May 2006 - Transpo - list.sfgreens.org

Tabling -- it's that time of year
by susan_e_vaughan＠juno.com 29 May '06

29 May '06

Hello Everyone, Rosalind, can you include these events (and the call for volunteers) in the newsletter? Thanks. It's that time of year -- tabling. Here are the upcoming events for which GROW has already paid for tabling. If you can volunteer (to haul our stuff to and from events or to be there and table), please let me know (I'm the temporary co-chair of GROW, filling in for Mark Barnes, with the other temporary co-chair, Micheas - in other words, we need people to be the co-chairs). 1) Sixth Street Fair -- Saturday, June 10, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. The easy one as it's a few feet away from our office door; 2) Haight Ashbury Festival -- Sunday, June 11, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. The fun one. 3) Juneteenth -- Saturday and Sunday, June 17th and 18, Fillmore and Eddie. I don't know the times yet. Another fun one -- live music. 4) Pride Parade -- Sunday, June 25. Looking for contingent monitors. We are not tabling this year -- only doing the parade. Let me know if you can help haul and/or table and/or be a contigent monitor for the Pride Parade. Sue

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Fw: TALC reps -- What should TALC Do on Bonds?
by susan_e_vaughan＠juno.com 28 May '06

28 May '06

Please note: forwarded message attached Transportation and Land Use Coalition (TALC) DEAR TALC MEMBER REPRESENTATIVE: By now the ink has dried long enough on the legislature's various bond proposals that many groups have taken positions, or can predict their organizations positions. We are surveying TALC's 45 member organizations to get a sense of these positions, and to get your recommendations on what TALC should do. The link below on survey monkey takes you to a very short survey that should take about five minutes to fill out if you already know about the bonds. If you don't know about the bonds it has a brief description of them, in a relatively objective format that mostly gives the substance ( of course, we can only be so objective). To take this survey press this link: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.asp?u=486812174110 The results of this survey will be analyzed, summarized, and sent back out to our member representatives and our Board of Directors. The Board of Directors will make the final decision at the July 18 Board meeting, based largely on the feedback that we receive. We have set aside some staff time to be active on the campaign (assuming there is a position other than neutral). Please respond by Friday June 9, the sooner the better. Thank you very much for participating, and feel free to call or e-mail me with any questions about the process, or about the content of the bonds. My direct line is 510-740-3101. All the best! Stuart Cohen Transportation and Land Use Coalition (TALC) _______________________________________________________ You received this email because you are a representative for a TALC Member or Affiliate Group. If someone else should be receiving this email for your group, please reply with "Change Representative" in the subject line and include a name and contact information for the correct representative.

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Our Dump Dufty fliering effort last Saturday was covered in the SF Weekly Today
by Ted Strawser 24 May '06

24 May '06

thanks to all who made it possible. lets make this a biweekly thing: burrito, beer, dump dufty. fun and effective! CHECK IT: http://www.sfweekly.com/Issues/2006-05-24/news/suckafreecity3.html Beer: 1, Dufty: 0 by Eliza Strickland Clouds darkened the sky on Saturday afternoon, and perhaps, somewhere in District 8, Supervisor Bevan Dufty shivered with an ominous premonition. For they were out there, armed with fistfuls of pink fliers: a half-dozen bicyclists taking their first ride dedicated to his downfall. It took them a while to get organized. At a quarter past 1, the small gaggle of progressive activists still waited at the cement steps of Dolores Park. "That's the problem with the Party Party," said one rider. "They're never on time." The upstart San Francisco Party Party has gained attention during its seven-month existence in part because it has the best slogan ever: "Like the Green Party without the weird smell ... like the Democratic Party without all that money!" Its members stand for late-night revelry and weekend bike rides in a car-free Golden Gate Park. When Dufty voted against the six-month trial that would close JFK Drive to traffic on Saturdays, the outraged Party Party launched the Dump Dufty campaign, complete with Web site (www.dumpdufty.com) and thongs and dog T-shirts emblazoned with its logo. "He's a nice guy," says party organizer Ted Strawser of Dufty. "He walks around the Castro, and if he sees litter, he'll pick it up. But he's been skating on that for a while. When you look at his voting record, it's pretty grotesque." Strawser and his cohort want a more progressive supervisor for District 8, and are hoping someone will challenge Dufty in the November election. Last Saturday, Strawser rode up on an orange-and-white cruiser and assessed his small troupe. "I figure we'd put some fliers out and have a beer," he said. "Next time we'll put some more fliers out and have a beer. Every time we'll get more people until, eventually, there will be no more Dufty. That's the formula." The brigade hopped on their bikes and set off for the Castro, where they handed out fliers for an hour. Then, the day's work done, they bought burritos and beer and retreated to Dolores Park. They sat on the grass, and raised a toast "to someone else." No matter that November's filing deadline is approaching, and that no candidate has stepped forward to challenge Dufty. Should one emerge, the Dufty Dumpers will put down their beers and follow.

