FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

October 23, 2016

Contact: (650) 208-8819

Marc Berman for State Assembly Campaign Denounces Misleading Attacks

State Assembly candidate and Palo Alto City Councilmember Marc Berman’s opponent recently unveiled a deliberately misleading attack ad designed to question Berman’s commitment to the environment, despite having been informed of the facts beforehand.

The Facts

Roplast Industries was co-founded by Berman’s father and provides over 150 jobs producing environmentally responsible reusable plastic bags in California. The company has never produced single-use bags and stood up to the plastics industry to support Proposition 67 on the November ballot, working with environmental groups like Californians Against Waste. Despite never having had active involvement in the company, Berman recused himself from the City Council vote out of an abundance of caution. Berman strongly supported the ordinance to ban plastic bags but didn’t want to raise ethical questions due to his family’s reusable bag company.  

“Our opponent’s efforts to mislead the public and distort Marc Berman’s record of standing up for environmental protection are a last ditch effort to boost her campaign, just as voters are casting their ballots,” said Co-Campaign Manager Jeff Cardenas. “Marc is the only candidate running for the 24th Assembly District with a proven track record of protecting the environment at the local level and a comprehensive plan for what can be done statewide.”

Background

On the Palo Alto City Council, Berman worked with Palo Alto’s environmental and faith-based communities and led the effort to pass a resolution requesting that CalPERS divest from fossil fuel companies. Berman also voted to approve a Carbon Neutral Electric Resource Plan, committing Palo Alto to using 100% carbon neutral electricity. During Berman’s time on the City Council, Palo Alto has moved aggressively to approve large solar power purchase agreements at very good rates, and the city is on track to achieve a 57% Renewable Portfolio Standard by 2017, at rates that will be cheaper than PG&E (the electricity provider to most of the cities in the 24th Assembly District).

After voting to remove carbon from Palo Alto’s electricity portfolio, Berman is leading the effort to encourage residents to transition away from natural gas appliances toward those powered by the city’s clean energy. Prior to his election to the City Council, Berman served on the Citizen Oversight Committee for the Clean Safe Creeks and Natural Flood Protection Plan of the Santa Clara Valley Water District.

Berman’s comprehensive plan to protect California’s environment includes:

• Reducing petroleum use by 50% by 2030.

• Implementing the recommendations of the Parks Forward Initiative to better manage our parks, make them more accessible, and ensure they protect our vital resources.

• Fully funding the $1.5 billion it will cost to restore 54,000 acres of wetlands around the bay.

• Installing a statewide network of electric vehicle charging stations.

• Solidifying early progress toward smart growth in policy to help build more walkable communities, mixed use development, and 21st century mobility solutions to reduce air pollution.

• Developing and implementing cheaper, quicker, and more efficient ways to conserve water while simultaneously offering long-term solutions to Southern California cities and Central Valley farmers.

More information about Berman’s strong record of environmental protection and his extensive policy proposals can be found at www.voteberman.com/issues.

The 24th Assembly District consists of the cities of Palo Alto, East Palo Alto, Los Altos, Los Altos Hills, Mountain View, Sunnyvale, Woodside, Portola Valley, Atherton, Menlo Park, Half Moon Bay and portions of Cupertino and the San Mateo County Coast.

For more information about Marc Berman, please visit www.VoteBerman.com.

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