Welcome to Monitor Notes, a weekly roundup of news items, event announcements, and updates on past Bay Area Monitor articles.
Diesel Concerns Fuel Discussion
The Bay Area Air Quality Management District will discuss why replacing diesel is a public health priority during a webinar today at 10 a.m. Staff will break down the health impacts of diesel exhaust and efforts to lower and eliminate emissions by 2033 as part of the “Diesel Free by ’33” initiative. Diesel exhaust accelerates climate change and causes significant public health effects, which often impact communities and populations already struggling because of air pollution, environmental hazards, and economic inequality. A rep from the California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment is also scheduled to provide an update on its East Bay Diesel Exposure Project. Register to attend.
Transit United?
The Monitor’s transportation coverage often steers readers toward trends in other regions of the world when reporting on issues related to integration. What lessons can they offer the Bay Area? A discussion hosted by planning nonprofit SPUR on September 10 at 12:30 p.m. will bring you up to speed on regional transit governance systems from Canada, Australia, and Europe and how these models could be applied to the Bay Area. Currently, the Metropolitan Transportation Commission’s Blue Ribbon Transit Recovery Task Force — meeting next on September 14 — is considering governance reforms to provide more transit with fewer resources.
Clean Break
Coastal Cleanup Day, traditionally held the third Saturday in September, is expanding this month because of COVID-19. Volunteers are organizing their own cleanups locally each Saturday, but they really can occur any day or time. Neighborhood, park, street, and storm drain cleanups help protect local coastlines by reducing beach and ocean pollution. Log your cleanup on the CleanSwell app, or on this form where you also can enter the Most Unusual Item Contest. Contact local coordinators, too, about virtual events in the Bay Area. When you’re cleaning the coast, be mindful of social distancing and follow local ordinances. For more information, scour the California Coastal Commission’s safety document.
Join TOGETHER
Tickets are on sale for TOGETHER Bay Area’s fall forum on October 1 and 2. The online event is an opportunity for volunteers, community organizations, policymakers, and others to share stories and information about how the Bay Area’s lands and communities have been changed by the events of 2020, including COVID-19, Black Lives Matter, an economic slowdown, and climate change impacts. TOGETHER Bay Area, a regional coalition formed earlier this year, will compile lessons learned from attendees into a report that will be presented this spring.
Voter Resources
With the November election nearing, more polls are appearing. How are they constructed, fielded, and analyzed? The League of Women Voters of Piedmont is hosting a livestream discussion on September 20 at 4 p.m. to help voters learn how to interpret them. Amy Simon (pictured), a founding partner of Goodwin Simon Strategic Research, will be on hand to discuss the credibility and mechanics of election polling. View the event on Zoom or YouTube. Additionally, the League of Women Voters of California Education Fund recently released its Pros & Cons nonpartisan explanation of California’s 12 propositions on the November 3 ballot, with supporting and opposing arguments.
Monitor Notes is produced by Cecily O’Connor. To receive it by email, scroll to the bottom of this page, enter your email address in the box under “RECEIVE EMAIL UPDATES,” and click the red “SIGN UP” button.