By Roy L Hales

After 23 years of attempting to bring about change on the state and national levels, Daphne Wysham came to the conclusion that the last bastion of hope in the fight against the fossil fuel industry was at the local level. America’s mayors and city councils are much more accountable for health and safety of their constituents. She focused her attention on the Pacific Northwest, where there are currently 27 proposed coal, oil and gas by rail projects. This initially brought her into conflict with Portland Mayor Charles Hales, who subsequently became an apostle for cities transitioning to a fossil fuel free economy.