11/12/2021
Welcome to Monitor Notes, a weekly roundup of news items, event announcements, and updates on past Bay Area Monitor articles.
Microplastic Study
The San Francisco Estuary Institute has released a report on microplastic pollution in stormwater and urban runoff. The report names some of the biggest offenders, like car tires, clothing dryers, and single use plastic foodware. It also suggests methods to curb the pollution. Some suggestions include technology in development, such as vehicle-mounted devices to capture tire particles from the roadway, but, as always, reducing use of plastic foodware and simply driving less remain the most effective ways to prevent microplastic pollution of aquatic waterways. The full report can be downloaded as a PDF here.
Homelessness Webinar
Like most of the Bay Area, the number of unhoused residents of Contra Costa County continues to increase exponentially. This Thursday, November 18th, join the League of Women Voters of Diablo Valley and West Contra Costa County and the Contra Costa County Library for a discussion on the problem, and solutions considered by the county. Expert speakers will share information on the gap between growing needs and available resources, and how the COVID-19 eviction moratorium helped slow the growing rate of homelessness in the county. Sign up for the free, online webinar here.
Air District Reminder
The Air District continues to look for qualified organizations to help provide community engagement support for low-income and environmentally vulnerable communities across the Bay Area. The District hopes to find organizations with a history of engaging with these communities that can be contracted with to help various District activities like Stakeholder Group formation, and event planning. Read the summary here, and contact Cynthia Zhang, [email protected], for questions. Proposals must be submitted by 4pm November 19th.
Car-Free JFK
Biochar, a type of charcoal typically used with compost to boost a soil’s agricultural yield, may have a role to play in managing atmospheric carbon. Raymond Baltar, Sonoma Biochar Project Director, will be giving a presentation this Monday, November 8th, about this resource and its potential as a cheap and easily scalable way to manage carbon in the atmosphere. Baltar’s presentation is hosted by the League of Women Voters of Berkeley, Albany, and Emeryville.
Monitor Notes is produced by Michael Adamson. 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.