January 23 GREENZINE SF Green Party Weekly News and Events www.sfgreenparty.org twitter.com/sfgreenparty www.facebook.com/groups/SFGreenParty/ Dear Greens, Please join us at our monthly meeting for January, this Wednesday, as well as important meetings at City Hall this Tuesday and Thursday (see announcements below). What: Green Party Monthly Meeting Where: Redstone Building, 2940 16th Street #302, San Francisco, CA When: Wed, Jan 27, 7-9 pm Agenda: * Announcements, including County Council elections (10 min) * Planning voter outreach for 2016 (10 min) * Decisions, Green Party of California (10 min) - Who gets access to the Green presidential primary ballot? * Update on Progressive Alliance organizing (20 min) (more info about that below) * Discussion and possible decisions on the "Affordable Housing Density Bonus Program" (also, event on Thursday) (40 min) * Decision - 2015 Supervisorial Report Card (30 min) Every 4th Wednesday the SF Green Party meets to discuss issues of concern, listen to interesting speakers, endorse events, plan outreach and more! Everyone welcome. To make a presentation or gain the SFGP endorsement of events and issues, please contact our SFGP County Council at: cc@sfgreens.org *===========================* What: Comment at the Board of Supervisors Meeting Where: City Hall, Room 250 When: Tue, Jan 26, 2 pm - late The Board of Supervisors is slated to vote to approving the city's tech shuttle bus program, which had been a one year pilot program. There are many problems with the tech shuttle program, which is currently in litigation. The various issues are below: We want a comprehensive Environmental Impact Report on the displacement impacts of the commuter shuttles in San Fransisco. Why should there be an EIR? -- There are NO LIMITS on the number of shuttles that the SFMTA can permit. -- There are NO LIMITS on the number of stops the private shuttles might be able to operate in. -- The demand for private access to public bus stops is likely to increase - Apple's new Cupertino campus will employ 13,000 people and another North San Jose campus, for which Apple paid $165 million in cash, will employ 18,000. Other Silicon Valley companies are also expanding. What are the housing plans for the new employees? Come testifiy in favor of requiring an EIR for this program, this Tuesday at City Hall. *===========================* What: Press Conference and Planning Commission meeting Where: City Hall, press conference outside, meeting in Room 400 When: Thurs, Jan 28, noon press conference, 1-3 pm meeting Accordign to the Housing Rights Committee, the "Affordable Housing" Density Bonus program being pushed by the Mayor is bad news for the city. It will allow developers to build higher in exchange for adding "affordable" units, but affordable for whom? The plan will allow developers to circumvent environmental impact reviews and public input. This issue will be voted on at the SF Planning Commission on Thursday January 28th. There will be a press conference prior to the hearing at 12 noon. The hearing will be at the Planning Commission in Room 400. TURNOUT IS NEEDED. A good article about the plan was written by Joe Smooke of People Power Media: http://www.peoplepowermedia.net/housing/op-ed-the-displacement-bomb-set-to-e... *===========================* This year, we'll be organizing with other progressive groups to build a SF Progressive Alliance modeled on Richmond's. Please encourage other like-minded organizations and allies to join us in helping to organize this coalition. In the last several elections, SF progressive groups have squandered electoral opportunities by foolishly opposing each other in cases like this year's College Board race, when discussions prior to making endorsements might have cleared up misunderstandings. Greens think we need to follow the model of Richmond CA, in which Greens, progressive Democrats, and other like-minded voters organized together in a solid, long-term alliance well in advance of individual elections. The Richmond Progressive Alliance swept Chevron-backed candidates in 2014 elections, despite being vastly outspent. Let's follow Richmond's model, so we have more successful elections in 2016 and beyond. *===========================* Run for the Green County Council! The SFGP County Council is up for election in the primary this June. Yes, members of our County Council, like all political parties, are elected. Women, people of color, LGBT persons, and people with disabilities are strongly encouraged to run. If you're interested in running, the deadline is March 11. You can pick up nomination papers at the Department of Elections in City Hall. If you have questions or want more info, please email the current County Council members at cc@sfgreens.org. Here's a guide for candidates: http://sfgov.org/elections/file/671 *===========================* Paid contractor wanted: SF Green Party Fundraiser/Volunteer Coordinator (a part time independent contractor (1099) position): http://sfgreenparty.org/help-wanted *===========================* To submit events for our newsletter, please email a short blurb to news@sfgreens.org. Messages to a mailing list will be rejected.