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NEWS FROM TALC
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TALC regional meeting
focuses on housing bond and eminent domain- July 19
You're invited to attend TALC's July regional meeting, which will focus on
two items on the November ballot: the housing bond (Proposition 1c) and the
eminent domain proposition (Prop 90). For Proposition 1c, we will review the
elements of the bond and learn how to most effectively support the campaign. We
will decide what we can collectively do to influence the criteria for $850
million in smart growth planning funds included in the housing bond. We will
also examine Proposition 90, which would limit government’s authority to adopt
certain land use, housing, and environmental laws and regulations. Wednesday,
July 19, 5:30-7:30 p.m. Dinner will be served. (Optional orientation for new
attendees from 5:00-5:30.) Sierra Club, 85 2nd Street, San Francisco. If you
have questions about the meeting contact Jeff Hobson at
jeff@transcoalition.org.
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Huge victory for Bay Area
transit
On June 30, the 2007 budget was signed into law by the Governor. The budget
includes a transportation package from the Legislature which brings an
additional $137 million in funding for Bay Area transit and paratransit
operators! Thanks to all of you who made phone calls to the Governor. And a huge
thank you to the 26 TransitWorks! and TALC members who went to Sacramento and
who were the first to alert dozens of legislators about the spillover issue.
The budget reverses six years of funding grabs
from public transit and establishes a precedent for so-called "spillover" funds
to be rightfully used for public transit. (A 1971 law states that when revenues
from the gas tax rise more rapidly than other taxed items the additional
spillover revenue must go exclusively to mass transit.) Next year TALC will work
with legislators to permanently protect the spillover.
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Enrique Peñalosa on
Reclaiming Public Spaces for Livable Cities
Did you miss the inspirational (and sold-out!) event in June by Enrique Peñalosa,
distinguished former Mayor of Bogotá, Columbia? We've collected a few online
resources for anyone who wants to dream about what is possible when a city
creates wonderful spaces for pedestrians. Peñalosa created hundreds of
pedestrian-only streets, parks, plazas, and bike paths, and constructed the
longest pedestrian-only street in the world, plus a bus system that carries
700,000 people a day at a cost of $300 million. Check these out for a dose of
inspiration!
12-minute video:
www.nycsr.org/nyc/video-view.php?id=19
bio, quotes, articles:
www.pps.org/info/placemakingtools/placemakers/epenalosa
Yes! magazine article:
www.yesmagazine.org/article.asp?id=615
audio recording:
clas.uchicago.edu/events/briefings/penalosa.shtml
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Legislation to fund
transportation and environmental protection moves ahead
TALC has been working for several months to pass AB 2444 (Klehs), a bill
authorizing a $10 vehicle registration fee in the Bay Area to fund air and water
quality improvements and congestion management -- including public transit
operations and pedestrian and bicycle safety. We're now working with the Sierra
Club to get this bike, ped, transit, and environmental protection language in SB
1611 (Simitian), a similar bill. SB 1611 could create an even bigger source of
funds for the work we're all fighting for, as it would allow up to a $25 fee
(which would have to be passed on a county-by-county basis with a 50% vote of
the public). The Governor is more likely to sign SB 1611, with its provision for
a public vote, but we'll continue working to get both to his desk. Stay tuned,
and thanks to the many organizations that are part of this campaign!
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New resource
highlights TOD best practices
Want to learn more about how to build great communities in your neighborhood?
TALC's website has a new Best Practices Resource Guide for transit-oriented
development (TOD). The guide has over 75 links on a wide range of topics, such
as principles of TOD, community involvement processes, public spaces and
place-making, and street design. Resources range from one-page fact sheets to
full reports and are drawn from organizations throughout the country.
Learn more:
www.transcoalition.org/c/gci/resources_additional.html
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TALC's annual report
highlights accomplishments in 2005
TALC's 2005 annual report is now posted online. The report highlights key
victories in 2005, summarizes the vision laid out in the Strategic Plan, and
lists the many supporters who made our work possible.
Learn more:
www.transcoalition.org/about/about_financial.html
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Do you know someone who
would be a great addition to TALC's Board of Directors?
You’re invited to nominate candidate(s) for TALC’s Board of Directors, as
the three-year terms of three members are over. The Board of Directors plays a
critical role in guiding TALC’s policies, programs, strategic planning, and
ensuring fiscal health. This is an exciting opportunity for someone from a
current or prospective TALC Member Organization who wants to make a deeper
contribution to TALC's work and mission -- and a great chance for you as a
nominator to help bring new talent to TALC!
Learn more:
www.transcoalition.org/about/board_elections.html
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NEWS FROM TALC MEMBER GROUPS
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TALC's newest member: Alameda Transit Advocates
TALC would like to welcome our newest member organization, Alameda Transit
Advocates, a group of friends and neighbors working to improve public transit in
the City of Alameda. The volunteer-run organization maintains a website and
e-mail list and hosts occasional events.
Learn more:
www.alameda-transit.org
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Take
Redefining Progress's survey on sustainability
Redefining Progress has developed the Scenarios for Sustainability (S2) toolkit
for use by planners at the state, regional, and local levels. S2 encompasses a
set of indicators that provide objective, quantifiable information about the
degree to which policies, programs, and plans meet objectives for economic,
environmental, and social sustainability. As part of an ongoing process to
refine S2, Redefining Progress has prepared a short survey on the usefulness of
its indicators. The “Planner Survey” should take no more than 20 minutes and may
be accessed through the Regional Sustainability website below. Redefining
Progress will report the results of the survey in the months ahead. Feel free to
email any questions to
survey@rprogress.org.
Learn more:
www.RegionalProgress.org
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JOB OPENINGS
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Greenbelt Alliance
seeks East Bay field representative
Greenbelt Alliance, the Bay Area's land conservation and urban planning
non-profit, is looking to hire an East Bay Field Representative. The field rep
will lead advocacy efforts to stop sprawl and encourage smart growth in Contra
Costa and Alameda counties.
Learn more:
www.greenbelt.org/getinvolved/jobopps.html
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Job openings at Center for Transit-Oriented
Development
The Center for Transit-Oriented Development, a program of Reconnecting America,
provides best practices, research and tools to support market-based
transit-oriented development. The Center has openings for positions at its
California headquarters and in Washington, DC: Project Director (Oakland),
Communications/Research Associate (Oakland), and Associate (Washington DC).
Learn more:
www.reconnectingamerica.org/html/TOD/jobdescription.htm
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