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Greenbelt Newswire
Your Five-Minute News Flash
Greenbelt Alliance
Volume 6, Issue 11: November
2007


Volunteer of the Month: Brendan Picker

Join Online Now!

In this edition

Volunteer of the Month: Brendan Picker

San Francisco Voters: Vote NO on Prop H!
Announcement: New Greenbelt Alliance "Urban Outings" Column in San Francisco Chronicle
Action Alert: Protect East Bay Hills
Action Alert: Re-envision San Jose's North First Street
Feature: New Video on Bay Area Stories
Event: Volunteer with Greenbelt Alliance at the Green Festival!
We're hiring: Communications Associate
Upcoming Outings & Events

Volunteer of the Month: Brendan Picker

Brendan has been volunteering for Greenbelt Alliance since April, helping to plan events with the Livable Communities Outreach Team. Originally from Boston, Brendan studied illustration at Rhode Island School of Design and then worked at an art museum and a few galleries. In addition to his weekly volunteering with Greenbelt Alliance, Brendan also currently works at Creative Growth in Oakland, an art center for disabled adults.
 
Brendan came to Greenbelt Alliance to learn more about urban planning, and is applying to study Community and Regional Planning at the University of New Mexico. He looks forward to using what he's learned at Greenbelt Alliance in Albuquerque and beyond, and combining his love of art with his interest in creating great places to live. We’ll miss his quick work, cheerful smile, and ready willingness to help out wherever needed.

Thanks, Brendan, and best of luck!

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San Francisco Voters: Vote NO on Prop H!

Update: Good news — Measure H is losing! (Votes still being counted)

Vote No on San Francisco’s Proposition H, and tell your friends!

Prop H, the so-called “Parking for Neighborhoods Initiative,” would quadruple the number of parking spaces allowed for new residential development downtown. (It would also make “low-emission vehicles,” so broadly defined that Hummers are included, exempt from parking limits.) It would worsen traffic, pollute the air, slow Muni down, and drive up the cost of housing, even for people who don’t own cars.

Prop H would be a huge step backward for San Francisco. Vote No on Prop H.

For more information, see this Chronicle editorial, which calls Prop H a “neutron bomb.”

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Announcement: New Greenbelt Alliance “Urban Outings” Column in San Francisco Chronicle

Greenbelt Alliance’s very own new column just debuted in the “96 Hours” section of the San Francisco Chronicle!

Check out the first column here, and keep an eye out this Thursday for the next column – they will run every two weeks.

Do you have a favorite neighborhood, a little park, a hidden urban jewel, somewhere in the Bay Area? Let us know! Send us an email with “Urban Outing” in the subject. Thanks!

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Action Alert: Protect East Bay Hills

In Pittsburg, city officials are approaching a final decision on their attempt to open East Bay hills to development. During a Planning Commission meeting in August, the proposed Hillside Development Ordinance was systematically gutted at the behest of a developer.

On November 13, the Commission intends to review and finalize the ineffectual ordinance. Tell Pittsburg not to sprawl all over East Bay hills! Attend the Pittsburg Planning Commission meeting and call for a strong and effective Hillside Ordinance.

When: Tuesday, November 13, 7:00 pm
Where: City Hall Chambers, 65 Civic Avenue, Pittsburg

Up next: On January 8, the Planning Commission will have its final vote on the ordinance, which will go before the City Council on February 4 and 18.

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Action Alert: Re-envision San Jose's North First Street

In July, San Jose convened a task force to plan for the redevelopment of the North First Street corridor. Made up of residents and property owners, the task force will address issues such as parks and open space, schools, shops, bike lanes, sidewalks, public transit, and other ingredients needed to create a complete community.

The City has approved up to 83,000 new jobs and 32,000 new homes in the redevelopment area. Join the task force at the next meeting, where schools and parks will be discussed – and speak up for providing good amenities for the new neighborhood.

When: Thursday, November 8, 2007, 6:30pm- 9:00pm
Where: Don Callejon School Library, 4176 Lick Mill Blvd, Santa Clara, CA 95054

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Feature: New Video on Bay Area Stories

“I apparently have been given a second chance,” says David, who lost his job and was homeless until he moved into senior housing in Mission Bay. Alice, a social worker, was thrilled to find a home right by BART so she can reach her high-stress job without a high-stress commute. Tim, a teacher, grew up in Dublin but couldn’t afford to live there until new townhomes went up.

These stories illustrate how focusing new development in town centers, near public transit, can help people and also address the region’s traffic and housing challenges. They’re part of a new video, released by the Bay Area Alliance for Sustainable Communities, a coalition of which Greenbelt Alliance is a leading member.

Watch the video (~10 minutes) and add your thoughts!

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Volunteer at the Green Festival with Greenbelt Alliance!

This weekend, Greenbelt Alliance will participate in the Bay Area's annual Green Festival, where you can see great speakers, try green products, and enjoy organic food and drinks. Normally admission is $15-$25.  But Greenbelt Alliance is offering our supporters a free pass -- all you have to do is volunteer for a few hours at our booth!
 
RSVP today: Email Brianna Swartz (bswartz@greenbelt.org) with your name, phone number, and availability.

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We're hiring: Communications Associate

Greenbelt Alliance is looking for a Communications Associate. Know any people who might be interested? Let them know!

The deadline for applications is this Friday, November 9.

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Upcoming Outings & Events

Sun Nov 18 : Diablo Double, Contra Costa County

Sat Dec 1: Trek Through Time, Contra Costa County

Sat Dec 8: Lake Chabot Loop, Alameda County

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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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