MarketInk: Latino Group Criticizes Green Energy in Digital Advertising Campaign

A Latino activist group has launched a digital advertising campaign critical of California’s green energy push for electric vehicles and bans on gas-powered landscape equipment, including leaf blowers and lawn mowers.

The group, called Levanta Tu Voz (“raise your voice”), is claiming the state’s energy mandates are hurting Latino small-business owners, day laborers and agriculture and manufacturing workers.

A Levanta Tu Voz spokesman told Times of San Diego that its campaign, titled “Sustainability Matters,” features ads appearing on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, broadcast television, streaming TV and radio. A dollar amount for media expenditures was not disclosed. The campaign began Sept. 3 and will conclude Dec. 31, the spokesperson said.

A statement from Levanta Tu Voz, which is affiliated with the Western States Petroleum Association, said California’s ambitious energy mandates addressing climate change and the state’s transition to electrification, are unfairly targeting Latinos.

“Over the past several months, we traveled across the state to listen to our Latino communities,” said Argelia León, director of strategic partnerships and Southwest policy at the petroleum association. “They told us that energy policies that help address climate change are important to them. They were also very clear in saying that energy policies should not put an unfair financial burden on them. Environmental sustainability matters, but so does economic sustainability.”

A promotional video from Levanta Tu Voz features a narrator saying, “California is a beautiful and vibrant state, the proud home of millions of Latino families. But legislators in Sacramento have been creating energy mandates that threaten our way of life, including bans on gas-powered cars and trucks, and laws dictating what appliances we can use in our homes and businesses. It’s time for Latinos to stand up and make our voices heard before it’s too late.”

Levanta Tu Voz noted the California Air Resources Board has acknowledged how California’s energy and climate plans have had an unequal financial impact on the state’s residents. The group said lower-income households, including those earning less than $100,000 annually, are hit the hardest and will see a decrease in personal income.

It also cited a recent survey indicates 84% of Californians feel overlooked by elected officials when it comes to concerns around energy policies.

“Sustainability Matters presents real voices from real people,” said León. “Latinos are sending a clear message to our elected officials that their voice matters, and that energy policies should not come at the expense of burdening hardworking families.”

Levanta Tu Voz said it was created by the petroleum association to inform and empower Latinos to be a part of the conversation around California energy policies. “Even though Latinos will be disproportionately impacted by a rushed energy transition, Latino voices are often absent from discussions on energy and climate issues,” a statement said.

“Electric vehicle mandates are one of the biggest challenges facing California’s agriculture workers,” said Luis Ramirez, VP of the Nisei Farmers League, as quoted in a Levanta Tu Voz press release. “These are hardworking people. Their main focus is to save up and buy a house or send their children to college. Their goal is not to buy an electric vehicle. We invite our legislators to come to the Central Valley and talk to us. See how their policies affect the workers who put food on our table.”

Cox Communications’ YurView to Air High School Football

Cox Communications will air nine high school football games featuring San Diego County teams this fall, the cable television company said.

The games will air live at 7 p.m. on Friday nights on Cox’s YurView Network, which is seen on Channel 4 in San Diego and Santa Barbara and Channel 118 in Orange County and Palos Verdes.

Live streams also will be available at watch.yurview.com and on the Cox Contour app. A replay of the games will air at 11 a.m. on Saturdays.

Cox has named the football broadcasts “GameTime High School Football Game of the Week.” Palomar Health is the title sponsor for the broadcasts. Announcers include Jack Cronin and Drew Ferris.

Cronin also has called games for the Pac-12 Network, along with the San Diego Loyal, University of San Diego and California’s high school championships.

Ferris, a San Diego native and alumni of the San Diego Jewish Academy, grew up in Carlsbad where he played baseball, football and basketball. He spent four seasons as the starting long snapper for the University of Florida from 2010 to 2014. He started broadcasting high school games in 2023 for the Del Norte Nighthawks.

The Fall 2024 telecast schedule includes:

• Madison at La Jolla, Sept. 6
• Torrey Pines at San Marcos, Sept. 13
• Helix Charter at Cathedral Catholic, Sept. 20
• El Camino at Oceanside, Sept. 27
• Eastlake at Mater Dei Catholic, Oct. 4
• Cathedral Catholic at Granite Hills, Oct. 11
• Mission Hills at La Costa Canyon, Oct. 18
• Mount Miguel at Steele Canyon Charter, Oct. 25
• Carlsbad at El Camino, Nov. 1

Cause San Diego Scholarships Available

The 2024 San Diego Cause Conference, an annual event featuring speakers sharing ideas about cause-driven enterprises, is seeking part-time or full-time students enrolled in a college or trade school to apply for a share of $15,000 as part of its Cause San Diego Parker Pike Social Impact Scholarship Program. Deadline for applications is Friday, Sept. 20.

Named after Parker Pike, founder of the Cause Conference 26 years ago, the scholarships will be spilt among five students who are using their education and skills for social good and providing active support to a social good program, including advancing a social cause as a volunteer, intern, association or paid employee. Recipients may be awarded up to $3,000 apiece.

Scholarships amounts will be sent to the awardee’s college or university to cover costs of tuition, books and fees.

For more scholarship information, visit causesandiego.org/scholarship/.

Recipients will be honored at the 2024 Cause Conference to be held on Wednesday, Oct. 23 at the Sharp HealthCare San Diego headquarters, Prebys Innovation & Education Center, 8695 Spectrum Center Blvd, San Diego.

IABC San Diego Hosts Networking Mixer

The International Association of Business Communicators San Diego chapter will host a networking mixer from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m., Tuesday, Sept. 10, at The Winery restaurant and wine bar at the Westfield UTC mall, 4301 La Jolla Village Dr., San Diego.

IABC said the event is an opportunity to spend time with like-minded communicators, expand your network, engage in insightful conversations and enjoy an exceptional venue.

Admission to attend the mixer is free. Attendees are welcomed to purchase their own food and beverages. For more information, visit sandiego.iabc.com/.

Rick Griffin is a San Diego-based public relations and marketing consultant. His MarketInk column appears weekly on Mondays in Times of San Diego.