by Whitney Merrill

Jim Wunderman and Lenny Mendonca answering questions from the audience at the well-attended initial Brews and Views event. Photo: Whitney Merrill.

On the coast, residents often feel somewhat isolated and separate from the rest of California. With only a few windy roads to connect us to the peninsula, and the vast Pacific Ocean at our doorstep, the cares and worries of the world often seem less pronounced in our little “ocean slice” of the state.

However, this is a bit of an illusion, for indeed we are all impacted (and even a part of) what goes on “over the hill,”  in Sacramento, and in Washington — but perhaps in a unique way. A new monthly event seeks to bring some of those issues to the coast for discussion and engagement in what is called Brews and Views, held at the Half Moon Bay Brewing Company in Princeton-by-the-Sea.

The first event occurred on Thursday, Dec. 3, and the topic was Repair   California: fixing California through a limited constitutional convention. The event was hosted and moderated by Lenny Mendonca, the HMB Brewing Company’s founder and senior partner at McKinsey & Company. The guest speaker was Jim Wunderman, president and CEO of the Bay Area Council – the prime supporter of Repair California, which has filed two ballot measures, to be placed on the November 2010 ballot, to call this convention.

Mendonca commented that the event was inspired by his desire to create an “informal setting where people can come together for conversation,” noting that his attire (a Hawaiian shirt), the venue (the tent pavilion at the brewery) and the lubrication (the beers) were his attempt to “mix it up a bit.” It was a strong turnout, with approximately 50 people  in attendance. Wunderman provided a brief overview of the state’s political history and how the Bay Area Council came to the conclusion that a constitutional convention is the next best step for California, and then fielded questions.

Repair California’s Web site says:  “The California State Constitution is one of the oldest state constitutions still in use today. Its 130 year history has been defined by revision, amendment, and reform, dating back to its 1879 ratification. The constitution’s long life, coupled with numerous partial-reform efforts, has resulted in what is today the world’s third longest constitution. With 512 amendments, the Constitution of California is eight times the length of the U.S. Constitution and has been criticized as ‘a perfect example of what a constitution ought not to be’ and derided for being ‘more about legal technicalities than principles; an embarrassment for an otherwise cutting-edge state.’”

Wunderman’s comments were focused on the goal of real substantive reform in the face of a dysfunctional system weighted towards special interests. He said, “We cannot be effective with the current legislative system.” His message was informational, inspiring and carried a populist “pub” tone — very refreshing for a discussion of politics!

The next Brews and Views will be held on Thursday, Jan. 7, and the topic will be Education: pre-K through 12th grade in California, “the challenge and opportunities for improving our schools in the current economic and budget environment,” with the guest speaker Ted Lempert. A third event is planned for the first Thursday of February, with more to follow. As Mendonca concluded the night, “I hope that you enjoyed the beginning of ‘revolution in conversation’ this evening!”

On the Web:

www.hmbbrewingco.com/events/brews&views.php