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Can anyone put up Kent Mesplay overnight on Wednesday?
by susan_e_vaughan＠juno.com 24 May '06

24 May '06

Hello Everyone, Kent Mesplay, one of three U.S. Senate candidates, needs a place to stay. As you can see, he's arriving Wednesday afternoon and leaving on Thursday early afternoon. If you can, please contact him on his cell phone at (858) 752-9918. Sue ---------- Forwarded Message ---------- Hello Susan, I wonder if you could forward this to anyone in the area who might be willing to put me up for a home stay, Wednesday night. I arrive in Oakland at 3:38 p.m. Wednesday and leave before one p.m. the following day. I can probably figure out BART since I've been in the area a few times, before...so basically I just would like a place to stay over. Anyway, if you think of someone please forward this request. My personal cell is 858.752.9918. Thanks for the re-send. Kent >From: "susan_e_vaughan(a)juno.com" <susan_e_vaughan(a)juno.com> >To: plattburger(a)yahoo.com, harp(a)studioz.tv, barry(a)hermansons.com >CC: keldamusic(a)yahoo.com, lwlaura(a)yahoo.com, verbal(a)usuallysuspected.com, >kentmesplay(a)hotmail.com, Vote4Mike(a)comcast.net, info(a)votethakker.com, >cottry(a)sbcglobal.net, garrinb(a)hotmail.com, kkwickedwitch(a)yahoo.com >Subject: Fw: Line up for May 24 -- Something Fun (not in spreadsheet form) >Date: Sun, 21 May 2006 06:50:45 GMT > >Sending this a second time because my Yahoo account is messed up and not >all of you may have gotten this e-mail. > >Sue > >---------- Forwarded Message ---------- >Hello Candidates, Speakers, MCs, DJ, Musicians, Spoken >Word Performers, and Volunteers: > >After talking to a couple of people, I realized not >everyone was opening up the spreadsheet where you >could see where you fall in the line up of speakers >and performers at Studio Z this Wednesday -- thus I >decided to just put that info in a regular e-mail. It >follows below. > >Also, if you can't be there, be sure to e-mail me a >statement that we can have someone read. > >In addition, I talked to Mike Casey, the sound >engineer who will be working at Studio Z on Wednesday >night. He wondered if the musical acts could be there >a little before 6 p.m. (the original sound check >time). We're also wondering if the Hip-Hop artists >(Keldamusic and The Usual Suspects) -- and Diamond >Dave and Son if you are using music -- can also be >there for the sound check. > >Again, candidates are speaking in alphabetical order, >with the exception of Todd Chretien and Krissy Keefer, >neither of whom can be there until later. > >5:30 or 5:45-6:45 (about)=sound check for Go Van Gogh, >Garrin Benfield, Keldamusic, The Usual Suspects (and >Diamond Dave and Ubidube, if you are using music) > >7 p.m. = doors open >7-7:30=DJ Plattburger >7:30-7:35=Terry Baum and Mark Sanchez (MCs, Charlene >Smythe will also MC later in the evening) >7:36-7:41=Emily Drennen >7:42-7:47=Tian Harter >7:48-7:53=Barry Hermanson >7:54-7:59=Forrest Hill >8-8:05=Kent Mesplay >8:06-8:11=Eric Safire >8:12-8:17=Mehul Thakker >8:18-8:23=Donna Warren >8:24-8:29=Laura Wells >8:30-8:35=Mike Wyman >8:36-8:50=Medea Benjamin >8:51-9=Keldamusic >9:01-9:11=Diamond Dave and Ubidube Whitaker >9:12-9:45=Go Van Gogh >9:46-9:56=The Usual Suspects >9:57-10:07=Ross Mirkarimi >10:08-10:13=Todd Chretien >10:14-10:55???=Garrin Benfield >10:56-11=Krissy Keefer >After 11 p.m.: Green Talents Forrest Hill, Don >Eichelberger and anyone else with an instrument, a >voice or an act ... > >Any questions, please call me: (415) 601-9297 > >I look forward to seeing everyone on Wednesday at >Studio Z. > > >__________________________________________________ >Do You Yahoo!? >Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around >http://mail.yahoo.com > _________________________________________________________________ Dont just search. Find. Check out the new MSN Search! http://search.msn.click-url.com/go/onm00200636ave/direct/01/

