Community

On Your November Ballot: Prop 4 Would Approve $10 Billion for Climate Action, Conserving Natural

Prop 4 proposes issuing $10 billion in bonds to fund state and local parks, environmental protection projects, water infrastructure projects, energy projects, and flood protection projects. Additionally, 40% of the bond revenue would be used to fund activities that benefit communities with lower incomes or that are affected by environmental changes or disasters.

Published

9 hours ago

October 15, 2024

Oakland Post

Water Power Plant/Shutterstock

By Edward Henderson, California Black Media

$3.8 billion would help pay to improve drinking water systems and prepare for droughts and floods. Another $1.5 billion would go to programs focused on wildfire preparedness and $1.2 billion would go to programs combating the rise of the sea level. The remaining funds would be divided up.

Supporters of the proposition argue that the threat climate change brings to the state is an immediate one. Issues like wildfires, water pollution, and extreme heat call for funding to be directed towards countering the effects of climate change. Several environmental groups are backing the measure as well.

Supporters say urgency to push for the proposition increased even more when Gov. Gavin Newsom scaled back the “California Climate Commitment,” which originally was a $54.3 billion spending package. In the most recent budget, it was cut to $44.6 billion.

Katelyn Roedner Sutter, State Director of the California Environmental Defense Fund, is on record saying, “We need to be not only helping communities adapt to climate change right now, but we also need to be reducing our climate pollution. This is not a problem that can wait until it’s convenient to fund in the budget.”

Ariana Rickard, public policy and funding program manager for Sonoma Land Trust, added, “Every Californian has felt the impact of the climate crisis, whether it is wildfires, extreme heat, flooding, sea level rise. I feel like this will resonate with voters who want to protect themselves and their communities.”

The bond measure would also require the Secretary of the Natural Resources Agency to publish a list of programs and projects on the agency’s website for the public, increasing transparency and accountability with the public. The measure would require the report to list the project’s location, objective, status, anticipated outcomes, total cost, amount of bond funding, and any matching funds.

Opponents argue that using bonds to pay for what they call “unproven technologies” is not the most prudent way to approach the issues. They believe the state should pay for projects like this without taking on more debt.

Governments, corporations and municipalities issue bonds when they need capital. An investor who buys a government bond is lending the government money. If an investor buys a corporate bond, the investor is lending the corporation money. Like a loan, a bond pays interest periodically and repays the principal at a stated time, known as maturity. Taxpayers eventually are burdened with paying for the bonds the Government issues.

Howard Jarvis of the Taxpayers Association is on the record stating that “These bonds will be paid by people decades from now that didn’t even get to vote for their authorization.”

A “yes” vote supports the state issuing $10 billion in bonds to fund state and local parks, environmental protection projects, water infrastructure projects, energy projects, and flood protection projects.

A “no” vote opposes the state issuing $10 billion in bonds to fund state and local parks, environmental protection projects, water infrastructure projects, energy projects, and flood protection projects.

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Bay Area

Marin City Historical & Preservation Society Hosts Fish Fry, Family Picnic and Gospel Concert Oct 11-13

The Marin City Historical and Preservation Society will host its Heritage Family Picnic at the Rocky Graham Park in Marin City, on Saturday, Oct. 12 from 12-6 p.m. The Marin City Historical and Preservation Society is a program of Performing Stars of Marin.

Published

8 hours ago

October 15, 2024

Oakland Post

Rocky Graham Park. Bottom left: Andre Thierry. Photos and logo courtesy of Marin City Historical & Preservation Society.

By Godfrey Lee

The Marin City Historical and Preservation Society will host its Heritage Family Picnic at the Rocky Graham Park in Marin City, on Saturday, Oct. 12 from 12-6 p.m.

The Marin City Historical and Preservation Society is a program of Performing Stars of Marin.

There will be community, activities, and food. Chef Jordan Alexander of Jordan’s Culinary Creations will prepare the delicious fried chicken picnic lunches exclusively for the reserved table area. All the meals will include two pieces of fried chicken, potato salad, macaroni and cheese, and string beans with a side of bread.

A ticket for one meal and one seat in the reserved open table is for $25. Each table can accommodate eight people and has umbrellas. This single-seat purchase is on a first-come, first-served basis. A table for eight people, and eight meal tickets, can be reserved for $160.

