“Don’t ignore what’s happening at the local level, especially if you have a policy that you think might be effective. A lot of times local governments are a way to pilot, to really be an incubator for these great ideas, especially on the environmental front.”
Background
Ash Kalra is the State Assembly member for California’s 27th District representing East San José. He champions environmental protection and has authored many bills serving this purpose, including the current SB 260 (Climate Corporate Accountability Act) and AB 416 (California Deforestation-Free Procurement Act). He previously served on the San José City Council for eight years and was a Deputy Public Defender for Santa Clara County for 11 years.