Welcome to Monitor Notes, a weekly roundup of news items, event announcements, and updates on past Bay Area Monitor articles.
Regional Planning Opportunity
Monitor Notes kicks off this week with an important reminder about an event with the League of Women Voters of the Bay Area this Saturday, November 21. LWVBA is holding an online educational forum from 10 a.m. to noon called “A Community Dialogue on Regional Decisions.” Join the discussion here and contribute thoughts about Plan Bay Area 2050, the Regional Housing Needs Allocation, as well as the sustainability of transportation and housing.
Post-Election Panel
The Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) and Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG) are holding an election debrief today at noon. The event is part of the group’s Metro Talks Equity Series, which brings together panelists to consider ways to restore the Bay Area with equity in mind. Rebecca Long (pictured), manager of government relations at MTC-ABAG, is on tap to moderate the event, which features professionals from TransForm, the San Francisco Foundation, and The Greenlining Institute. They’ll be examining the propositions with an eye toward advances and setbacks for equity. Register here or watch live on YouTube or Facebook.
Energy, Equity, and Public Health
Consider joining the Bay Area Regional Energy Network (BayREN) Thursday, November 19 for a 9 a.m.-to-noon forum that explores the connections between climate change, energy efficiency, equity, and public health. You’ll hear local examples about the ways health professionals, nonprofit groups, and local government staff are addressing these issues. There also will be opportunities to network during breakout sessions. BayREN, a collaboration of the nine Bay Area counties, is led by ABAG. RSVP here.
Getting Water Priorities Straight
As we prepare to close out the year, the Public Policy Institute of California is taking stock of 2020, laying out the effects of COVID-19, drought, wildfires, and recession in a new brief, “Priorities for California’s Water.” Contributors such as Ellen Hanak, PPIC Water Policy Center director, highlight local, state, and federal priorities for action. They emphasize the need for safe and affordable water; collaboration to reduce uncertainties in agricultural water supplies; investment in forest health to lower wildfire risk and create jobs; and increased efficiency of ecosystem investments. Read more about PPIC’s ideas.
Wild About Animals?
The Monitor’s Aleta George wrote about wildlife for the June edition of the magazine, explaining the importance of protecting animals’ movement by providing safe corridors. Anyone interested in learning more about wildlife in their habitat may attend the Santa Clara Valley Open Space Authority’s “Caught on Camera” event this Friday at 7 p.m. for a glimpse at its best outdoor footage taken from camera traps at various open space preserves. Register here.
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