PHILANTHROPIST AND ENVIRONMENTALIST TOM STEYER SPEAKS APRIL 5 IN LA MESA

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By Devorah Ann Fox

March 30, 2017 (La Mesa) – California philanthropist and environmentalist Tom Steyer will speak at the La Mesa – Foothills Democratic Club meeting on Wednesday, April 5 at the La Mesa Recreation Center.  A 6:30 p.m. snack and social hour will precede his 7 p.m. speech and a question and answer period.

According to his Next Generation website, Steyer “founded Advanced Energy Economy to advance policy in the clean energy sector, Next Generation, which addresses climate and family policy, and NextGen Climate Action, which acts politically on climate issues.” Steyer served as a delegate to the Democratic National Conventions in 2004 and 2008. He is also a Center for American Progress board member.

Steyer and his wife, Kat Tayor, have joined Warren Buffett’s Giving Pledge to donate the majority of their wealth to charitable and nonprofit causes during their lifetimes.

Prior to his retirement from a career in finance, Steyer founded and was the Senior Managing Member of Farallon Capital Management. He was also previously a Managing director and member of the Investment Committee at Hellman & Friedman.

Steyer has promoted health, economic development and environmental protection in California. To prevent teen smoking and fund cancer research, Steyer served as co-chair of Save Lives California. He served as chairman for “Yes on Proposition 39” in 2012, which closed a tax loophole that benefitted large out-of-state energy corporations. Proposition 39 has created jobs within the state, and has provided nearly a billion dollars for schools and clean energy projects in California, thus far. The Proposition passed by 74% in areas targeted by the Environmental Health Coalition (EHC), which was co-founded by executive director Diane Takvorian.

To defeat “Proposition 23” (which was an effort by oil companies to dismantle AB 32, California’s clean energy law) in 2010, Steyer and Secretary of State George Shultz worked in conjunction with Takvorian of EHC and the California Environmental Justice Alliance, also co-founded by Takvorian. Steyer will be introduced by Takvorian, who is a current member of California’s Air Resource Board.

Takvorian has been a leader for the cause of social and environmental justice for 30 years. The aforementioned environmental justice coalition she founded in 1980, EHC, is based in the San Diego/Tijuana area, and works to protect public health and the environment from pollution. President Obama appointed Takvorian to the Joint Public Advisory Committee for Environmental Cooperation in 2009. She received the James Irvine Foundation Leadership Award in 2008 for her “creative and inspirational leadership benefiting the people of California.”

The La Mesa – Foothills Democratic Club was just voted the Best Democratic Club in San Diego, along with the Democratic Club for Equality. The club meets the first Wednesday of each month at the La Mesa Community Center, 4975 Memorial Drive (just off University). A 6:30 pm potluck snack & social time is followed by the 7 pm meeting.

Due to the expectation of an especially large attendance for the special April 5th Tom Steyer meeting event, La Mesa-Foothills Club members in good standing are invited to arrive at 6 p.m. All others must wait until the usual meeting time of 6:30 pm to enter.

If you are not yet a member, you can gain early entrance by becoming a member for as little as $30 at the door, or join on-line in advance at the website (www.lamesafoothillsdemocraticclub). The aforementioned $30 covers Regular Membership; Silver Membership is available for $45 and Gold Membership is available for $60. Although meetings are free to all attendees, donations and food offerings for the potluck buffet are always welcome and at this special Tom Steyer meeting event on April 5th, a donation of $10 is requested.

Those with sufficient mobility are asked to park at the Little League field lot or to use street parking on Memorial Drive, and then take the stairs up to the recreational center.

 


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