Locals brought a global issue to our little piece of the world just before the start of autumn.

On Sept. 21, roughly 300 people gathered for a rally at Mitchell Park and then marched through downtown San Luis Obispo to call for more action addressing climate change. The event’s organizer, Heidi Harmon, said the rally was in solidarity with a massive march in New York City that drew 400,000 people and is said to be the biggest environmentally related march in history.

“We’re really at a precipice, we’re really at a turning point with this issue,” Harmon said. “A lot of people understand it’s happening, and it’s the issue of our time.”

At the event, organizers gathered approximately 200 signatures for a pledge that calls on local elected officials to take action to reduce green house gas emissions. Harmon, a well known climate change activist in the area, is running against current 35th District Assemblymember Katcho Achadjian, with the hopes of bringing attention to what elected leaders are or aren’t doing to address the matter.

“Our intention is [sending] these to every elected official and everyone running for office in the county, and asking them what their stance is on climate change, and basically asking them if they accept the reality of man-made climate change and what actions they are willing to commit to to mitigate it,” Harmon said.

-- Melody DeMeritt - former city council member, Morro Bay