News
ENLARGE
Nevada City's Reinette Senum is a power player for local sustainability efforts — although her role is largely indirect due to possible conflicts of interest as a city councilwoman.
As Senum steps into the mostly ceremonial role of mayor — she'll be sworn in Wednesday, July 8 — her efforts to shape Nevada City into a model of sustainability are bearing some fruit.
The Alliance for a Post-Petroleum Local Economy's Sustainability Center is an offshoot from the Community Congress, which Senum spearheaded in December 2008. She also championed the Nevada City Farmer's Market with Mountain Bounty Farm's Angie Tomey, co-founded PowerUp-NC and is on the city-sanctioned Energy Solutions Task Force.
When needed, she's been a lending hand to many in the community.
“Mostly, what she's so good at is, she's a volunteer,” said Mali Dyck, executive director of the APPLE Center and marketing manager for Nevada City's Farmer's Market. “She just puts her energy behind whatever she can to help her community. She's very well-connected in the community which makes starting something new so feasible.”
Senum has ventured through many professions before becoming a city council member last year. She did odd jobs, painted houses, studied film in Los Angeles, was a commercial fisher, a nanny and the head of development for a film company.
Nowadays, her focus is on her passion: sustainability.
“I feel it's really, really important,” said Senum, who was an original board member of APPLE.
Balancing act
Working on sustainability and being a councilwoman forces Senum to live her life more simply.
She doesn't get paid for her position on the council. She has no health insurance, carries no cell phone, and she rarely travels, goes shopping or goes out to dinner.
Her one frill is a Netflix subscription.
“I live way below the poverty level,” Senum said. “The reason I made that choice is it would allow me to do the things I want to do without the salary I need to do it.”
She wants to help others in the community launch programs and businesses that will help Nevada City become more sustainable — and a model for simpler living throughout the region.
“You should always leave a place better than you found it,” she said.
Senum's new role as mayor will require she balance the needs of the city with her passion for sustainability.
“In many ways, the mayor hat is token,” she said. “But in some ways, you do speak for the council and City Hall. Once I'm mayor, I am not speaking for myself.
“The key element I can bring to the council is, what is our vision?” Senum said. “Once you have a vision, you can hold your public officials accountable to it.”
To contact Staff Writer Zuri Berry, e-mail zberry@theunion.com or call (530) 477-4244.
As Senum steps into the mostly ceremonial role of mayor — she'll be sworn in Wednesday, July 8 — her efforts to shape Nevada City into a model of sustainability are bearing some fruit.
The Alliance for a Post-Petroleum Local Economy's Sustainability Center is an offshoot from the Community Congress, which Senum spearheaded in December 2008. She also championed the Nevada City Farmer's Market with Mountain Bounty Farm's Angie Tomey, co-founded PowerUp-NC and is on the city-sanctioned Energy Solutions Task Force.
When needed, she's been a lending hand to many in the community.
“Mostly, what she's so good at is, she's a volunteer,” said Mali Dyck, executive director of the APPLE Center and marketing manager for Nevada City's Farmer's Market. “She just puts her energy behind whatever she can to help her community. She's very well-connected in the community which makes starting something new so feasible.”
Senum has ventured through many professions before becoming a city council member last year. She did odd jobs, painted houses, studied film in Los Angeles, was a commercial fisher, a nanny and the head of development for a film company.
Nowadays, her focus is on her passion: sustainability.
“I feel it's really, really important,” said Senum, who was an original board member of APPLE.
Balancing act
Working on sustainability and being a councilwoman forces Senum to live her life more simply.
She doesn't get paid for her position on the council. She has no health insurance, carries no cell phone, and she rarely travels, goes shopping or goes out to dinner.
Her one frill is a Netflix subscription.
“I live way below the poverty level,” Senum said. “The reason I made that choice is it would allow me to do the things I want to do without the salary I need to do it.”
She wants to help others in the community launch programs and businesses that will help Nevada City become more sustainable — and a model for simpler living throughout the region.
“You should always leave a place better than you found it,” she said.
Senum's new role as mayor will require she balance the needs of the city with her passion for sustainability.
“In many ways, the mayor hat is token,” she said. “But in some ways, you do speak for the council and City Hall. Once I'm mayor, I am not speaking for myself.
“The key element I can bring to the council is, what is our vision?” Senum said. “Once you have a vision, you can hold your public officials accountable to it.”
To contact Staff Writer Zuri Berry, e-mail zberry@theunion.com or call (530) 477-4244.
