GrassRoots Institute of Mendocino County

03/19/2026

The Grass Roots Institute Climate Crisis Working Group (GRI), is supporting 4 recent bills in the California Assembly. Please see all of our recent posts about each of them!

One Assembly bill we are supporting is AB 1984. It will allow the state of California to regulate what corporations can and cannot do, and it will prevent corporations from donating money into political campaigns for candidates and ballot propositions. This would also affect non-profit corporations and unions, so the first version may get amended so it won't negatively affect them.

Here's a lot more info on our website:

Help us cut the venomous web connecting Corporate Money Power to US Political Power. We need to slice the venomous monster of corruption out of the picture. 

03/19/2026

The Grass Roots Institute Climate Crisis Working Group (GRI), is supporting 4 recent bills in the California Assembly. Please see all of our recent posts about each of them!

These two Assembly Bills relate to Solar power in CA. They are supported by the Solar Rights Alliance. AB 2389 would extend the property tax exemption for people who have solar panels on their homes.

https://solarrights.org/solar-property-tax-1/

And AB 868 is referred to as Balcony Solar. This would allow Californians to place portable solar panels in their yard or on their balcony. This could especially help renters in houses and apartments who can't install permanent solar panels on their rented home or apartment.

https://solarrights.org/plug-in-1/

Tell your state reps to stop the Solar Property Tax and support AB 2389

03/19/2026

The Grass Roots Institute Climate Crisis Working Group (GRI), is supporting 4 recent bills in the California Assembly. Please see all of our recent posts about each of them!

The first one is AB 2494 and if passed, will change the management objectives and logging practices of (Jackson State Demonstration Forest), and the other smaller CA State Forests. The time is up for public comment on this bill, but here is a message from our Mendocino County Supervisor, Ted Williams.

Supervisor Williams asked me (Peter McNamee) to pass this message to you to share with GRI supporters:

"Supervisor Ted Williams supports action by Mendocino County to formally support Assembly member Chris Rogers's AB 2494 to modernize the operations of the demonstration state forest system to be head under "Legislative Platform" agenda item at the Board of Supervisor March 24 meeting. The agenda with zoom/phone details should be published by Thursday evening, March 19. Public comment is encouraged."

Here is a link to the County Board of Supervisor Agenda Portal:

12/22/2025

Happy Holidays to our GRI friends!

10/14/2025

From our friends at League of Women Voters of Mendocino County:
An informational meeting about Proposition 50, passed by the state legislature and signed into law by Governor Newsom and which would make temporary changes to congressional districts prior to the 2026 midterm elections, will be held via Zoom, on Tuesday, October 14, from 6-7:30 pm.

League Board members will cover the reasons for the measure, details on how it would be implemented, who supports and opposes it, and what the changes would mean for Mendocino County. There will be time for questions, and the meeting will be recorded for later access.

The link for the Zoom meeting can be found here:https://www.google.com/url?q=https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88668704998?pwd%3DQVIraHVmaXBSSkljamNERGNMWW5qdz09&sa=D&source=calendar&usd=2&usg=AOvVaw39WwO2EsShfe1x0GwrBnyc

This will be an all mail-in ballot election; ballots will be sent to all registered voters on October 6; however one may still register until October 20. After that, it is still possible to vote a provisional ballot up until election day, November 4.

07/12/2025

The GrassRoots Institute Mendocino Vision Workgroup will host its next bimonthly coastal land use and management zoom on Thursday, July 17th from 3 pm to 5 pm.

Among the topics for public comment:

Funded thru grants from the California Coastal Commission, the Cities of Point Arena, Fort Bragg and the County of Mendocino are currently updating Local Coastal Programs (LCP) for permitting and land use regulation. As part of that effort, the cities and the county are conducting studies of land use, transportation, water, archaeological sites, coastal biology, climate & sea level impacts, etc.
The City of Fort Bragg is negotiating with Mendocino Railway to develop expansive new train facilities as well as hundreds of new visitor accommodations, housing units and commercial buildings on the city’s headlands.
Additionally, the County has undertaken a drought resilience study and the Mendocino Council of Governments a coastal roads assessment and a multimodal study of Noyo Harbor.
State Parks And CalTrans have on-going projects to assess and plan for impacts from climate change, sea level rise and other issues impacting their missions.
HERE, a local community group, is undertaking a program to educate the public about toxic contamination on the Fort Bragg headlands funded by a grant from the Department of Toxic Substance Control.

All of these assessments and management initiatives have some public input component. The Mendocino Vision Workgroup holds these bimonthly zoom session to facilitate public engagement in initiatives impacting the coastal zone in Mendocino County. The Workgroup asks agencies and organizations undertaking such initiatives to make presentations updating the public on the status of their efforts.

If you have questions and want to contact me for more information, call, text or email:

Peter McNamee

Mendocino County Vision Workgroup

[email protected]

[email protected]

Text or call: 916-801-3328

Here is the zoom access information for the July meeting:

The GrassRoots Institute’s Mendocino County Vision Workgroup invites you to a Zoom meeting from 3 pm to 5 pm on Thursday, July 17, 2025.