Two other Marin City Historical & Preservation Society events will happen that weekend.

On Friday, Oct. 11 at 7 p.m. at the Manzanita Recreation Center, 630 Drake Ave., will be the Friday Night Fish Fry, featuring Andre Thierry Accordion Soul Music, and Chef Samuel Gilmore from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, to cook the feast of freshly fried fish, red beans, rice, and coleslaw.

Georgia Wade, who is featured in the cookbook “Grandmothers Feed Us Love,” will be selling her delightful homemade desserts. Cold beverages, including beer and wine, will also be available for purchase.

On Sunday, Oct. 13, the First Missionary Baptist Church, at 501 Drake Ave. in Marin City, will be presenting their “Old Time Gospel Revival” featuring inspirational, live gospel music from 3-6 p.m. The Spiritual Keys, from Oakland, CA, will be performing. The event is free and for all ages.

For more information and to buy a ticket, go to www.preservemarincitylegacy.org/events-2

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Bay Area

Race, Poverty and Elections: Why Vote?

Showing Up for Racial Justice (SURJ) Marin and the Marin City Free Library (MCFL) will present their Poverty & Racial Justice Film & Conversation Series #6 entitled “Race, Poverty and Elections: Why Vote?” It will be an online event on Saturday, Oct. 19 from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. SURJ Marin and MCFL have teamed up to present a Poverty and Racial Justice Series that examine the deep connections between racism and poverty that are encoded in global, national, and local economies.

Published

8 hours ago

October 15, 2024

Oakland Post

Graphic courtesy of FMCL and SURJ Marin.

By Godfrey Lee

SURJ Marin and MCFL have teamed up to present a Poverty and Racial Justice Series that examine the deep connections between racism and poverty that are encoded in global, national, and local economies. They are closing out this series with this program by taking a look at the ways in which voter disenfranchisement can help perpetuate cycles of poverty.

The presentation will explore the systems that make it almost impossible for people of color to run for office, to vote in elections and to have their interests represented in local and national government. How does this impact a racial group’s ability to emerge from poverty and to fully experience the rights and benefits of American citizenship?

The audience can also join a discussion with people who have seen these impediments at work in their communities.

Book and resource lists for each program are available that can help you better understand the conversation topics.

Registration is required. Register at: marinlibrary.bibliocommons.com/v2/events

This online event series is generously supported by the Friends of the Marin City Library and SURJ Marin.

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California Black Media

Report: Number of Black Students in Dual Enrollment Programs Decline

Participation in dual enrollment high school and community college programs has increased among students in California. However, the percentage of Black and Latino high school students enrolled in dual enrollment programs has decreased in recent years, according to a study conducted by researchers at the University of California Davis. California policymakers and educators are integrating dual enrollment as a key mechanism for improving educational attainment, ensuring students have equal access to postsecondary opportunities. State legislators increased funding to expand dual enrollment programs under Assembly Bill 288 authored by Assemblymember Chris Holden (D-Pasadena), a law that helps facilitate collaboration between high schools and community colleges.

Published

8 hours ago

October 15, 2024

Oakland Post

iStock

By Bo Tefu, California Black Media

California policymakers and educators are integrating dual enrollment as a key mechanism for improving educational attainment, ensuring students have equal access to postsecondary opportunities. State legislators increased funding to expand dual enrollment programs under Assembly Bill 288 authored by Assemblymember Chris Holden (D-Pasadena), a law that helps facilitate collaboration between high schools and community colleges. California made an annual investment of $200 million for high school students. The state also allocated $10 million for the STEM Pathways Grant program that supports creating 6-year programs for students to graduate with a high school diploma and an associate degree in science, technology, engineering, or mathematics within 2 years of graduating high school.

Despite California’s investment over the years, the study revealed that the number of Black and Latino high school students enrolled in community college courses has declined since 2020. The enrollment gap between Asian-Pacific Islander students, who have the highest participation rate, and Black students doubled from 7 % in 2019 to 14.5% in 2022.

“For students whose life circumstances, such as economic hardship, may inhibit educational pursuits, opportunities to enroll in community college while in high school may be less accessible,” researchers stated.

Participation rates in dual enrollment programs are lower among socioeconomically disadvantaged students, English learners, youth in foster care, and students with disabilities compared to their counterparts. The research study attributed the steady decline in enrollment rates to the COVID-19 pandemic.