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Home Resource Center In the News Home Greenbelt Alliance in the News |
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Greenbelt Alliance In the News
April 10, 2008 Greenbelt Alliance Turns 50
Greenbelt Alliance is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. Formerly known as People for Open Space, the San Francisco based organization has aided Tri-Valley environmentalists in their struggles against suburban sprawl. “They’ve been very supportive all the way through,” said Livermore activist Robert Baltzer. “ From Measure D (which established the North Livermore urban growth boundary) to our present fight against the proposed cemetery in North Livermore, they’ve been a steady and effective ally. “ Simply put, they’ve gone to bat for us — and still DO,” exclaimed Baltzer. The organizatiion was born in 1958 when a small group of volunteers gathered in the San Francisco livingroom of Dorothy Erskine (who four years later would help found Save the Bay). They were concerned about a threat to the San Pablo Reservoir watershed. Some 10 square miles of watershed lands were to be sold for development. Erskine and her little band of activists won that issue and went on to join the greater debate about how the Bay Area should grow. Today the Greenbelt Alliance has a main office on Howard Street in San Francisco and branch offices in Walnut Creek, San Jose, Fairfield and Santa Rosa. The Walnut Creek office watchdogs East Bay issues. Their main focus at present is the reuse plan of the Concord Naval Weapons Station and Pittsburg hillside development. Locally, the group has been most active in the victorious struggles to preserve Pleasanton Ridge and prevent urbanization of North Livermore. They don’t always say “no” to development. The Greenbelt Alliance has become an advocate of “smart growth,” promoting alternatives to sprawl type growth. The group points out they’ve endorsed the creation of 60,000 homes around the Bay Area. They support affordable housing and high-density housing located close to public transit, jobs and shopping. Proposed housing at Pleasanton’s Hacienda Business Park has the Greenbelt Alliance’s support. “ Today, climate change poses one of humanity’s greatest challenges — and it is becoming ever clearer that the way our cities grow will have a profound effect on our climate,” said Elizabeth Stampe, Greenbelt Alliance’s communications director. “ The Bay Area has a chance to show the nation how to take up the challenge, by guiding new development into our existing cities and by taking a coordinated and strategic approach to conserving the region’s natural landscapes,” Stampe said. A party to celebrate the 50th anniversary is scheduled for Wednesday, September 10 at Herbst Exhibition Hall in Fort Mason, San Francisco. The public is invited. “ Let’s raise a glass to everything we love about the Bay Area — from its open spaces to its vibrant places!” invites Stampe. ### |
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