Sowing Environmental Seeds

Reported in the Santa Barbara INDEPENDENT:

http://independent.com/news/2012/may/16/sewing-environmental-seeds-success/

Climate Conference 12/15/2011

Gov's conference live on EXTREME CLIMATE RISKS AND CALIFORNIA'S FUTURE, Thurs. Dec 15Th:

Governor Releases Additional Details on Climate Conference

Das is attending

Streaming live: www.gov.ca.gov

 SACRAMENTO – Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr.... released additional details on panel participants and the issues that will be covered at the Governor’s Conference on Extreme Climate Risks and California’s Future.

The conference will be held this Thursday, December 15, 2011 at the California Academy of Sciences in Golden Gate Park in San Francisco. Due to space limitations, attendance is by invitation only. The entire conference will also be webcast live on Governor Brown’s website at www.gov.ca.gov and conference viewers can submit questions to conference speakers through this site.

Event registration will open at 8:30 a.m. and the conference will begin at 9:30 a.m. See below for additional media information.

The Governor’s Conference on Extreme Climate Risks and California’s Future Participants (partial list):

• California Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr.
• Dr. Rajendra Pachauri, Chair of the United Nations’ Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
• Sir Richard Branson, Founder of the Virgin Group
• Nancy Sutley, Chair, White House Council on Environmental Quality
• Other participants include public safety, insurance industry, public health and climate change experts, emergency response officials, public utility experts and farmers.

Das is attending, as well.

Topics:

• California and the Global Climate Challenge
• Climate Change’s Human and Economic Impacts on California
• A National Perspective on Climate Action
 • Climate Solutions to Protect California Communities and Help our Economy

For additional information on the event and participants, please visit http://www.gov.ca.gov/ecrcf.php

Pesticides in the Watershed

Das talks about Pesticides in the Watershed 

on the "Surf and River Report," October 2011

KADY-TV Interview

Recently, Tracy and Ross interviewed Das on a wide range of issues affecting the 35th District.

To view and listen, please go to:

http://www.kadytv.com/Archives/Tracy&Ross/110915daswilliams.htm

Five Months in Sacramento

---

The following was printed in a DAILY SOUND Guest Column:

Assemblyman Das Williams spotlights achievements after 5 months in Sacramento

By DAS WILLIAMS -- MAY 31, 2011

Each morning begins with the sound of metal poles clanking, drums beating, protesters yelling, or speeches booming from Capitol Park. The most interesting was a few weeks ago when I woke up to a high pitched whine, which I dimly remembered was a signal of war and alarm, and slowly realized was an air raid siren.

I got out of bed and said to myself, “oh, that must be the teachers.” Thousands of classroom teachers, including a score from our area, were in town to highlight the state of emergency that public education is in and what could happen to our schools if we do not extend the current tax rate as the Governor has proposed. I roll into the shower, put on the suit – required attire on the floor e

very day, which is less than ideal for this central coaster -, and walk across the street to the Capitol to debate anywhere from twenty to one hundred bills a day.

Some of the bills do absolutely nothing, but express nice sentiments. Many are vital for the future of job creation, energy independence, and protection of the environment. To be a part of establishing one of the toughest energy efficiency standards in the nation; a mandate that would require 33 percent of the state’s energy to come from renewable sources is a rush for me. It is an extension of the work we started in the city of Santa Barbara by setting one of the most aggressive renewable energy programs in the state. Being a part of these efforts brings an added edge of pride to the work I do, knowing that it’s impact will benefit generations to come. It means middle-class jobs and guardianship of our environment.

But far more often, the impact I can make has to be far more subtle to be effective. My work includes suggesting amendments during committee hearings, asking the Governor or Speaker to appoint local people on important boards or delving into solutions for our budget deficit. Of course sometime it can be the wrong budget solution, like when I found out the first draft budget this year proposed eliminating 100 percent of our County's emergency room funding. So we went into overdrive that following week. Working behind the scenes and getting that overzealous cut out of the budget 2 hours before the vote.

When your life is measured in 15 minute increments of meetings and tasks, it can be a little bewildering. The hustle is intense. The tasks are often daunting, but we've balanced 64 percent of the deficit and we're not even late on the budget, yet. I guess things are getting better.

The bills we have are exciting: enabling Santa Barbara School Districts to unify and garner $6 million more each year, mapping the locations where new alternative energy is critically needed, doubling speeding fines in school zones when children are present, and promoting composting as an alternative to landfilling, which creates good jobs and helps the environment. But I don't always do it by making speeches. I observe. Listen. Ask questions and think critically. This is what it will take to get us to the way things should be, where people have good paying jobs that support a sustainable economy, where every child is afforded with the resources to reach his or her full potential, where our higher education system is our state’s economic engine.

I come back just about every week, usually Thursday nights. It's a district office day on Friday and community events on the weekend. I occasionally get a chance to surf and reflect. Above all I feel useful, and remain so honored to represent local people: our hopes, roots, and values.

Das Appointed to the California Coastal Conservancy

Assemblymember Das Williams appointed to state Coastal Conservancy Board

SACRAMENTO - Speaker of the Assembly John A Perez recently appointed Assemblymember Das Williams to the California Coastal Conservancy Board.

Mr. Williams will occupy one of six, non-voting seats held by statewide lawmakers; 3 from each the Assembly and the Senate. The appointed members provide legislative oversight to the Coastal Conservancy Board.

"The ocean has been a sacred space for me since childhood and throughout my time of public service I have fought to protect our coast, which serves as equalizer in our local society," Williams said. "The coastline that the affluent of our communities enjoy is the same that everyone, regardless of socioeconomic status should have the opportunity to enjoy."

"I'm honored that Speaker Perez recognizes my previous commitment to coastal issues and I see this appointment as an opportunity to continue that work."

The California Coastal Conservancy was established in 1976, and uses entrepreneurial techniques to purchase, protect, restore and enhance coastal resources and to provide access to the shore. The Conservancy is governed by a 7-member board of directors appointed by the Governor and State Legislature.

To date, the Conservancy has undertaken more than 1,800 projects along the 1,100 mile California coastline and around the San Francisco Bay.

Assemblymember Williams grew up along the Central Coast of California surfing the beaches of both Santa Barbara and Ventura Counties.

CONTACT: James Joyce III @ 805.483.9808

We Can Do It TOGETHER

Despite a pronounced negative campaign by Susan Jordan and her campaign, Das remains positive:

NO to Paredon

The Paredon slant drilling ballot initiative should be stopped at all costs:


Paddleout against the Paredon Project, May 1, 2010
Photo courtesy of Noozehawk

Join our FREE Email Mailing List

My Key Goals

Containing the damage to our public education and public health systems done by recent state budget cuts is at the top of my priorities. To move our state forward, we need leaders who will hold the line on basic progressive values of fairness and opportunity, and who will fight to ensure that our people have access to the best education and health care, a strong environment, and an intact public safety system.

Recognizing that our children are our future, I’ll make sure our children have all the resources and skills they need to compete for and win jobs in the global economy, and I will support efforts to reform our state’s longtime broken health care system.

I’ll also seek to rebuild our middle class by creating new jobs and pushing our state to invest in new technologies and industries. I’ll expand alternative energy and sustainable, clean ways of living and doing business, and will unite our state’s environmental and labor constituencies behind a pro-jobs agenda to ensure that California is not left behind.

As your representative in the Assembly, I’ll work for lasting change and success by looking beyond the short-term gimmicks and political expedience of cuts-only state budgets, and will push the state to find new revenue streams, such as increased tobacco taxes, oil severance, and single-use bags, as ways through our current fiscal crisis.