December 2008
Move San Diego Announces Elyes Lowe as Executive Director
The Move San Diego Board of Directors announced that Ms. Elyse W. Lowe will serve as the organization's Executive Director.
Lowe is a native San Diegan who has spent the last ten years working in various positions within the City of San Diego. Most recently, she served as the Committee Consultant for both the Rules, Open Government and Intergovernmental Relations Committee and the Land Use and Housing Committee under Council President Pro Tem Jim Madaffer.
"Elyse brings to Move San Diego a unique background that will serve our organization well, "says Reed Vickerman, Chair of the Board of Directors. "We are excited to work with her to help ascend Move San Diego to the next level as a trusted voice in regional transportation planning and environmental protection."
Prior to working as a City Council Committee Consultant, Elyse worked as a Redevelopment Director, a Policy Analyst and a City Council Representative. Her background also includes municipal budget analysis, as well as integrated waste management planning and resource conservation.
As Executive Director, Lowe will be tasked with creating a strategic plan for the next three years for Move San Diego, including the development of a grassroots advocacy network as well as development of regional partnerships for strengthening effective public transportation policies. Her focus will be on collaboration within the region.
"This is a crucial time in San Diego, says Elyse Lowe. "Now is the time to shape land use and transportation plans to create a healthy transit system with minimal environmental impacts. San Diego needs a change agent to help promote sustainable transportation practices and I will ensure Move San Diego is up to the challenge."
Lowe hold a bachelors degree in Environmental Studies with a public policy emphasis and a minor in Earth Science from UC Santa Cruz. She lives in Linda Vista with her husband Ryan Lowe and their infant son, Gavin. Ms. Lowe begins in her new position on December 15th.
November 2008
Move SD Chair testifies on importance of transit at US Senate hearing in San Diego
At a local hearing held in San Diego on November 14, the United States Senate Subcommittee on the Environmental and Public Works heard Move San Diego's Chairman Reed Vickerman testify on the importance of transit in the upcoming "MAP 21" federal transportation bill.
Mr. Vickerman, who is also Vice President for Amylin Pharmaceuticals, with their headquarters in the Golden Triangle area of San Diego, cited the importance of transit to the region's economic competitiveness as well as its importance to regional requirements to address climate change.
"We are at a critical point in the history of transportation in the United States. Our carbon-based economy is in decline. Goals for mitigating climate change, such as Calfornia's AB32, the Global Warming Act of 2006, dwindling oil supplies, a global recession, the desire to invest in infrastructure for economic stimulus, the need to repair neglected capital investments, and a likely shift to new energy sources, all point to the end of the single-passenger, internal combustion automobile-filled freeway that has characterized Southern California for nearly 100 years. It is not a question of if, but when, transit usage will increase."
He also urged action and pointed out the importance of regional green jobs, "Transit spending has an additional economic benefit that a higher percentage of mass transportation spending stays locally rather than being sent overseas for imported oil and automobiles. Transit jobs are the ultimate "green collar" jobs as they are imbedded in the local economy. Now is the time to commit to transit as the only solution economically, environmentally, socially and sustainably for the future."
Testimony was also heard from: Greg Cox, Chairman, Board of Supervisors, County of San Diego, Pedro Orso-Delgado, Director, Caltrans District 11, Gary Gallegos, Executive Director, San Diego Association of Governments, Chandra Wallar, Deputy Chief Administrative Officer, Land Use and Environment Group, County of San Diego, Paul Jablonski, CEO, San Diego Metropolitan Transit System , Evan McLaughlin, Political Director, San Diego and Imperial Counties Labor Council, AFL-CIO and Ruben Barrales, President and CEO, San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce.
Testimony before the Committee stressed the importance of federal investments in transportation infrastructure as vital to economic competitiveness and environmental sustainability and all were invited to provide additional expertise as the MAP 21 process moves forward.
MAP 21 is the new name for the effort to replace the existing federal transportation bill known as "ISTEA" that expires in September 2009. The name change was announced at the hearing. MAP 21 stands for Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st century.
Click here for the text of Mr. Vickerman's testimony.
