Special TALC regional meeting at Fruitvale Transit Village - May 17
You're invited to attend a special TALC regional meeting: Wednesday, May 17, 5:30-7:30 p.m. at Fruitvale Transit Village. In 2004, after fifteen years in the planning, major construction was completed at the Fruitvale Transit Village. The $70 million project, led by the Unity Council/Fruitvale Development Corp., came out of a community organizing effort to transform the Fruitvale neighborhood from its declining status to one of economic vibrancy. Since the first tenants began occupying the Village, there have been a variety of challenges. This tour and discussion is an opportunity to get an insider view of lessons learned from this innovative project and future plans to secure its sustainability. Led by Gilda Gonzalez, Executive Director, and Jeff Case of the Unity Council. The meeting will be held at the San Antonio Senior Center at 3301 East 12th Street in Oakland - which is adjacent to the Fruitvale BART station and part of the Fruitvale Transit Village - and is preceded by an optional orientation from 5:00-5:30.

View our calendar of events: www.transcoalition.org/calendar.html

.................................................................................................

Reclaiming public spaces for livable cities - June 19
This visit by distinguished former Mayor of Bogotá, Columbia, Enrique Peñalosa, will offer an opportunity to hear from and ask questions of a leader who has earned an international reputation for transforming previously dangerous, blighted public spaces in his city into livable, vibrant places. As Mayor of Bogotá, Peñalosa built the world’s premiere Bus Rapid Transit system and hundreds of kilometers of sidewalks, bicycle paths, pedestrian streets, greenways, and parks. He is an incredibly engaging speaker with a similarly incredible story to tell. TALC is cosponsoring this evening with SPUR, The Institute for Transportation and Development Policy, and Environmental Defense. Monday, June 19, 5:00-8:00 p.m. at The Commonwealth Club at 595 Market Street in San Francisco. The event includes a reception with wine, beverages, and hors d'oeuvres. Tickets are $15-50 (sliding scale).

Learn more and register: www.itdp.org/events.html

.................................................................................................

AB 2444 is on the move! Has your organization signed on in support?
TALC is sponsoring AB 2444, a bill that tackles the Bay Area's #1 air polluter and #1 water polluter: our six million vehicles. By enabling a $10 vehicle registration fee to be placed on Bay Area vehicles, AB 2444 would raise up to $60 million annually for protecting air and water quality, bicycle and pedestrian safety measures, public transit operations, and roadway improvements (but no road widening). The bill has just passed two Assembly committee hearings, where TALC testified (see website below), but there are more hurdles to clear and we need additional organizations to endorse the bill. Join these groups in supporting AB 2444: Sierra Club California, Save The Bay, East Bay Bicycle Coalition, League of Women Voters Bay Area, and many more.

Take action: www.transcoalition.org/legislation.html#ab2444

.................................................................................................

Help shape future transit-oriented development in Pittsburg - May 25
By 2010, the new “eBART” line will extend the BART system to eastern Contra Costa County. Cities are now beginning to develop plans for future development around planned eBART stations. Creating plans for vibrant, walkable communities will be essential to ensure enough riders to justify the investment in eBART, and to provide needed homes. Pittsburg is starting a Specific Plan to decide what kinds of development to allow near their proposed eBART station. TALC is taking the lead for the Great Communities Initiative to ensure local groups and residents are informed and involved in the process. Pittsburg’s first community meeting is Thursday, May 25, 7:00 p.m. at the third floor of City Hall, 65 Civic Avenue in Pittsburg. Attend the meeting or contact Jeff Hobson at 510-740-3102 or jeff@transcoalition.org to get involved.

Learn more: www.transcoalition.org/c/gci/pittsburg.html

.................................................................................................

Help avoid more transit cuts - support AB 343
Governor Schwarzenegger has proposed to once again divert the $325 million State Spillover revenue in his 2006-07 budget, eliminating a source of funding that assists transit operators with fuel costs when gasoline prices are high. TALC has been working hard to convince legislators to restore this critical transit operating money and protect it in future years. Recently, State Assemblymember Bob Huff (R-Diamond Bar) introduced AB 343, which stipulates that if Spillover funds are redirected away from transit, they must be repaid within three years. TALC will continue to work to restore the Spillover funds in this year’s budget, but AB 343 would protect Spillover revenues in future years, and discourage its seizure in the first place.

What you can do: Encourage your representatives to support this important legislation. Send support letters on your letterhead to Assemblymember Huff (fax 916-319-2160) and your legislator.

Learn more: www.transcoalition.org/c/sus_spill/index.html

.................................................................................................

