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Water, Energy, & Environment Task Force
Please join the East Bay Leadership Council for an insightful conversation on California Senate and Assembly environmental bills as well as updates on environmental funding in the recently adopted state budget. We will be joined by the Chief Consultant for the Assembly Water, Parks, and Wildlife Committee as well as two experts from the Legislative Analyst's Office. This is a unique opportunity to learn about how the state is prioritizing environmental protection, climate resilience, and natural resource management through recent legislation and budget allocations.
OUR SPEAKERS
Pablo Garza is the chief consultant for the Committee on Water, Parks, and Wildlife in the State Assembly. In this role, he oversees the analysis of legislation in the committee’s jurisdiction, works to identify relevant policy issues for further investigation through informational/oversight hearings, and advises the committee chair on policy issues related to the committee’s jurisdiction. He has more than 20 years’ experience working in and around the California State Legislature. Prior to becoming the chief consultant, he advocated on natural resource and water policy issues on behalf of the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) as political director for its California Ecosystems Program. He holds a B.A. in English from UC Davis and an M.A. in Latin American studies from UCLA.
Helen Kerstein is a Principal Fiscal & Policy Analyst at the Legislative Analyst’s Office, where she specializes in air quality, energy and electricity, climate change mitigation, and high‑speed rail. She leads the office’s budget analysis in critical areas including the California Energy Commission, the Department of Water Resources, the Air Resources Board, and the Public Utilities Commission. She holds a Master of Public Policy from the University of California, Los Angeles, and a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Pomona College.
Rachel Ehlers is a Deputy Legislative Analyst in the environment and transportation division at the Legislative Analyst’s Office, where she helps lead the office’s analysis across environmental and transportation issues. She currently focuses on policy areas including water, wildlife and conservation, the Delta, coastal issues, and climate change adaptation. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Harvard University.
Date and Time
Tuesday Aug 19, 2025
8:30 AM - 10:00 AM PDT
Location
Zoom Meeting
Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88225090414?pwd=ApqpANmaubioBFif0fKmhzbNnvyskA.1
Meeting ID: 882 2509 0414
Passcode: 816523
Contact Information
Meg Stern, Policy Director
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