Dear Subscriber,
What do you consider to be realistic planning for the City of Santa Cruz? Fortunately for us, City planners are having the foresight to look seriously at what climate science is telling us about our future--one in which a multiplicity of expensive infrastructure projects would seem essential to protect our way of life. (See first article below.)
But what if the peak oil theorists are right when they say that our high-flying economy of the past will never return? In that case, expensive infrastructure projects will not be an option, and we will need new ways of life.
If you had $40 million to spend now, would you build an energy-intensive hi-tech project to try to build up our resilience, as the City Water Dept. proposes to do? If not, what would you do with the money?
Our Water group thinks they have a better idea. (See "Potluck with a Purpose," in the right column.) It's less capital intensive, and more labor-intensive. Most likely, that phrase describes the future for most of us, which in my opinion is not a bad thing.
Happy Labor Day!
—Michael Levy
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City gets smart about Climate Impacts
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Thanks to the high awareness of Santa Cruz' General Plan drafters and others in the City, we now have a draft for an action plan to address the immediate impacts of climate change on the City.
UCSC scientists Gary Griggs and Brent Haddad wrote a "Vulnerability Study" analyzing what we face, and the City's Cathlin Atchinson has pulled together a set of goals, objectives and actions for responding.
Some of these are quite sobering, like action #B-10: "Prepare for new opportunities and challenges in the tourism industry such as an increase in climate refugees" -- ! Or the virtual certainty of our sewage treatment plant eventually going underwater.
Check out this highly recommended reading at the City website, and consider attending the Transportation and Public Works Commission meeting about it at City Hall, Monday Sept. 19 at 7 pm.
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A Milk-in for local food rights
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Wednesday, September 7
3 pm
Downtown Farmers' Market
The Santa Cruz Food Rights Coalition will be publicly milking goats and distributing the milk to show California’s elected officials that Santa Cruzans have the right to grow and consume wholesome, unprocessed food. The SC Food Rights Coalition banded together after recent, multi-agency actions taken against family farms throughout California.
Transition Santa Cruz is supporting this group's proposed County Resolution stating that people have the right to consume food they produce (or pay someone to produce for them). Seems like a basic step for local resilience, no?
For more info or to get involved, contact Mali McGee, 427-9168.
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Local currency volunteer opps
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With the economy spiraling downward and no reasonable solutions in sight on the national front, it's time for all of us to get involved in a local solution. New Earth Exchange, home of our own nascent local currency, Sand Dollars, needs you!
If you want to make a meaningful contribution to a sustainable economy here in Santa Cruz County, please check out these volunteer opportunities:
#1 Preparing and posting fliers
#2 General office work (in Soquel)
#3 Contact business owners to introduce them to New Earth Exchange services
Contact Langdon at langdon@newearthexchange.com.
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Skills, skills, skills!
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Lots of reskilling opportunities coming up this month...
Rainwater Harvesting Class, Saturday 10th, 10-4 on the Westside, $45
Urban Homesteading workshop with Rachel Kaplan, who wrote the book. Saturday, 10th, 2 pm at DIG Garden store, 420 Water St., SC, Free
Earthen Plaster Class, Sunday 11th, 10-5, downtown SC, $75 or work-study
Reskilling Expo, Saturday, 24th, 10-4 at the MAH museum, 705 Front St., SC, $0-$25 A rich sampling of mini-workshops on many topics.
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Also worthy of attention...
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♦ The Art of Cooperation: Creating Sustainable Community through Cooperation. Sept. 23-25 in Occidental (N. of San Francisco).
A rich mix of skill building, interactive & educational activities,
workshops, & presentations organized by the Fellowship for
Intentional Community. Info here.
♦ Slow Money National Gathering. October 12-14, Fort Mason, San Francisco. An amazing roster of speakers on economic change. Not cheap, but if you've been spending your money slowly enough, you can maybe afford it! Details here.
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Contact Details
831-427-9916
http://transitionsc.org
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Potluck with a Purpose
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♦ Tuesday, September 20
6:30 to 9:00 pm
♦ Live Oak Grange, 1900 17th Ave (map)
♦ Free/donation
♦ Family friendly
♦ Bring a dish to share
We are the FDR we've been waiting for!
(Blue-green jobs in Santa Cruz)
Our Water working group is proposing a Blue-Green Jobs Program. Blue-Green is a term that is used to describe Environmentalist and Labor coalitions around jobs programs that benefit long-run sustainability. In this case, our focus is jobs in water conservation, water infrastructure, and watershed restoration.
More about this exciting proposal on our website.
TSC's Rick Longinotti will speak, along with guest Brenda Hermann, local Director of the Monterey Bay Center of the California Conservation Corps, and CCC members who will share their experiences of engaging in meaningful work.
Bring a dish to share and we’ll see you there!!
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