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Re: [Transpo] tomorrow's TWG meeting
by susan_e_vaughan＠juno.com 23 May '06

23 May '06

Let's cancel. I forgot about the TWG. Sue -- John-Marc Chandonia <jmc(a)sfgreens.org> wrote: Hi, I've posted an agenda for tomorrow's TWG meeting to the website. Is anybody else planning to attend, or has any other items we need to discuss? If not, I'd like to cancel the meeting since everybody's working hard on campaigns and on the event Wednesday night. In that case, we can discuss Healthy Saturdays and other proposed legislation by email. JMC -- John-Marc Chandonia (jmc(a)sfgreens.org) http://sfgreens.org/ _______________________________________________ Transpo mailing list Transpo(a)sfgreens.org https://list.sfgreens.org/mailman/listinfo/transpo

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RE: [Transpo] tomorrow's TWG meeting
by Jerry Path 22 May '06

22 May '06

I think canceling the meeting is the right move. Jerry > [Original Message] > From: John-Marc Chandonia <jmc(a)sfgreens.org> > To: <transpo(a)sfgreens.org> > Date: 5/22/2006 8:33:08 AM > Subject: [Transpo] tomorrow's TWG meeting > > Hi, > I've posted an agenda for tomorrow's TWG meeting to the > website. Is anybody else planning to attend, or has any other items > we need to discuss? If not, I'd like to cancel the meeting since > everybody's working hard on campaigns and on the event Wednesday > night. In that case, we can discuss Healthy Saturdays and other > proposed legislation by email. > > JMC > -- > John-Marc Chandonia (jmc(a)sfgreens.org) > http://sfgreens.org/ > _______________________________________________ > Transpo mailing list > Transpo(a)sfgreens.org > https://list.sfgreens.org/mailman/listinfo/transpo

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tomorrow's TWG meeting
by John-Marc Chandonia 22 May '06

22 May '06

Hi, I've posted an agenda for tomorrow's TWG meeting to the website. Is anybody else planning to attend, or has any other items we need to discuss? If not, I'd like to cancel the meeting since everybody's working hard on campaigns and on the event Wednesday night. In that case, we can discuss Healthy Saturdays and other proposed legislation by email. JMC -- John-Marc Chandonia (jmc(a)sfgreens.org) http://sfgreens.org/

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Call for volunteers for Wednesday night at Studio Z
by susan_e_vaughan＠juno.com 21 May '06

21 May '06

Hello Everyone, The event for Wednesday night, Something Fun at the Green Party Forum, is coming together well. All the endorsed candidates -- and the three Senate candidates -- are on board to speak with the exception of Donna Warren (who will not be able to make it from SoCal but will hopefully provide a statement that someone can read), and possibly Krissy Keefer (who will be returning late from her Wednesday night show in San Jose -- again, we hope she provides a statement for us to read). Terry Baum, Mark Sanchez, and Charlene Smythe will be MCing the event. Paul Platt will be DJing the first half hour and whenever else there is a break (but right now there aren't any). Rosalind and Vicki (arriving later) have offered to help out, and I'm hoping that JMC, Erika, Bruce, and others who have told me they will be there can help out at the door or with the GROW table. If someone has a vehicle and can help me transport the GROW stuff from the office at around 5 p.m., that would be great. (On the other hand, do not feel obligated to work -- you cna come and just enjoy the event also.) If you are free on Wednesday and want to help out at the door or at the GROW table (selling buttons, signing people up for the weekly newsletter and so on), that would be great. Let me know. Call or e-mail me. Attached is a flier for the event, and you can get more details by going to our website, www.sfgreenparty.org. What: Something Fun at the Green Party Forum; Join the medley of politics and performance with Medea Benjamin and Ross Mirkarimi, candidates and spoken word. Music provided by Go Van Gogh and Garrin Benfield When: Wednesday, May 24 Where: Studio Z, 314 11th Street at Folsom Time: 7 p.m. to midnight ??? Admission: $5 to ???, no one turned away for lack of funds Sue home: 668-3119 cell: 601-9297

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Fw: TALC Activists-Stop Governor's Raid on Public Transit Dollars
by susan_e_vaughan＠juno.com 21 May '06

