Welcome to Monitor Notes, a weekly roundup of news items, event announcements, and updates on past Bay Area Monitor articles.
Clear the Way
The wet winter is wreaking less havoc on San Francisco streets, thanks to 1,800 residents who’ve adopted 2,900 storm drains to clean and maintain. Work orders for street flooding issues are down 36 percent below anticipated levels, according to the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission. Its “Adopt a Drain” initiative began in 2016 to raise awareness about keeping the City’s 25,000 drains free of leaves and debris. That allows stormwater to flow easily into San Francisco’s combined sewer system. Read the Monitor’s 2018 article about Adopt a Drain volunteer opportunities in cities across the Bay Area.
Inside Scoop on a Green New Deal
Former White House staffer Betony Jones is slated to speak at an Environmental Concerns talk organized by the League of Women Voters of Berkeley, Albany, and Emeryville on Monday, March 11 from 7:30 to 9 p.m. Jones will focus on the intersection of two big challenges: climate change and income inequality. “Drawing from her research on the economic impacts of climate change policy and her lens into the politics of climate change work, she will highlight promising new opportunities like a Green New Deal and Just Transition,” according to event information.
Talking Housing and Transit
Join the League of Women Voters of North & Central San Mateo County for a meeting about local development efforts to build housing near transit hubs or along corridors, a region-wide issue that the Monitor frequently covers. Chris Lepe from TransForm, Evelyn Stivers (pictured) from Housing Leadership Council, and Michael Weinhauer from San Mateans for Responsive Government will discuss how well plans are working, in addition to speaking about solutions and future strategies. The meeting is at the San Mateo Public Library on Tuesday, March 19 from 1 to 3 p.m.; visit LWV NCSMC’s website for more details.
Maze of Considerations
Read about Caltrans’ plan to rebuild the MacArthur Maze in Oakland and then share your comments online with the state transportation department. It’s proposing to partially lower, raise, replace, or reconstruct connectors in the MacArthur Maze at either I-80, I-580, or I-880. The effort is necessary to increase vertical clearance for freight vehicles, Caltrans said. Read project information and watch videos about the proposals, which include closures that could affect many Bay Area drivers’ commutes.
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