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Greenbelt Newswire
Your Five Minute News Flash
Greenbelt Alliance * Volume 5, Issue 10 : October 2006

	Volunteer of the Month: Steven Huang

In this edition

Volunteer of the Month: Steven Huang
Event: Bluegrass for the Greenbelt, October 15
Alert: Critical Measures on November Ballot
Action Alert: Call Voters to Protect Open Space
Action Alert: Prop 90 Would Cost Billions
Event: Success in Contra Costa County!
Upcoming Outings & Events

Volunteer of the Month: Steven Huang

Steven comes to Greenbelt Alliance with an extensive background in environmental planning. As a certified planner and project manager for EDAW, an environmental consulting firm, he prepared environmental impact reports and statements for projects throughout California. Steven is currently an MBA candidate at Haas School of Business, UC Berkeley.

Over the past six months, Steven has been tremendously helpful in looking at ways to use Web 2.0 technologies to enhance Greenbelt Alliance’s web presence. Thank you, Steven!

Event: Bluegrass for the Greenbelt, October 15

This Sunday , join Greenbelt Alliance for the first-ever Bluegrass for the Greenbelt benefit concert! In a small outdoor amphitheatre, you'll be up close to Grammy-winning artist Laurie Lewis and other local bluegrass bands.

We’ll have a mini-farmer’s market with organic hot dogs and other snacks, as well as local beer and wine to enjoy while you sit underneath the redwoods.
Get your tickets today!

When: Sunday, October 15, 3:00 – 6:00 pm
Where: Coventry Grove, Kensington

Tickets are $50 for Greenbelt Alliance members and $65 for non-members. Sponsors at higher levels receive an array of additional benefits.
 
Learn more about the event at BluegrassForTheGreenbelt.org.

Alert: Critical Measures on November Ballot

The election is less than a month away! There are several important measures on the ballot this November, and if you care about open space protection and livable communities, you’ll be interested in Greenbelt Alliance’s endorsements. For more information, see our print newsletter, out soon.

In these final weeks before the election, please consider a donation to Greenbelt Alliance’s Initiative Fund. Select “Donation For: GA Initiative Fund”
These donations are for ballot campaigns and are not tax-deductible.

State-wide:
NO on 90 – Protect communities’ ability to plan for the future and protect California’s environment, and prevent lawsuits that will cost taxpayers billions.

YES on 84 – Support more than $5 billion in funding to protect water quality and preserve natural areas throughout the state.

YES on 1C – Continue funding for much-needed affordable homes and good development near transit.

Marin and Sonoma Counties:
YES on R – Create more transportation options in the North Bay with a 1/4-cent sales tax to fund Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit (SMART), the new rail line.

Sonoma County:
YES on F – Protect spectacular landscapes by renewing a 1/4-cent sales tax for the Sonoma Agricultural Preservation and Open Space District.

Phonebank for Measure F: Monday October 16, 5:30-8:00pm, Carpenters’ Union Hall, 1702 Corby Ave., Santa Rosa
For more info, email or call Daisy Pistey-Lyhne, (707) 575-3661

Napa County:
YES on I – Protect natural areas and watersheds and create more recreation opportunities by creating a Parks and Open Space District.

Phonebank for Measure I:
- Mondays 5:30-7:30pm
Napa Valley Gateway, 499 Devlin Road at Airport Blvd., Napa
- Tuesdays and Thursdays 5:30-7:30pm
Napa Land Trust Office, 1040 Main St., Napa
- Wednesdays 5:30-7:30pm
1150 Main St., St Helena (park at Sunshine Market)
For more info, call Cheryl Harris, (707) 224-6133

Solano County:
YES on J – Direct new development into Solano’s cities, not its farmlands and hillsides, by renewing the Orderly Growth Initiative.

Contra Costa County:
YES on L – Keep poorly planned development off Contra Costa’s open space by renewing the County Urban Limit Line.

Santa Clara County:
YES on A – Strengthen protections for Santa Clara County’s hills and agricultural land by passing the Land Conservation Initiative.

See phonebank info for Measure A below.

San Mateo County:
YES on A – Support local parks with a 1/8-cent sales tax for park maintenance and land acquisition.

City of Fremont:
YES on K – Keep large developments off the open space next to Coyote Hills Regional Park.

City of Morgan Hill:
YES on F – Encourage downtown revitalization—and relieve development pressure on the greenbelt—by allowing more homes in Morgan Hill’s downtown.

City of Pacifica:
NO on L – Defeat this attempt to build a luxury development in the Pacifica Quarry area, home to coastal wetlands and endangered species.

Action Alert: Call Voters to Protect Open Space

In Santa Clara County, a measure on the November ballot will keep inappropriate development off natural areas and working farms.

Help make sure it passes! Spend an evening in San Francisco calling Santa Clara voters to let them know about Measure A and urge them to vote YES.

Phonebanks will be 5:30 – 9:00 pm at Greenbelt Alliance’s San Francisco office, 631 Howard Street, Suite 510, on:

• Monday, October 16
• Tuesday, October 17
• Wednesday, October 25
• Thursday, November 2

Dinner, training, and good company will be provided! To sign up, contact Kate O’Hara by email or at (415) 543-6771 x319

Alert: Prop 90 Would Cost Billions

A recent report by a team of economists, led by former non-partisan State Legislative Analyst Dr. William Hamm, outlines Prop 90’s potential fiscal impact on California and its taxpayers. The report concludes that the costs imposed on taxpayers by Prop 90 would amount to billions of dollars annually.

Overall, the report concludes, Prop 90 would have the following impacts:

1. It would increase the annual cost of state and local government in California by billions of dollars.
2. By increasing the cost of public works, like schools, roads, water systems, flood protection and utility services, Prop. 90 would curtail infrastructure development.
3. By increasing the cost of regulation, Prop 90 would reduce government’s ability to limit incompatible land uses, protect consumers and workers, and safeguard the environment.

Prop 90 is one of six identical initiatives on the November ballot in western states (funded in a concerted effort by private property extremist and New York resident Howie Rich). Another is Prop 933 in Washington, where Pulitzer-winning cartoonist David Horsey summed up the measure nicely in this cartoon.

Announcement: Success in Contra Costa County!

On Tuesday October 10, Contra Costa’s Board of Supervisors took a critical step to create more affordable homes by adopting an inclusionary housing ordinance. This new law will require all new housing developments to include affordable homes, enabling more people to live in the communities they serve.

The Supervisors had voiced their support for such a policy years ago, but the process stalled until Greenbelt Alliance and its partners started urging the Supervisors to act. The policy was sorely needed in this county, where 90% of residents cannot afford the average-priced home. 

The new inclusionary policy will address the county's housing crisis, reduce traffic congestion, and decrease the pressure to develop natural areas and open space. Thanks to the many people who called, emailed, and came to the hearings to make sure the Supervisors finally took this important step.

Please join us for a victory celebration!
Tuesday, October 24, from 5:00 – 7:00pm at Cafe La Scala, 1655 N. Main St., Walnut Creek. Refreshments provided. 

Upcoming Outings & Events

Sun Oct 15: Bluegrass for the Greenbelt
Sun Oct 15: Pleasanton Ridge and Wine
Sat Oct 21: Eco Farming Fun
Sun Oct 29: Spectacular Sycamore Grove

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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