Nimish Patel, a board member of the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District (SMMUSD) since 2010, has been appointed to the Board of Directors of Heal The Bay, it was announced earlier this week.
Patel, who is a Santa Monica resident, said he was “proud to be associated with this organization and its mission” and, during his time on the board, hopes to make progress in protecting “our natural resources now and for the future generations.”
In addition to serving on the boards of Heal The Bay and SMMUSD, Patel is also the managing partner of the law firm Richardson & Patel, which is located in Westwood.
“Heal the Bay is excited to add Nimish to our board of directors,” said Heal the Bay COO Alix Hobbs. “His varied experience in the legal, governmental and educational spheres will be a real benefit as we begin our five-year strategic planning this summer.”
Among some of the issues Heal The Bay might be addressing during Patel’s tenure include potential oil drilling in Santa Monica Bay, regional funding for clean water projects throughout the Los Angeles area, and limitations imposed upon ocean-based desalination plants planned to occupy portions of the California coast.
Heal The Bay (www.healthebay.org) was founded in Santa Monica in 1985 as an environmental nonprofit organization. The group’s mission is to ensure “Southern California’s coastal waters including Santa Monica Bay, safe, healthy and clean” through the use of science, education, community action and advocacy.
In addition to Patel’s appointment, Manhattan Beach resident Don Kinsey was named Heal The Bay’s chairperson. Kinsey is the first South Bay resident to serve as chairperson.
