Welcome to Monitor Notes, a weekly roundup of news items, event announcements, and updates on past Bay Area Monitor articles.
Thirty-Something
Pay tribute to the San Francisco Bay Trail on its 30th anniversary by finding 30 miles, minutes, or places that inspire you about this relished regional route. When you post a video or photos detailing your “30” on the trail to social media (using the hashtag #baytrail30 and #shareyour30, and tagging @SFBayTrail) you’ll be entered in a contest running through August 15 with a chance to win prizes like Oakland A’s baseball tickets and other big bounties. But before taking a hike, read Aleta George’s latest Monitor article for trail tips and rules.
Transportation Spending Money
Tell the San Mateo County Transportation Authority how it should spend funds generated by Measure W, a half-cent sales tax that was narrowly passed by local voters last year. The agency wants input because it’s hatching the Strategic Plan 2020-2024 for transportation improvements. Public feedback informs how various core principles will be applied to six funding categories, including county public transportation systems and highway congestion relief. Weigh in here. Or attend the last outreach meeting on Thursday, June 27 at 6:30 p.m. in South San Francisco to offer feedback in person.
Some Action on a Climate Plan
The City of Oakland is asking residents to share ideas and solutions at upcoming workshops to help the City reach its climate goals by 2030. It’s developing the 2030 Equitable Climate Action Plan to identify how the City can equip Oaklanders, both businesses and residents, to take actions that combat and cut greenhouse gas emissions equitably. The next workshops, organized by the City and the Oakland Climate Action Coalition, are July 17, 24, and 31. Click here for workshop times, locations, and to register. Then take a look at previous Monitor coverage exploring the local evolution of climate action policy. Which city do you think was the first to institute a plan?
For a Rainy Day
The California Department of Water Resources (DWR) will get $9.25 million to fund its Atmospheric Rivers: Research, Mitigation, and Climate Forecasting Program, thanks in part, to work by a coalition of California water agencies that included the Bay Area’s Sonoma Water. Funding is necessary to “improve observations, forecasts, and decision support of atmospheric river precipitation events in California” that provide 30 to 50 percent of California’s annual precipitation and also cause heavy flooding, according to a news release. Funding also “will enable water managers to more accurately track, monitor, and respond to major storm events,” said Grant Davis, Sonoma Water’s general manager. For background, check out Robin Meadows’ previous Monitor coverage of atmospheric rivers.
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