In place of the regular April and July quarterly meetings, the Bay Area Alliance is hosting a Regional Forum on Policy Changes Needed at the State Level to Support Smart Growth in the Bay Area. The Forum will be held on June 13 from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the Sojourner Truth Presbyterian Church, 2621 Shane Drive in Richmond.

For information, call ABAG Senior Planner Ceil Scandone at ceils@abag.ca.gov, or call 510/464-7961.

State legislators and local leaders will present their perspectives and engage in a constructive dialogue about legislative proposals currently being discussed, as well as new proposals that should be introduced. Confirmed participants include State Senators Tom Torlakson and Don Perata, Assemblymember Pat Wiggins, Resources Agency Secretary Mary Nichols, Housing and Community Development Director Julie Bornstein, Association of Bay Area Government President and Walnut Creek Mayor Pro Tem Gwen Regalia, Richmond Mayor Irma Anderson, Contra Costa County Supervisor John Gioia, and Greater Richmond Interfaith Program Executive Director Arthur Hatchett.

The Forum is co-sponsored by the California Policy Forum, a partnership of eight statewide organizations working with regional partners like the Bay Area Alliance to link citizens with policy-makers. CPF's objective is to advance dialogue about policies that support sustainable communities and address Environmental quality, Economic prosperity and social Equity.