Join Zoom Meeting

https://us06web.zoom.us/j/84938709434?pwd=CsN2vrBU4ngVeDG8UewwtR2PxZMcL3.1

Meeting ID: 849 3870 9434

Passcode: 289767

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One tap mobile

+16694449171,,84938709434 #,,,,*289767 # US

06/25/2025

In this time of planetary peril, join GRI’s final two People Power workshops. We will discuss how we can move beyond the failure of the nation state system to solve our most endemic global problems including big-tech bros’ attack on democracy, the climate crisis, perennial war, and tyranny of the oligarchy.
The first workshop on June 28 will look at the multiple ways elites wielding money power are destroying the institutions vital to our existence.
It will feature:
• 5000 year Violence/Money/Democracy Power Timeline;
• History of Corporate Empire;
• Trade Agreements as Power;
• Stupidity of War;
• Military - Industrial Complex;
• Corporate/Pentagon Revolving Door;
• Sovereign Enclaves of the Rich.

The second workshop on July12 will look at viable solutions
for these cataclysmic times by:
• Expanding the Global Social Solidarity Economy Network;
• Replacing hierarchical domination with partnership collaborations;
• Establishing Peace In Our Time through Peace Literacy;
• Adopting Emory Reeves Anatomy of Peace;
• Developing Earth Consciousness in the Age of Aquarius.

The workshops begin at 9 AM. You can participate in each two-hour workshop in person in Room 114 of the Mendocino College Coast Center or by Zoom. For Zoom links and more information, email [email protected]

05/12/2025

The GrassRoots Institute Mendocino Vision Workgroup is hosting a coastal land use zoom on Thursday, May 15th, 3 pm to 5 pm. We invite you to participate in the discussion regarding Mendocino County’s coastal zone.

The Agenda:

Coastal Commission regional staff will make a presentation on the Coastal Act, the mission and authority of the California Coastal Commission, and the relationship between the Commission and local coastal cities & counties. Additionally, Surfrider (a statewide education and advocacy nonprofit) will also make a short presentation on its efforts to raise public awareness and support for the Coastal Act as a major tool for conservation and public access to coastal areas.

Point Arena, Fort Bragg and the County of Mendocino are currently updating their Local Coastal Programs for planning and coastal land use management, funded by grants from the California Coastal Commission. As part of that effort the cities and the county have hired consultants to conduct a number of studies of land use, transportation, water, archaeological sites, coastal biology, climate & sea level impacts, etc. Julia Krog, County Director of Planning & Building Services will provide an update on progress of the county Local Coastal Program Update. Sara McCormick (City of Fort Bragg) and Marie Jones (Planning Consultant for Fort Bragg & Point Arena) will provide updates on the County’s coastal cities efforts to update their land use and permitting regulations.

Additionally, the Mendocino Council of Governments is undertaking a coastal roads study and a study of Noyo Harbor. State Parks And CalTrans have on-going projects to assess and plan for impacts from climate change and sea level rise.

We will also have a brief presentation from the Caspar Community Center Board President Ariana Bayer, regarding efforts of the residents of Caspar to explore needed changes to the Local Coastal Program to further Caspar’s future needs.

The GrassRoots Institute’s Mendocino Vision Workgroup holds bimonthly zoom session to facilitate public engagement in the work of all the agencies/organizations involved in initiatives impacting the coastal zone in Mendocino County.

Following the presentations by agencies and organizations, the meeting will be opened up for questions and discussion by all participants. Please share this announcement and invitation to anyone you know that maybe interested. Everyone is welcome!

If you have questions or want more information, call, text or email me at:

Peter McNamee, facilitator

GrassRoots Institute’s

Mendocino County Vision Workgroup

[email protected]

[email protected]

Text or call: 916-801-3328

Here is the zoom access information for the Thursday, May 15th 3pm to 5pm session:

https://us06web.zoom.us/j/89123651393?pwd=sOfjGbqhpkjfb4m1Twb0Nw4XjtCaU2.1

Meeting ID: 891 2365 1393

Passcode: 943552

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One tap mobile

+16699006833,,89123651393 #,,,,*943552 # US (San Jose)

+16694449171,,89123651393 #,,,,*943552 # US

04/27/2025

Amazing turnout today for our Town Hall: Assemblymember Chris Rogers at the Caspar Community Center!
We are always happy to promote democracy and nurture the relationships between constituents and our elected officials. Thank you to Assemblymember Chris Rogers for coming to our community and doing all that you do.
A special thank you to our volunteers for helping make this event happen!

04/03/2025

🌊 Join us for a Town Hall discussion with Assemblymember Chris Rogers on April 27th, 2025, from noon to 2 PM at the Caspar Community Center! 🏛️

This is a fantastic opportunity to hear about the current legislative session and share your questions, thoughts, and concerns with Assemblyman Rogers. 💬

Co-hosted by the GrassRoots Institute and the League of Women Voters of Mendocino County, we encourage everyone in the community to come out, participate, and engage in a lively exchange of ideas! Your voice matters!

Don't miss out! See you there! 🌟

03/29/2025

You are invited to join the GRI's newest workgroup, the Pro-Democracy Work Group, which was formed to promote democratic institutions at the local level.

Our upcoming meeting on March 30th will involve defining the group's goals and strategies. You are invited to participate in our discussion.

The group will meet alternating Sundays from 3-5 via Zoom.
Email [email protected] for details.

Join the meeting on Sunday March 30 via zoom:
Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88689336867
password: gri