Listen: James Beckwith, President and CEO, Five Star Bank
Diana Poggetto, Executive Director, America River Parkway Foundation
https://www.facebook.com/ARParkway/videos/475292327596841
The American River Parkway Foundation has witnessed a rise in illegal camping on the Parkway for the past couple of years. This is causing lasting environmental damage to the soil, plant life and wildlife. There has also been a big increase in fires. Last year, more than 16% of the Parkway burned, putting a strain on firefighters, utility companies, and police. This year, we have already seen larger fires along the Parkway, including one on June 3rd that burned around 5 acres. With the ongoing drought and soil moisture at levels not usually seen until late in the summer, this could be just the beginning.
Now, the business community is getting involved, putting their names behind the “Voices of the Parkway Coalition” to rally the community, organizations and corporations around solutions that address illegal camping as well as the greater issue of homelessness in Sacramento County.
The CEO of one of the biggest local business banks is helping bring more awareness to this and working diligently to find solutions. Five Star Bank’s James Beckwith, who was just named UCP’s “Humanitarian of the Year”, along with the Executive Director of the American River Parkway Foundation, Dianna Poggetto.spoke with Kitty about the effort.
Take a look at Beckwith’s latest TV spot running on cable news and a must-watch video called “Parkway in Peril” narrated by Kellie DeMarco.