Transit workers and advocates lobby in Sacramento for transit
On April 25, TALC and TransitWorks, a collaborative of Bay Area transit unions, brought a bus full of Bay Area advocates representing workers and residents to Sacramento to lobby for increased funding for public transit. The group met with 26 legislators or their aides about what the Bay Area needs from the State to keep transit running and accessible for everyone. Advocates lobbied for: AB 343 (to fully allocate “Spillover” revenue to transit), AB 2444 (the $10 regional vehicle registration surcharge for air and water quality and transportation), and fully funding Proposition 42 in the FY 07 budget.

.................................................................................................

Is your organization a TALC Member?
Member Groups are the core of what gives TALC power as a coalition. Member Groups determine TALC’s policies and leadership, are eligible to serve on and vote for the Board of Directors, and give member-only input on key policy issues. Member Groups also receive complimentary copies of TALC reports, four free registrations to the Annual Summit, and other benefits. To become a Member Group, organizations sign TALC’s platform, pay nominal dues based on a sliding scale, and are expected to help shape and actively participate in TALC’s campaigns.

Learn more and join: www.transcoalition.org/members.html

.................................................................................................

TALC is hiring a community planning associate
TALC seeks an experienced and motivated individual to do planning and outreach on transportation and development issues in East Oakland and possibly other sites. The position will work on two related projects: engaging the community to ensure AC Transit will provide the best possible Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) service to East Oakland residents, and helping to initiate a community planning process to ensure that future development along the proposed BRT line meets the needs of existing residents and includes significant levels of permanently affordable housing. Review of applications will begin Monday, May 15. Position will begin in early June.

Learn more: www.transcoalition.org/about/TALC_Planning_Associate_2006.pdf

.................................................................................................

Building a network of neighborhoods - May 8
Join regional agencies, local governments, and stakeholders in a collaborative planning effort, sponsored by the Association of Bay Area Governments, called Focusing Our Vision. This effort builds upon the region's 2002 Smart Growth Strategy. The planning effort will ultimately lead to the creation of regional priority development and resource protection areas that will guide future development and public investment. The goals are to expand housing and transportation choices, promote equity and efficiency, and protect the environment. Participants will bring this shared planning strategy for the Bay Area into sharper focus. The event is free and will be held from 1:00-4:00 p.m. on May 8 at The Palace Hotel in San Francisco.

Register online: www.abag.ca.gov/abag/events/stakeholder/

.................................................................................................

Transit-Oriented Development events in San Mateo - May 13 & 18
Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) is becoming a hot topic on the Peninsula. This year, San Mateo County’s Affordable Housing Week has two TOD-specific events. The first is a free three-hour bus tour of Transit-Oriented Developments in northern San Mateo County on Saturday, May 13 from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. To reserve your space on the bus call 650-872-4444 by May 5th. The second is a free forum on Thursday, May 18 from 6:45-8:30 p.m., entitled “Communities of Today and Tomorrow: The What, Where, and How of Housing and Transportation”. The forum features speakers on green development, transportation planning, regional impacts, and the environment and will be held in San Mateo near the Caltrain station.

Learn more: www.hlcsmc.org (click on Affordable Housing Week)

.................................................................................................

MEMBERS IN ACTION

Urban Ecology hiring a landscape architect/urban designer
Urban Ecology, which promotes vibrant neighborhoods, seeks an experienced urban designer/landscape architect to lead design and neighborhood planning projects in the Bay Area. The job is varied and challenging; for example, a concept project promotes "active living" in a low-income, diverse community in East Oakland by improving local parks and schoolyards. Additionally, the designer will assist with, and in many cases lead, other planning and advocacy projects.

Learn more: www.urbanecology.org/careers.htm

.................................................................................................

Learn about Quarry Village
Learn about the plan for green affordable housing and car-free living near Cal State University Hayward -- Quarry Village -- at these upcoming events. On May 6 from 5:00-6:15 p.m. at Buffalo Bills, 1082 B Street in downtown Hayward. On May 19 from 12:00-1:15 p.m. at the Hayward Public Library, 835 C Street in Hayward. On May 26 from 12:00-1:15 p.m. at the Cal State East Bay Hayward Hills Campus in the Library’s Biella Room. On June 2 from 5:00-6:15 p.m. at Eden YMCA, 951 Palisade Street in Hayward. Visit the Quarry Village website for more information or to sign up for the newsletter.

Learn more: www.quarryvillage.org

.................................................................................................

MCBC leads a free bike tour and party - May 20
On Saturday, May 20, the public is invited to end Bike to Work Week with a free bicycle tour and party led by the Marin County Bicycle Coalition. The ride will showcase plans and progress for Marin’s North-South Greenway. The bike ride begins at noon at Albert Park in San Rafael. Engineers, elected officials, and others will give short presentations along the way, including Supervisor and MTC Commissioner Steve Kinsey. All riders must wear a helmet. The ride will end with a party, including food, drinks, and music. Check the MCBC website for updated information about timing, feeder rides to San Rafael, and the locations of the stops along the tour.

Learn more: www.marinbike.org/Events/NS-Greenway-2006/index.shtml

.................................................................................................