Well, three hours after deadline and with the in-laws (from Australia) waiting at my home, I’m finally getting ready to start my first entry for voiceofsandiego.org. A short introduction is probably in order…I am Bruce Reznik, Executive Director of San Diego Coastkeeper, the region’s largest (and in my biased opinion the most effective) non-profit group dedicated solely to coastal protection. While Coastkeeper has first rate education, research and restoration programs, we are known first and foremost as a “watchdog” group. We use all the tools we must to achieve our vision of clean water for all San Diegans – from regulatory and political advocacy to litigation, we are known as a group that gets results.
With a background in environmental law, I have been running the organization for seven years, starting when we were known as San Diego Baykeeper and comprised of a staff of two (at the time, still the largest non-profit dedicated solely to coastal protection). Today, our seven attorneys, marine biologists and administrative staff are fighting to prevent sewage spills, reduce urban runoff, restore toxic waterways, monitor the health of local waters and coastal habitat, coordinate beach cleanups and educate our students and our local communities about the state of our waters.
Throughout the day, I will be focusing on several critical issues relating to the health of our local waters – from cleaning up San Diego Bay’s toxic sediments to upgrading the Point Loma sewage treatment plant and our sewage infrastructure. But one thread will be common to these posts – the role our government and regulatory agencies play (and should play) in protecting our waters and environment. I look forward to my next post, which will focus on the governor’s place in setting local policies through his appointments to regulatory agencies…and I’ll be looking for your help!