“Even as the region has undergone a historic political realignment and there have been significant victories for labor, environmental, and community activists, the work of transforming San Diego into not just a Democratic Party stronghold but a city that embodies genuinely humane, egalitarian values remains. This collection of interviews gives a gloss of what it took to start changing San Diego and what it might take to truly address some of our region’s systemic challenges.
The interviews here are with elected officials at the state, county, and city levels, leaders of unions and activist organizations, as well as ordinary San Diegans. Beyond the Theme Park: Struggle and Solidarity Under the San Diego Sun provides a starting place for a picture of San Diego that moves beyond the Chamber of Commerce version of the city to a historic portrait of struggle, failure, victory, and persistent idealism—or how to make fundamental change in an American city with an exceptional aversion to it.”
We offer this book free of charge for all local educators and/or activists as a usable public history.
In solidarity,
American Federation of Teachers Guild, Local 1931
Under the Perfect Sun: 20th Anniversary Celebration
Join us to hear from union and community activists and authors Kelly Mayew and Jim Miller for the reprint of their book, Under the Perfect Sun, as well as the new companion book, Beyond the Theme Park.
Panel discussion with San Diego & Imperial Counties Labor Council President, Bridgette Browning, and Center on Policy Initiatives Executive Director, Kyra Greene about what’s changed in San Diego and the work that’s still needed to be done.