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The Death of a $20 Million Dream: A New Yorker’s Lament

May 15, 2025 | By Mark A. Stuart

Mark Stuart reflects, in true New Yorker fashion, on the untimely demise of a grant that promised a better future.

What Happened, San Diego?

It’s with a heavy heart and a flair for the dramatic that we report the death of a $20 million visionary investment. This wasn’t just any cash — it was meant to overhaul San Diego’s central historic barrios through the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Community Change Grant. San Diego Foundation and the Environmental Health Coalition planned to sprinkle some magic dust, or rather, funds, on projects like Rooted in Comunidad, Cultivating Equity. But alas, bureaucracy reared its ugly head.

The Grant That Could Have Been

This wasn’t just a pile of cash. It was equity incarnate. Imagine breathing cleaner air or homes blooming with solar panels. Picture zero-emission transportation smoothly escorting people to new opportunities. These weren’t just dreams — they were almost reality. However, what should have been was reclassified, shifting EPA’s priorities faster than a New York minute.

A Vision Snatched Away

Four ambitious projects. That’s what this grant was supposed to fuel. It all began with a concept on July 19, 2024, gained steam in November, and kicked off in January. By May, the rug was pulled. Halting progress? Stunned partners? Yup, sounds about right. And those central barrios southeast of Downtown? They’re left to pick up the pieces.

Here’s what was lost:

• Holistic Healthy Homes: Retrofits for 25 homes with solar panels and more. Lower bills, better health, brighter futures — now just a concept.
• La Via Verde: A budding electric ride service ready to glide through streets. Keys remain untouched.
• Workforce Development Program: Linking locals to promising green jobs. The job center is as silent as the city during a snowstorm.
• Zero-Emission Buses: Imagine buses quiet as a whisper weaving through the city. Parked forever in dreams.

This Ain’t Just About a Grant

We’re mourning more than paper money here, folks. This is an affront to Barrio Logan, Logan Heights, Sherman Heights, and beyond. Communities overpolluted and underfunded — the ignored underdogs in a flashy world. The decision to cut this grant was no accident. It wasn’t project failure or mismanagement. It was federal decisions brushing past the real issues faced by families of color.

A Call to Action

San Diegans, your perseverance is commendable. But let’s face it, mere survival doesn’t cut it. We need voices — loud, city-echoing voices — reaching out to congress. Demand they be the champions you need. Rooted in Comunidad, Cultivating Equity isn’t dead. We’ll rally, find new funds, and keep fighting the good fight.

Our message is simple: This grant’s death won’t be in vain. New Yorkers never settle — why should you?

Originally featured in The San Diego Union-Tribune.