Political Activism
Regnart Creek Trail
YEPI Executive Members Kelly Tung, Jasmine Varma, Lourdes Diaz, June Wang, and Juliet Shearin voiced their full support for the Regnart Creek Trail at the City Council meeting on November 17th, 2020, where the construction of the Regnart Creek Trail went to vote.
Prior to this City Council meeting, Executive Director Kelly Tung had already brought a group of students from the JFK Green Commuters, a program that she founded to promote alternative transportation in John F. Kennedy middle school, to the Cupertino City Council meeting on August 21, 2018, where the Regnart Creek Trail initially went to vote. Over the course of the next two years, Kelly continued to advocate for the Regnart Creek Trail at other City Council meetings and Cupertino Union School District Board meetings until the trail was finally approved.
Regnart Creek Trail is a trail designed to connect the city library, parks, and the city center to several high schools in the City of Cupertino. This trail will increase safety for people who walk and bike and promote alternative transportation as a whole in Cupertino, resulting in a decrease in cars on the road and carbon emissions. It will be a great way to motivate both residents to exercise and students to walk or bike to school safely and socially, which would make the community become more sustainable and connected in an enjoyable and healthier manner.
Our support made an impact and the Regnart Creek Trail was passed! The City Council voted unanimously to move the Regnart Creek Trail forward and the trail was finally approved for construction without another delay. Youth Environmental Power Initiative contributed to the development and implementation of a sustainable infrastructure in the City of Cupertino that would benefit the environment and community.
Youth Environmental Power Initiative promotes teen engagement in legislation and advocacy to help make a cleaner and healthier environment. We have positively affected the community and environment through legislative advocacy.
Our advocacy has significantly improved the quality of life for about
60,000 Cupertino residents
and has helped build a happier, safer, and cleaner city.
Hear our Youth Environmental Power Initiative Executive Members speak at the City Council meeting!
Kelly Tung - 2:00:31
Jasmine Varma - 2:02:32
Lourdes Diaz - 2:06:54
June Wang - 2:23:37
Juliet Shearin - 2:44:52
Carmen Bridge
Youth Environmental Power Initiative fully endorses the Carmen Bridge Project and we are actively working with Walk-Bike Cupertino to get the project approved by the Cupertino City Council.
The Carmen Bridge project includes building a bridge over Stevens Creek Blvd, where thousands of cars drive through each day. This bridge serves as a safer connector which will allow over 500 students to get to school safely by walking or biking. Additionally, the implementation of this project will greatly reduce traffic congestion on roads and lead to less traffic at schools as well. This piece of sustainable infrastructure will not only provides enhanced access to parks but ultimately, help build a greener, cleaner, and safer city.
As one of our missions is to advocate for environmental policies and infrastructures in the community, it's no surprise that YEPI has already taken steps to make Carmen Bridge a reality. Many of our members have already signed the Carmen Bridge petition and we highly encourage youths in the community to sign it as well! Another step that we have been encouraging people to do is to send an email to the city council to ask for their support in implementing this project. You can find email templates here.
Kelly Tung, the President and Executive Director of YEPI, has been actively working with Walk-Bike Cupertino to gain support for the project. Kelly took a bicycle tour of the MV Bike Boulevard and the Carmen Bridge site with Walk-Bike Cupertino executive members Byron Rovegno and Helene Davis on March 14th, 2021. She presented in front of Monta Vista High School's PTSA on March 23rd, 2021, with Jian He, another executive board member of Walk-Bike Cupertino, and was able to get MV PTSA to approve and endorse the Carmen Bridge project. Kelly Tung, Byron Rovegno, and Jian He communicated with Deb Feng (Cupertino City Manager) and Roger Lee (Director of Cupertino Public Works) about moving forward with the project on April 5th, 2021.
Blaney Class IV Bike Lanes
Youth Environmental Power Initiative fully supports the Blaney Class IV Bike Lanes and we sent a letter of support for the City of Cupertino's grant application for a study of separated bikeways on Blaney Rd.
Blaney Class IV Bike Lanes calls for separated bike lanes along Blaney Ave, from Homestead Rd to Bollinger Rd, in order to enhance biking for riders in the community. This area is rich with schools, parks, and public facilities, and would create a needed north-south bikeway in the area. The project was ranked as Tier II in Cupertino’s 2016 Bicycle Transportation Plan and Blaney Rd is also identified as a priority corridor in VTA’s Countywide Bicycle Plan.
Blaney Road serves three schools and is close to several parks but is often highly congested. Creating a safe and comfortable bicycle connection on Blaney Rd will improve safety for current student bikers and encourage even more students to bike to school. The Blaney Rd Separated Bikeway Project would serve many areas in the community, including City Hall, Cupertino Library, and Regnart Creek Trail.
Youth Environmental Power Initiative has been in touch with Chris Carrao, the Senior Transit & Transportation Planner in Cupertino Public Works, regarding this project and we have sent a letter of support for the Blaney Rd Separated Bikeway Project.