An Interview with Jennifer Siebel Newsom

Jennifer, thank you for all you do to further so many important causes - from child welfare, to women’s rights, to environmental protection.

Last night, you had the opportunity to introduce Thomas Friedman, Pulitzer Prize winning author of Hot, Flat, and Crowded: Why We Need a Green Revolution - and How it Can Renew America at an event here in San Francisco. In his book, Friedman explains how global warming, rapidly growing populations, and the astonishing expansion of the world’s middle class have produced a planet that is “hot, flat, and crowded.” He leaves us with a call to revolution - a green revolution - as an opportunity that America can’t afford to miss, not only to prevent global environmental catastrophe but for the economic renewal of America.

As first lady of San Francisco, how do you see San Francisco responding to this urgent call?

I think that our city has already been responding to this call and it will continue to do so.  We already have the greenest building standards and highest recycling rates in the nation. Our buses run entirely on biodiesel and electric.  I do think that we’re very forward-thinking here in the greater Bay Area, and in California at large - we’re such a center of innovation, especially green innovation.  So I’m very optimistic.

We’ve got to keep doing this to inspire other cities and also because air, water and pollution don’t respect municipal boundaries. That’s why we also need global organizations, such as Conservation International, to ensure that we’re all connecting the dots and aligned in meeting standards so that we can preserve the environment for future generations.

As a woman of influence, how do you hope to inspire action for a greener planet - and to empower women to take leadership in our communities, in politics, and around the world?

My big focus right now is on empowering women - and my husband’s huge passion and focus is on the environment.  So, whatever I can do to support him, especially with his efforts in the green tech and innovation sector, I will. I’m also directing and producing a documentary, titled “Miss Representation,” that showcases how women continue to be demeaned, limited, and put in boxes that constrain us from meeting our potential as leaders in our society.  The film hopes to bring about a paradigm shift and inspire a gender equity revolution. Women care innately and inherently - we’re more aware of the importance of the environment, education, health - which is natural, given that we’re the ones who are bearing children and guiding future generations.  On a day to day level, my goal is to get women together and talk about important issues that they’re passionate about.  We need to support each other as leaders in these arenas. Women can make a greater difference in our society, and it’s going to be up to us to advocate for a healthier planet.

Well, you sound like a great prospect to host an EcoSalon!

You know what? Can I share something - it’s so great that you said that, because we’re doing several “Power Hours” for the documentary - get-togethers with women to show our film trailer and engage women in conversation - and it would be great to draw in the environmental concern.

I’d love to team up on that and talk about the synergies between your work and our efforts at Hope to Action to encourage women, through their social networks, to engage each other in collective action.  You also mentioned children - recently announcing your own exciting news that you’re pregnant with your first child. Congratulations!  How does your anticipation of motherhood affect your outlook on the future?

First of all, I have so much admiration for mothers! So much more now, especially after three months of nausea!  I’m so impressed that women, like my own mother, had five kids and went through this five times!

I’m in this nesting phase  now and - poor husband - I’m putting pressure on him to move to a place where I can really nest, take care of myself, and be surrounded by light, plants and nature.  We’re lucky in San Francisco to have that, but many don’t.  So I think that I’m now just a little more aware of the privileges that come with eating fresh food, breathing clean air, and living in a healthy environment. Because I’m pregnant and not working as much in Los Angeles at the moment, I’m also able to spend more time with women who are championing each other and involved in the things I care about - the environment, education, and healthcare. I also want to support women who are less fortunate.  It’s not fair at all that there are women who are pregnant like me and have to give birth and raise a child in areas with exposure to toxins.  Access to clean air, water, and safe food should be rights belonging to all of us.

Certainly now, in your position as first lady, you really recognize the power of politics. Tom Friedman last night touched upon this as one of the most important things that we can exercise.  I’m curious what your one call to action might be - understanding that you probably have many - for women who are focused on greening the planet and want to make a difference.  What’s your call to action right now?

[Laugh] I have to say this, since it’s the first thing that comes to my mind - it is to elect my husband as governor! As I mentioned before, he’s one of the greenest mayors in the country. And, he was one of the first people to get an electric car before GM took them off the pipeline. We just bought a new one and, I have to say, driving around without making any noise or air pollution is the coolest thing ever!  Not everyone can afford this option so investing in our public transport system and creating green urban spaces is so important.

So my two main goals are to improve gender equity so women can realize their inherent leadership capabilities and getting my husband elected - because he “gets” women and he “gets” the environment and I would say that those are two of the top priorities for our city and the nation.

Thank you, Jennifer - we wish you all the best with your own efforts, and good luck to Gavin with his gubernatorial race.

Thank you so much - that was fun!