s market, the diverse array of seafood available, and the cultural significance of maintaining a working fishing harbor in San Diego. He discusses the fluctuations in sea life over time, the importance of water quality, and how the market has become a window into the life of local fishermen. Pete also touches on the...
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Blue Technologies and Why San Diego Should be the Blue Finance Capital of the World
The Finest City
This episode features Greg Murphy from Fugro, a world leader in providing geo-data consulting through mapping, modeling, and monitoring information about our planet and the structures built upon it. Greg is also Vice Chair on the Board at the San Diego Maritime Museum. In the conversation, Greg talks about the innovative future of blue technologies, the importance of ocean sustainability, and San Diego's potential as a blue finance capital. He discusses the concept of blue carbon, the Port of San Diego’s proactive approach to sea level rise, and exciting developments in the local blue tech...
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Weaving San Diego Maritime History Into The Modern World — Dr. Ray Ashley, Maritime Museum San Diego
The Finest City
This week focuses on San Diego’s maritime heritage with Dr. Ray Ashley from the Maritime Museum of San Diego. As President and CEO, Dr. Ashley leads one of the most prominent institutions on San Diego Bay, recognized as one of the top three maritime museums globally. It includes one of the finest collections of historic vessels, including the oldest active ship, Star of India. In his talk with Jen, Dr. Ashley explains how the museum integrates San Diego’s maritime past into the present day, highlighting both the economic and cultural contributions of the local maritime industry and the...
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Educating Youth and Creating Intersections in Ocean Science — Janaira Quigley, Executive Director of Ocean Connectors
The Finest City
In this episode, Jen welcomes Janaira Quigley, Executive Director of Ocean Connectors, a conservation non-profit program that connects youth with coastal wildlife. In their chat, Janaira talks about the mission of Ocean Connectors and how the San Diego Bay factors into their programs. She touches on the program’s teaching topics, habitat restoration work around San Diego, and the knowledge exchange program with students in Mexico, highlighting why it’s important for cultivating environmental stewardship. Janaira provides some easy and affordable action items for getting involved with Ocean...
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Protecting the Bay’s Environment and Promoting Sustainable Freight Solutions — Sharon Cloward, President of the San Diego Working Waterfront
The Finest City
In this episode, Jen welcomes Sharon Cloward, President of San Diego Working Waterfront. Sharon first talks about the San Diego Bay's geography and jurisdictions before getting more into sustainable freight solutions and protecting the San Diego Bay's environmental and economic value. She then discusses the San Diego port master plan and environmental policies. Sharon also talks about Operation Clean Sweep and its important advocacy efforts that aim to support responsible growth, environmental stewardship, and economic vitality of the Bay. Timestamps: [2:07] What is the San Diego...
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A Multi-Pronged Approach to Engaging the Public Towards Advocacy and Shaping San Diego — Jen Whitelaw, PR Professional and former C-3 President
The Finest City
In this episode, Kate sat down with our very own Jen Whitelaw, PR professional and former C-3 President. Jen first shares her career path from English studies to public relations and urban planning. She discusses a few of her favorite tools for reaching the public about important topics like density and sustainability through her work with organizations like C-3. Jen highlights some successful strategies for engaging diverse audiences, emphasizing the power of the public to influence how our city gets shaped. She explains why it’s so important to engage the public and younger generations in...
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Aligning Creative Vision and Community, Redevelopment, and the Future of Local Advocacy Organizations — Branding Professional, Simon Andrews
The Finest City
This episode features Simon Andrews, neighborhood branding professional and former C-3 board member. Simon shares his personal journey from Detroit to San Diego in the 1960s and discusses his career helping to shape the identity of neighborhoods through signage and design. Simon also offers his insight into downtown redevelopment and its impact, the rise of sustainable community planning since the early 2000s, and his involvement over many years with civic groups such as C-3. He and Jennifer also talk about how community planning groups can help empower local voices and reincorporate the...
