Gary Patton will speak on Climate Change and Transportation

On Tuesday June 16, 2009, at the WILPF general meeting, Gary Patton, Santa Cruz attorney with a long record of local, regional, and state public service, including 20 years on the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors, will speak on a hot topic: Global Climate Change and Transportation--What is happening , and what we can do to reduce our carbon footprint. The meeting will be held at 7 p.m. as usual at the Quaker Meeting House, 225 Rooney St., in Santa Cruz.

As a former Executive Director and General Counsel of the statewide Planning and Conservation League (2005-2008), Gary has the extensive experience to inform us about the ongoing implementation of AB 32, the landmark Global Warming Solutions Act. Signed into law in 2006, AB 32 states that “Global warming poses a serious threat to the economic well-being, public health, natural resources, and the environment of California,” making the need for effective action more and more pressing.

Given the current state of the economy, implementation of AB 32 is challenging at both the local (city and county), regional and state level. Updates on our local efforts in Santa Cruz County will be discussed at the meeting, with a focus on transportation as a component of the effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, as well as social justice concerns about the impacts of climate change. Information on how individuals can reduce their carbon footprints, as well as give political support to institutional changes that need to be made at the governmental level, will be provided......and new ideas are welcome!

Gary Patton is currently practicing law as “Of Counsel” to the Santa Cruz law firm of Wittwer and Parkin, which specializes in public agency law. Mr. Patton is also still serving as “Special Counsel” to the state Planning and Conservation League. A California native and long-time Santa Cruz resident, he has two degrees from Stanford University (B.A., J.D.). His long public service includes serving as the Executive Director of LandWatch Monterey County (1998-2005), as well as service on numerous local, regional and state public agencies. In Santa Cruz County Gary Patton was instrumental in achieving environmental protection in our community as author of an initiative measure to preserve and protect Lighthouse Field (June1974); author of Measure J, the Santa Cruz County Growth Management Referendum (June 1978); and author of Measure C, Santa Cruz County “Decade of the Environment Referendum” (June 1990).

We’re so pleased to have him speak - please join us! Free, open to all, donations always appreciated!