Welcome to Monitor Notes, a weekly roundup of news items, event announcements, and updates on past Bay Area Monitor articles.
Rising Tide of Activism
What kind of influence will a new generation have on climate policy decisions? Climate One has assembled student activists and other experts for a discussion on Tuesday, May 21 entitled “If You Won’t, We Will: Youth Action on Climate” to help find out. Learn about recent efforts from activists like Isha Clarke (pictured) as well as from representatives of the Sunshine Movement (which organizes young people to make climate change a political priority) and NextGen Rising (the youth vote organizing arm of NextGen America). Buy tickets for the evening program here.
Train Spotting
Head to SPUR’s Oakland office on Thursday, May 23 for a lunchtime discussion about a rail network proposal across the Northern California “megaregion.” The idea is part of SPUR’s long-term regional initiative that proposes “bold strategies” toward the vision of a more equitable, sustainable Bay Area. Various experts will speak, including Eric Eidlin (pictured), station planning manager with the City of San Jose. Hop aboard to hear more from transit and regional planning experts.
Water Treatment
Carve out time May 16 from 10 to 11 a.m. and listen to a water webinar about “Tapping into Our Resilient Infrastructure.” Speakers from WaterNow Alliance (including Executive Director Cynthia Koehler, pictured) and GreenPrint Partners will discuss ideas and resources to help communities create infrastructure management strategies that prevent supply and safety threats posed by drought, flood, and other water-quality issues. Rush in to register.
Tax Incentive
Results from a recent Marin County Parks’ survey are in — and the nearly 5,000 responses are shaping some key recommendations. The Marin County Board of Supervisors advised Parks staff to extend the Marin County Parks, Open Space, and Farmland Measure A sales tax and place it on the November 2020 ballot. The Board also said Parks staff should cut certain entry fees to encourage park visitation. Marin residents green-lighted Measure A in 2012, a sales tax that produces roughly $13.4 million annually to tend to 16,000 acres of parks, open space, and farmland. Land on the Monitor’s coverage and read about other recent measures protecting Bay Area open spaces.
Tiny Homes Project
A growing number of California seniors are turning to accessory dwelling units (ADUs) to meet the financial challenges of aging in an expensive state. They’re moving into backyard units of their adult children, or having their adult children move into theirs, according to an Orange County Register article. State laws passed in recent years have made it easier and cheaper to build ADUs, contributing to popularity. In the Bay Area, San Jose is among cities seeing an uptick in ADU applications. To help unlock ADU potential regionally, the Bay Area Council, a business-sponsored advocacy group, in April launched the “Casita Coalition” for expanding construction.
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