21 May '06

Please note: forwarded message attached TALC Activists- There are two important developments up in Sacramento that will drastically impact the amount of operating money available to our local transit operators in the years to come. Its critical in the next few weeks to contact your legislators, in addition to those mentioned below, and let them know in no uncertain terms that the State must commit to provide the promised Spillover dollars, and (through AB 343), prevent raids on these transit dollars in the future. See below for: 1-Action Itemswhat you can do to help 2-Sample letter to send to legislators 3-Update on the Governors proposal to rip off public transit not just this year, but for the next ten years 4-Information about AB 343 (Huff), which will protect the Spillover from raids in the future 5-What is the Spillover, and why is it important to our local transit operators? Thanks, Amber Crabbe, TALC Program Director 1-Action Items to Stop the Raid on State Dollars for Transit · Download the letter below, personalize it, and fax it to your Assembly and Senate Representatives. (You can identify your legislators here, and find their contact information on their website: http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/yourleg.html) · Please also let the Chairs of the Budget Committees and Transportation Committees in the Senate and the Assembly know your concerns. Chair, Senate Budget Committee: Senator Wesley Chesbro State Capitol Room 5035 Sacramento, Ca 95814 Fax: 916-323-6958 Chair, Assembly Budget Committee: Assembly Member John Laird State Capitol Room 6026 Sacramento, Ca 95814 Fax: 916-319-2127 Chair, Senate Transportation and Housing Committee: Senator Alan Lowenthal State Capitol Room 3048 Sacramento, Ca 95814 Fax: (916) 327-9113 Chair, Assembly Transportation Committee: Assembly Member Jenny Oropeza State Capitol Room 2148 Sacramento, Ca 95814 Fax: (916) 319-2155 · Pass this action alert on to your contacts and email lists! We need to send a clear message to our legislators that we wont stand for yet another raid on public transportation. If you have any questions about this Action Alert or TALCs Spillover campaign, please contact Amber Crabbe, TALC Program Director at (510) 740-3105 or amber(a)transcoalition.org. 2-Sample Letter to Legislators DATE LEGISLATOR ADDRESS Dear LEGISLATOR: On Friday May 12, 2006, the Governor released a proposal within his revisions to the 2006-07 State Budget that concerns YOUR ORG. The Governor proposes to steal from the Public Transportation Account (PTA) $4.1 billion in spillover funds over the next ten years to fund debt service on the proposed transportation bond which only provides $4 billion for transit to begin with. In 2006-07 alone, the total cuts equal nearly $670 million to the PTA and transit operations. Assembly Member Bob Huff has introduced legislation to protect the Spillover starting next year by requiring any raid on the Spillover fund to be repaid to the PTA within three years. This will discourage such raids in the first place, and make sure the funding is repaid if raids occur. I am writing to urge you to: · Oppose the Governors recent proposal to steal PTA Spillover dollars for debt service; and · Protect Spillover funds from future raids by supporting AB 343 (Huff) or another similar policy change. Since fiscal year 2000-01, PTA revenue cuts total close to $1.5 billion. In times when the price of gas is high it is essential that spillover dollars be allocated to the PTA to support transit when its most needed. Furthermore, Spillover dollars provide critically important flexible funding to local transit operators. In a time when working families have suffered persistent fare hikes and service cuts, these flexible dollars are needed to keep our transit systems running. Public transit provides freedom, choice, independence and access for millions of Californians. Residents around the state depend on public transportation for a variety of reasons. Transit takes people to school, to work, to medical appointments, services and more. Additionally, Californians with unique needs like seniors, people with disabilities, youth, those without access to a car, and households with low and very low incomes need public transit to maintain a high quality of life and opportunity. Without transit, there is no real access for many to the daily needs others of us take for granted. As the budget process continues and you look for consensus with other legislators, we urge you to consider the many Californians who use public transit, and retain these valuable Spillover revenues for the Public Transportation Account. To prevent such raids in the future, please support AB 343 (Huff) to make sure public transit gets its promised share of state transportation dollars. Sincerely, NAME / ORG 3-Update on the Governors Proposal to Rip Off Public Transit The Governors initial 2006-2007 budget proposal would have diverted so-called Spillover revenue from the Public Transportation Account (PTA) to the General Fund. The Administration in the May Revise now proposes shifting these revenues to a new fund dedicated to paying part of the debt service on the new transportation bond. Based on current forecasts, the Governor estimates that over $4.1 billion in transit spillover revenues will be diverted over the next 10 years, with an initial diversion of $669 million in 2006-07, another diversion of $336 million in 2007-08, and further diversions the following years, in total $4.1 billion. According to TALC calculations, this year alone, the Bay Area could lose up to $110 million of transit operating funds from the State Transit Assistance (STA) program if the Spillover is seized by the Governor. In 2006-07, the Governor proposes to steal $125 million of the Spillover revenues for Bay Bridge seismic