The Commons, the Community

PRESS RELEASE
CONTACT: David Giesen, 415-970-9306
Henry George Historical Society
http://www.henrygeorgehistoricalsociety.org
TODAY’S DATE: July 23, 2009

IMMEDIATE RELEASE

TUESDAY AUGUST 4 TALK: “The Commons, the Community”
6-8 PM
2 SHAW ALLEY, SAN FRANCISCO



Karl Fitzgerald, Australian land policy economist, will speak on community land trusts, public ownership of utilities, and the politics and economics of land use at a free talk and nosh at the law offices of Matt Gonzalez and G. Whitney Leigh, 2 Shaw Alley, 6-8 pm on Tuesday, August 4.

With the economy staggered by ill-advised mortgages issued against boom and bust land values, and with city and state budgets in turmoil owing to the economy’s decline on account of land value corrupted mortgages, and with scarcely anyone connecting the current economic mess with land policy, Fitzgerald’s talk, entitled “The Commons, the Community,” presents the finest opportunity to explore this matter.

Fitzgerald directs the Australian non-profit think tank Earthsharing. His stop in San Francisco coincides with his attendance of an international land use conference taking place in Cleveland, Ohio the first week of August. Encrusting Fitzgerald’s featured commentary will be remarks by Matt Gonzalez, Willie Ratcliff, City Assessor Phil Ting, and a member of the SF School Board.

Poetry and in-process visual art will grace the evening too, knitting head and heart, thought and impulse together in understanding the breadth and depth of the commons. The commons is not only parks, the streets, plazas and range land, it is the ground under cities and the mineral resources of the planet. All those interested in public power, wise land use policy, significant pollution abatement, and affordable housing will find the evening’s conversation out of the ordinary and yet eminently common-sensical.

Food and drink are complimentary. For more information, visit http://www.henrygeorgehistoricalsociety.org or call 415-970-9306.