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Communicating Environmental Health Risks and Cultivating the Next Generation of Border Leaders — School of Public Health at SDSU, Paula Stigler Granados
The Finest City
This episode features Paula Stigler Granados, Associate Professor in the School of Public Health at San Diego State University. Paula first discusses environmental health impacts along the San Diego-Tijuana border region and insights from her recent white paper on the public health crisis caused by Tijuana River contamination. She then explores the challenges of managing growth while addressing aging infrastructure and transborder environmental issues, highlighting the need to better communicate risk and learn from past environmental trauma. Timestamps: [2:32] Paula’s thoughts on the...
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Growth Management, Urban Planning and Affordable Housing — Professor Emeritus in City Planning at San Diego State University, Nico Calavita
The Finest City
This episode features Nico Calavita, Professor Emeritus of City Planning at San Diego State University. He shares his insightful perspective on the past, present, and future of urban planning and creating affordable and inclusive housing. Nico first shares his background growing up in Italy and his journey to San Diego. He goes into detail on the history of growth management and the city’s Housing Trust Fund and inclusionary housing policy. Nico and Kate reflect on San Diego’s successes in passing the measures, along with the challenges to balance new housing growth with neighborhood...
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A Collaborative Approach to Ensure a Family-Friendly, Safe, and Clean Imperial Beach — Imperial Beach Mayor, Paloma Aguirre
The Finest City
Jen welcomes Imperial Beach Mayor, Paloma Aguirre. Mayor Aguirre earned a Master of Advanced Studies in Marine Biodiversity and Conservation from Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UCSD and spent 10 years working for Wildcoast. She talks about her advocacy in the fight against sewage pollution and towards building a better present and future for Imperial Beach residents. Mayor Aguirre talks about the current environmental issues facing the city and the efforts to upgrade wastewater treatment plants. She also highlights the city’s priorities around housing, homelessness, and supporting...
info_outlineThis episode features Serge Dedina, the executive director and co-founder of WILDCOAST, an international conservation team. Not only did Serge serve as the mayor of Imperial Beach from 2014 to 2022, but he also chaired the SANDAG borders committee for six years, demonstrating his commitment to cross-border collaboration. With a focus on transboundary planning and conservation, Serge has been a key player in addressing the cross-border sewage pollution crisis in the San Diego-Tijuana region. In the conversation, Serge shares insights into the crucial role of cross-border collaboration in addressing sea-level change and the importance of getting involved and making a difference at the local level.
Timestamps:
[2:01] WILDCOAST is an international conservation team that conserves coastal and marine ecosystems and addresses natural climate change through natural solutions.
[2:10] Serge’s journey of co-founding WILDCOAST and his history of serving as the Mayor of Imperial Beach from 2014 to 2022.
[2:47] What does Serge hope to achieve in the role as Chair for C-3’s Knowledge Action Network, and what hopes does he have for future civic awareness of our border region?
[6:20] The border region can serve as a laboratory to get things done because there are no rules and we can take action and make up the rules to serve our community best as we go.
[6:20] Serge discusses shifting the conversation away from thought partners to action partners and the punk rock DIY philosophy that helped him transform the city of Imperial Beach.
[9:19] Serge talks about serving on the board of SANDAG and how cross-border collaboration has evolved on a government level.
[11:22] By working with the media to communicate issues, problems, challenges, and needs, Serge has caught the attention of CNN and many other national and international media organizations.
[13:43] How can we do better in solving the Tijuana sewage crisis and improving our water quality?
[14:15] What would solving this issue mean for our South Bay communities and our neighbors in Tijuana?
[19:31] The impact of our sea levels rising and holding the fossil fuel companies accountable.
[29:05] The importance of taking positive actions at the micro level.
[29:39] Instead of just tweeting and talking about things on social media, get off your device and get involved. Get active.
About C-3
Even before the California Coastal Commission or Environmental Protection Agency existed, Citizens Coordinate for Century 3 (C-3) was the environmental conscience of San Diego. Since that time, in part due to C-3’s leadership in education, advocacy, and empowerment, a plethora of organizations have developed throughout San Diego County. These organizations specifically focus on promoting progressive values in architecture, urban design, land-use governance, natural resource management, sustainable economic development, climate change resilience, and social justice. As the field of allies has grown, C-3’s role has evolved to provide a platform that promotes creating civic community.
Opportunities for Advocacy and Engagement: