Other items in today’s column include:
* Ballot Measure Briefing
* Political bytes
*Recommended reading
SAN DIEGO – Notwithstanding Sunday’s rain, various celebrations in honor of Tu B’Shevat, the birthday of the trees, were held throughout San Diego County, kicking off a week of observances of what some call “Jewish Arbor Day.”
At the Leichtag Ranch, in the city of Encinitas, the Coastal Roots Farm sponsored a “rain or shine” Tu B’Shevat Food Forest Festival from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. during which there were workshops on tree care, nutrition, climate change, and zero waste, as well as tours of the “food forest” at which farm produce is generated to feed hungry families in need. Guests at the “pay-what-you-can” event were asked to bring reusable water bottles “to join in our commitment to sustainability.”
In San Diego, Bill Tall, a member of the Jewish community who owns City Farmers Nursery, made presentations on caring for plants and trees at Ohr Shalom Synagogue and at Tifereth Israel Synagogue. At Ohr Shalom, students dug three holes for trees. At Tifereth Israel, where he was preceded by the Social Action Committee’s presentation on “earth justice,” Tall spoke to Torah School students in a Men’s Club ceremony that accompanied the planting of an apple tree by congregant Robin Dishman and the Men’s Club’s co-presidents Phil Lorang and Bill Sperling.
Dan Tomsky of the Social Action Committee teamed with Katelynn Sutton, a senior at High Tech High who engages high school students in a variety of climate awareness and action programs. Together they led a spirited discussion on ways to combat climate change, including eco-clubs, energy conservation and environmental clean-ups as part of what Tomsky described as
“the growing student and global mobilizations towards a healthier, sustainable ecosystem.”
In a question-and-answer session with Torah school students, Tall told of the vital function trees and plants play in removing carbon dioxide from the air while producing oxygen. He also explained how hybrid species are created and that hybridization can occur only among plants belonging to the same family.
At the end of the presentation, the students were presented with sunflower plants by Men’s Club member Jay Shirley.
With the Hebrew date of Tu B’Shevat actually coinciding with February 10th, other observances were scheduled on that day and later in the week, such as on Wednesday, February 12th, when Temple Emanu-El in San Diego plans to conduct a Tu B’Shevat seder, which will feature fruits and vegetables.
Ballot Measure Briefing
Jason Bercovitch, a field representative to Congressman Scott Peters (D-San Diego) recently prepared a presentation on the ballot measures that will be facing San Diego voters. In lectures such as one Saturday at Tifereth Israel Synagogue, Bercovitch explained in brief what each proposition would do, and what individuals and organizations have been most active either supporting them or opposing them.
–State Proposition 13 would authorize the State of California to issue $15 billion in bonds for K-12 and college and university facilities. Supporters include Gov. Gavin Newson, State Sen President pro tempore Toni Atkins, Assemblymember Todd Gloria, and the California Chamber of Commerce. The measure is opposed by the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association.
–County Measure A requires a countywide vote to approve any General Plan amendment in the unincorporated area if it proposes five or more homes than what is currently permitted by the General Plan. It is favored by Escondido Mayor Paul McNamara, former County Supervisor Pam Slater-Price, the League of Women Voters, and the Sierra Club. Opponents are the San Diego County Democratic Party, San Diego County Republican Party, and the Building Industry Association.
–County Measure B would approve the proposed Newland Sierra Development, a 2,100 planned community west of Interstate 15 in the northern part of the county. This is favored by the San Diego County Republican Party, and the Newland Real Estate Group. It is opposed by the San Diego County Democratic Party, and the Golden Door Spa.
–City of San Diego Measure C would increase the room tax paid by visitors staying in hotels and motels, with 59 percent of the proceeds to go to expansion of the Convention Center, and 41 percent to go to homeless programs through 2024. After 2024, 10 percent of the proceeds would go for road repair, with this portion being deducted from the homeless programs allocation. The measure is favored by the San Diego County Democratic Party, the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce, and the San Diego and Imperial Labor Council. It is opposed by the San Diego County Republican Party.
Poway Unified School District, Measure P would permit the issuance of a $448 million school bond. It is favored by the San Diego County Democratic Party and the San Diego Taxpayers Association. It is opposed by the San Diego Republican Party.
(There are also bond measures proposed by the school districts of Cajon Valley (L); Chula Vista Elementary (M), Escondido Union (Q), Lakeside Union (R) and San Ysidro (T & U).
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Political bytes
*Noli Zosa, a Filipino-American running in San Diego’s 7th City Council District, has a major fundraiser scheduled at 5:30 p.m., Tuesday, Feb. 18, at Casa Guadalajara Old Town, 4105 Taylor Street, San Diego. Among members of the host committee are restaurateurs David & Lesley Cohn and their son Jeremy Cohn.
*San Diego City Council President Georgette Gomez says notwithstanding a poll published by the San Diego Unon Tribune/ 10 News showing Sara Jacobs in the lead in the 53rd Congressional District, “our internal data looks great. But we can’t leave anything to chance. We have to keep running a strong grassroots campaign…”
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Recommended reading
*There were two articles of direct Jewish interest in Sunday’s edition of Times of San Diego. Megan Bianco reviewed the movie JoJo Rabbit and retired San Diego Union-Tribune columnist Logan Jenkins, no longer required by his profession to remain neutral, explained why he’s campaigning hard for the presidential candidacy of Michael Bloomberg.
*The New York Times reports that the Metropolitan Museum of Art is reviewing the provenance of a work by 17th century artist Eustache Le Sueur depicting the biblical account of the rape of Tamar. It appears likely that Siegfried Aram, a Jewish art dealer, was compelled by the Nazis to give up that painting before he fled Germany.
*Israel Hayom reports that Israel and Italy will jointly launch a satellite on which medical research will be conducted in zero gravity. (Our thanks to Michael Ordman, Very Good News Israel.Blogspot)
*The Jerusalem Post weighs whether U.S. President Donald Trump’s peace plan helps or hurts Israel, given Israel’s election dynamics.
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Donald H. Harrison is editor of San Diego Jewish World. He may be contacted via donald.harrison@sdjewishworld.com