Welcome to Monitor Notes, a weekly roundup of news items, event announcements, and updates on past Bay Area Monitor articles.
A Home Truth
Why can’t California solve its housing crisis? That’s the multi-million dollar question Rolling Stone Magazine asks in a new, in-depth article. With extensive reporting, it attempts to find answers by highlighting the hardship of families priced out of homes and how low supply intensifies frustration. The article also explains pertinent policy, including this year’s failed Senate Bill 50 (Wiener), which contained zoning law changes to reverse shortages but was ultimately shelved, re-opening debate on the best course of action for working-class families. Learn more about these pressing issues at an economic equality and housing discussion presented by KQED and SPUR this Thursday, September 12; the evening event features previous Bay Area League Day speakers Fred Blackwell (pictured) and Karen Chapple, among others.
Looking Upstream
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) awarded nearly $8 million in grants last week to local organizations to protect and restore wetlands and streams in the San Francisco Bay Area. One of the biggest awards is going to the San Francisco Estuary Partnership’s Transforming Shorelines Project. It plans to use the new $1,481,109 in funds to help shoreline communities and wastewater treatment plants make infrastructure investments that adapt to climate challenges like sea-level rise. Shore up your grasp of the restoration work and glimpse the list of groups receiving EPA grants, and then dip into past Monitor coverage for a detailed explanation of how a wastewater treatment plant can address sea-level rise.
Spring into Climate Action
There are several opportunities this fall to share ideas with Contra Costa officials about the county’s Climate Action Plan. Community response is necessary because officials are updating the plan to show how the county will lower greenhouse gas emissions in support of California’s targets. Attend one of three meetings this September and October or share ideas online at EnvisionContraCosta2040.org. Interested in learning more about climate change? A separate event, a community rally in Walnut Creek with the East Bay Climate Action Network on September 21, is a chance to be more involved.
On the Safe Side
It has been six months since Solano Transportation Authority’s (STA) Safe Routes to School Program held a symposium to hear ideas to reduce traffic accidents involving pedestrians. Now, STA is holding a follow-up “Let’s Keep Solano Kids Street Safe” community meeting at noon on September 19 to discuss steps being taken to reduce collisions involving young pedestrians. Statistics show Solano County has the second-highest collision rate in California for pedestrians under 15 years of age, according to meeting information. Register here.
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