Welcome to Monitor Notes, a weekly roundup of news items, event announcements, and updates on past Bay Area Monitor articles.
Course of Action
Interested in learning about being a part of the public process? Join the League of Women Voters of North & Central San Mateo for an “Impactful Advocacy Workshop” on Thursday, May 9 from 6:30 to 8 p.m. and find out how to take action on timely and critical issues. The discussion is part of Burlingame Library’s “Book to Action” program and will be facilitated by community organizer Laura Eberly (pictured), who presented earlier this year at LWVBA’s 2019 Bay Area League Day.
Keep on Trucking
UC Berkeley Visiting Professor David Wooley is leading the next Environmental Concerns Speaker Series organized by the League of Women Voters of Berkeley, Albany, and Emeryville on Monday, May 13 from 7:30 to 9 p.m. Wooley will present on “Environmental Justice and Climate Impacts of Trucking and Ports: History, Recent Progress and Future Solutions.” It will be interesting to hear what he says, given the Bay Area’s emphasis in recent years on adding cleaner trucks to fleets that serve the Port of Oakland. Haul in to the League’s site for event information.
Come Clean
The Bay Area Air Quality Management District is accepting applications for its “Clean Cars for All” grant program, providing up to $9,500 for low-income residents disproportionately affected by air pollution. Grants are intended to help drivers replace older vehicles with one of several options: an electric vehicle (EV), a plug-in hybrid EV, a hybrid EV, or a Clipper Card for public transportation on all major Bay Area transit systems. The amount of money individuals may receive from the program is based on household size, income, and their replacement vehicle choice. Turn into the Air District’s website for application information and eligibility requirements.
Troubled Waters
Across America there are at least 610 contaminated water sites in 43 states with “toxic fluorinated compounds,” including drinking water systems serving an estimated 19 million people. The compounds, known as PFAS, are linked to weakened childhood immunity, thyroid disease, cancer, and other health problems, according to a new interactive database from the Environmental Working Group (EWG) and Northeastern University. The database shows California has some 47 known contamination sites. Read more about PFAS exposure and new standards the EWG is proposing to better protect public health.
Keep It Real with the Monitor
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