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• CoCoTax Lunch, January 23: Contra Costa Governments Spend Big

  • When
    23 Jan 2026
  •  
    11:45 AM - 1:10 PM
  • Location
    DENNY'S, 1313 Willow Pass Road, Concord, CA
  • Spaces left
    20

  Register

  COCOTAX INVITATION TO ATTEND A BOARD/MEMBERS LUNCH MEETING FRIDAY January 23, 2026 at 11:45am

  The Contra Costa Taxpayers Association (CoCoTax) invites you to attend a LUNCHEON Board /Members Meeting at Denny’s Restaurant 1313 Willow Pass Road, Concord, on Friday, January 23, 2026 at 11:45 am. Please register in advance on the CoCoTax website where you can pay ONLINE, or bring cash or check on Friday and pay at the door-$25 for members, $30 for guests.

  ABOUT OUR TOPIC

  In 2024, governments across Contra Costa County took in $13 billion. Did residents get $13 billion in value for that money?

  Marc and his team collected and analyzed financial reports from governments around California. The results of this analysis are here: https://californiapolicycenter.org/reports/california-public-sector-revenue-and-debt-study/

  In this talk, Marc will discuss findings specific to Contra Costa and add more details. As governments ramp up for 2026 tax hikes and bonds, it is crucial to know whether they really need any more money.

  ABOUT OUR SPEAKER

  Walnut Creek resident Marc Joffe is President of the Contra Costa Taxpayers Association and a California Policy Center visiting fellow.

  After a long career in the financial industry, including a senior director role at Moody’s Analytics, he transitioned to policy research at CPC and Reason Foundation. Joffe’s research focuses on government finance and state policy issues.

  Marc earned an MBA from New York University and an MPA from San Francisco State University.

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• CoCoTax Lunch, February 27: Get the Full Story on Marin Clean Energy

  • When
    27 Feb 2026
  •  
    11:45 AM - 1:10 PM
  • Location
    DENNY'S, 1313 Willow Pass Road, Concord, CA
  • Spaces left
    43

  Register

  COCOTAX INVITATION TO ATTEND A BOARD/MEMBERS LUNCH MEETING FRIDAY February 27, 2026 at 11:45am

  The Contra Costa Taxpayers Association (CoCoTax) invites you to attend a LUNCHEON Board /Members Meeting at Denny’s Restaurant 1313 Willow Pass Road, Concord, on Friday, February 27, 2026 at 11:45 am. Please register in advance on the CoCoTax website where you can pay ONLINE, or bring cash or check on Friday and pay at the door-$25 for members, $30 for guests.

  ABOUT OUR TOPIC

  MCE is a not-for-profit public energy provider serving customers in Contra Costa County since 2013. Today 16 of the 20 jurisdictions in the county have voted to join in order to offer MCE service as a choice to their constituents. MCE provides renewable electricity and local programs to more than 340,000 electric customers in Contra Costa. 

  Over MCE’s first 15 years of service, there have been a number of opportunities and challenges across the energy landscape. MCE’s CEO, Dawn Weisz, will be speaking about some of the recent market challenges that are impacting customer costs, the work MCE is doing to address them, and how MCE has invested in Contra Costa County. 

  ABOUT OUR SPEAKER

  Dawn Weisz is the CEO of MCE, and she led its launch in 2010 as the first Community Choice Aggregation program in California. Under her watch MCE has grown service to over 600,000 customers in 38 communities and 4 counties, added over 1000 megawatts in new renewable power supply for California while keeping rates stable, and built community resilience through wide-ranging, equity-focused programs. She led MCE to reach 95% GHG-free supply 13 years ahead of state mandates while growing local energy and equity programs, including $80 million in customer bill savings. Dawn also led the formation of the California Community Choice Association (CalCCA) which has grown to include 23 member CCAs, serving 15 million customers in 200 communities, and she remains in service on the Board. 

  Dawn has more than 30 years of experience developing and managing renewable energy and energy efficiency programs while working for leading public agencies in the field. Before joining MCE, she managed energy and sustainability initiatives for the County of Marin, served as the Executive Director for Sustainable North Bay, and was a labor and environmental justice organizer in Los Angeles. 

  Ms. Weisz is a frequent guest lecturer at universities and conferences, and for energy and planning organizations. She has received awards from Federal and local energy and environmental organizations. She also serves on the Board of the Power Association of California. 

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• CoCoTax Lunch, March 27: When Public Schools Stray from Education

  • When
    27 Mar 2026
  •  
    11:45 AM - 1:10 PM
  • Location
    DENNY'S, 1313 Willow Pass Road, Concord, CA
  • Spaces left
    46

  Register

  COCOTAX INVITATION TO ATTEND A BOARD/MEMBERS LUNCH MEETING FRIDAY March 27, 2026 at 11:45am

  The Contra Costa Taxpayers Association (CoCoTax) invites you to attend a LUNCHEON Board /Members Meeting at Denny’s Restaurant 1313 Willow Pass Road, Concord, on Friday, March 27, 2026 at 11:45 am. Please register in advance on the CoCoTax website where you can pay ONLINE, or bring cash or check on Friday and pay at the door-$25 for members, $30 for guests.

  ABOUT OUR TOPIC

  Coming out of the pandemic, K-12 educational performance locally and across California remains below 2019 levels. Yet Mt, Diablo Unified and other school districts invest substantial effort into non-educational priorities. These include surveying and counseling young children on gender identity and sexual orientation. Worse, school districts often keep parents in the dark about what their children are saying and what advice they are being given.

  Mt. Diablo Unified parent Laura Powell has written extensively about these issues and recently provided testimony to a House Subcommittee on them. Laura's interaction with the pubic school system regarding COVID and "mental health" surveys has impacted her thoughts about politics more generally. 

  ABOUT OUR SPEAKER

  Laura Powell is the founder of Californians for Good Governance, a nonpartisan group dedicated to protecting civil liberties and promoting government accountability in California. She has regularly submitted position letters to legislative committees on bills affecting constitutional rights and governance of behalf of the organization, as well as publishing open letters on issues such as parental rights and racial discrimination. She frequently speaks on legal and policy issues in the media and before the California Legislature, and she writes on a range of topics, including both commentary and investigative reporting as a citizen journalist.

  Mrs. Powell’s successes as an attorney of more than 20 years include obtaining a preliminary injunction blocking a California law that violated physicians’ free speech and due process rights, forcing the law’s repeal. Previously, she served as a public defender and appellate defender, handling numerous jury trials and complex appellate cases. She also has experience in international human rights advocacy.

  Mrs. Powell earned her Juris Doctor from New York University School of Law and her Bachelor of Arts in Latin American Studies from the University of California, Berkeley. A graduate of Oakland public schools, she is the parent of two children currently enrolled in public schools in Mt. Diablo Unified.

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