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Greenbelt Newswire
Your Five-Minute News Flash
Greenbelt Alliance
Volume 5, Issue 11: November-December 2006

	Volunteer of the Month: Kendra Froshman

Volunteer of the Month: Kendra Froshman

To understand a city and its growth, you have to meet and talk with its people. Doing that takes energy, friendliness, and a real interest in good urban planning. Those qualities are just what Kendra Froshman has brought to Greenbelt Alliance.

Kendra, a California native, is Greenbelt Alliance’s Inclusionary Housing intern. Kendra has been recruiting volunteers, tabling at farmers’ markets, and reaching out to churches and other potential partners as part of our Vallejo inclusionary housing campaign. Through Kendra’s work we are talking to more people than ever before and building a strong voice of support for more affordable homes in Vallejo and throughout the region. (Find out more about the upcoming Vallejo Open House below.)

Thank you, Kendra, for focusing your energy and talent on making the Bay Area a better place!

Election Results: Good News on Many Levels

In this election, Greenbelt Alliance worked on more initiatives than ever before, taking positions on measures at levels from cities to the state. Although not everything went our way, there was a lot of good news for those who care about growth and the environment.

The biggest news is that Prop 90 was defeated. To everyone who voted no, and who helped to get the word out about Prop 90—thank you. You helped ensure that we can continue to move forward, not backward, in making our state and our region a better, healthier, safer place to live.

Other good news at the state level included the passage of Prop 84, funding clean water and land conservation efforts throughout the state, and the passage of Prop 1C to continue funding affordable housing.

Here in the Bay Area, election victories included:

• The passage of Napa Measure I, creating a brand new Park District.
• The overwhelming victory of Sonoma Measure F, to renew funding for the Open Space District.
• The passage of Contra Costa’s Urban Limit Line, which will control growth and will require a vote of the people for any change to the line.
• Morgan Hill’s passage of a measure to build more homes downtown.
• Pacifica’s defeat of a proposed luxury development on coastal wetlands.

Measures that didn't pass included:

• Solano's Orderly Growth Initiative, which will certainly go before voters again to renew this important land protection measure before it expires in 2010.
• Santa Clara’s Measure A, which would have strengthened protections for farmlands, hillsides, and streams.
• Measure R in Sonoma and Marin Counties, which would have created the SMART rail line. It narrowly missed the two-thirds vote it needed, and local supporters are already planning the next attempt.

Back at the state level, the passage of the infrastructure bonds offers an opportunity—and a threat. The new funds could go toward investing in good development near transit in center cities—or could be used as an excuse to widen freeways and pave floodplains and farmland. Greenbelt Alliance will be a vocal advocate for using the new funds to encourage better growth instead of sprawl.

Overall, the election’s results were very good for Bay Area open space and for environmental protection throughout the state. Thanks to everyone who helped with the campaigns—you helped create an outcome we can all celebrate!

Announcement: Go Greenbelt! 2007 – Will This Be Your Year to Ride?

The 19th annual Go Greenbelt!, Greenbelt Alliance's Bay Area bike tour, will be in June. It's a whole new time for the ride and will be a great season for it: enjoy the pleasant weather, with plenty of time to train in the spring!

Dates: Sunday June 3 – Saturday June 9, 2007.

Early Registration: Register by January 15 and save $50 off your fundraising minimum!

Fundraising and Prizes: Riders must raise a minimum of $1,000 each. The funds raised support Greenbelt Alliance’s work to protect local open space and make the Bay Area’s cities more livable. Riders raising more than the minimum qualify for great prizes, like airline tickets, bicycles, local wines, and dinners at the Bay Area’s best restaurants.

For more information, visit www.gogreenbelt.org. Sign up today!

Alert: Concord Land at Risk

A community planning effort is already underway for the 5,100-acre Concord Naval Weapons Station, but the US Navy just announced that it is now contemplating trading the base to a private company, instead of waiting for the City to complete its planning process.

Doing this would be an end-run around the public process that has already begun to decide the future of this enormous area.

Take Action!
Contact Congressman George Miller and thank him for supporting the city’s right to plan how development will occur on the base before it is sold – send an email or call (925) 602-1880.

Event: Creating Housing Choices Open House, Nov 18

This Saturday, join Greenbelt Alliance and the Solano Housing Coalition in Vallejo to talk about how to create homes that more people can afford.

When:     11:00 am – 2:00 pm, Saturday, November 18, 2006
Where:    336 Georgia St., downtown Vallejo (right by the farmers’ market)
  
The lack of affordable homes in Vallejo is creating development pressure on surrounding farmlands and open space, and requiring people to make long commutes on congested freeways. This open house will be an opportunity to learn about Vallejo’s affordable housing crisis and what city officials and residents can do about it.

Event: Environmental Preview of Marin’s Countywide Plan, Nov 30

When:     7:00 – 9:00 pm, Thursday, November 30, 2006
Where:    San Rafael Corporate Center, Tamalpais Room
               750 Lindaro St., San Rafael

Join local environmental groups in Marin for a sneak preview of the biggest issues in the upcoming Countywide Plan, the blueprint for the county’s future. This presentation will go over how the County can improve its approach to preserving farmland, protecting creeks and wetlands, and saving energy, to create a more sustainable future.

Alert: Act Now to Protect Santa Clara's Farmland

Speak up for farmland protection in Santa Clara County! The Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO) will be meeting on December 13 to decide on an agricultural mitigation policy for the county. This will determine what happens when farmland is converted to non-agricultural uses. Greenbelt Alliance is strongly advocating for at least one acre to be preserved for every acre developed.

Take Action!
Write a letter to urge LAFCO to adopt a policy that requires at least one acre of farmland to be preserved for every acre converted. We will present LAFCO with letters at the meeting – please fax your letter to (408) 983-1001 or mail it to Greenbelt Alliance, 1922 The Alameda #213, San Jose, CA 94596. Please get your letters to us by December 11.

Upcoming Outings & Events

Sun Nov. 19: Diablo Double
Fri Nov. 24: Yoga in the Greenbelt - Member Outing! Reservations needed.
Sun Dec 17: Best of Berkeley

Become a Member or Renew Your Membership

Support Greenbelt Alliance's work to protect the Bay Area's open space and make its cities better places to live. Join or renew now, or join the Greenbelt Guardian monthly donor club.

Questions? Contact Brianna Swartz by email or call (415) 543-6771.

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