work, and the remaining $554 million for the general fund, paying off debt service on the transportation bond if it passes in November. The Governor acknowledged that, Over the last two decades, the bulk of the spillover funds have been redirected to the General Fund. Yet, the Administrations new proposal would divert another projected $4.1 billion in funds away from transit more than the $4 billion included for transit capital in the new transportation bond measure! Thus, the bond deal actually costs transit money! Its also inefficient, wiping out funds that transit agencies would need to operate any new transit capital, buses or rail transit systems they might fund through the bond measure. Using dedicated transit funds to pay the debt service on a General Obligation bond measure that is 75% road- and highway-oriented is also inequitable for those who depend on transit. Spillover funds help offset the burden of high fuel prices on residents and transit agencies at the times when Californians rely most heavily on transit services to reach work, school, medical appointments, shopping, services and more. 4-Information on AB 343 (Huff) to Protect the Spillover from Future Raids Recently, State Assembly Member Bob Huff (R-Diamond Bar) introduced AB 343, which stipulates that, starting next fiscal year, 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 years budget, but AB 343 would protect Spillover revenues in future years, and discourage its seizure in the first place. UPDATE: we recently heard that this bill may not move forward this year, as the sponsor has agreed to work on Spillover issues through the budget process. However, we believe that simply addressing the Spillover theft in this years budget cycle does not go far enough we need to protect these valuable operating dollars in future years. We still think it is important to show support for this bill and the motivation behind it: a commitment to protecting flexible transit funding. 5-What is the Spillover? Spillover funding was created as part of the Transportation Development Act (TDA) in 1971. Spillover revenue occurs and is transferred to the Public Transportation Account when collections from the sales tax on gasoline increase at a faster rate than all other taxable items. The spillover amount is variable, but the formula was specifically designed to increase transit funding when gas prices are high. This is so transit agencies can cover their own higher fuel costs and meet demands for more transit from motorists priced out of their cars. The transfer is based on a calculation required by law to be made by the Board of Equalization and Department of Finance every year. This calculation compares the revenue estimated to be generated by a state sales tax of 5% on all goods except gasoline to the revenue generated by a sales tax of 4.75% on all goods plus gasoline. (These rates come from a historical agreement between counties and the state to preserve revenue neutrality for the state General Fund.) Per Revenue and Taxation Code section 7102(a)(1), if the amount calculated at 4.75% is greater, the difference or Spillover is transferred to the Public Transportation Account. This money is then split 50/50 between state transit priorities and the State Transit Assistance (STA) Program. STA funds are distributed by formula statewide, and then apportioned regionally to local public transit agencies. While these funds can be used for operations, maintenance and capital, the State Transit Assistance Program is the only state program dedicated to funding transit operations. If you have any questions about TALCs Spillover campaign, please contact Amber Crabbe, TALC Program Director at (510) 740-3105 or amber(a)transcoalition.org. For more information, visit the Spillover campaign website: http://www.transcoalition.org/c/sus_spill/index.html ________________________________________ Amber Elizabeth Crabbe Program Director, Transportation and Land Use Coalition 405 14th St., Suite 605 Oakland, California 94612 phone: 510-740-3105 fax: 510-740-3131 e-mail: amber(a)transcoalition.org ................................................................................................. About the Transportation and Land Use Coalition (TALC) TALC is a partnership of over 90 groups working for a sustainable and socially just Bay Area. We envision a region with healthy, walkable communities that provide all residents with transportation choices and affordable housing. The coalition analyzes county and regional policies, works with community groups to develop alternatives, and coordinates grassroots campaigns. To contact TALC: 405 14th Street, Suite 605 Oakland, CA 94612 510-740-3150 www.transcoalition.org ................................................................................................. TALC Email List Instructions: You received this email because you gave TALC your email address, or someone forwarded this message to you. - to SUBSCRIBE, send an email to: <info(a)transcoalition.org>. Be sure to include your full mailing address and organization name, phone and fax numbers, and indicate what alert you are responding to. - to LIMIT to 1-2 emails per month, which includes meeting announcements and general newsletters, reply with "Public list only" in the subject line - to UNSUBSCRIBE, reply with "No E-mail" in the subject line - to be fully REMOVED from our database, reply with "Remove from TALC" in the subject line (and please let us know why). activist03

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Protest the Veto - Rally/Mini Mass Sat 1pm Dolores Park/ Dump Dufty Happy Hour Tonight
by Ted Strawser 19 May '06

19 May '06

Hey Guys Help us show some momentum in our effort to Dump Dufty. He has been on the wrong side of all five of Nimby Newsom's Vetos (3 against renters, 1 against Downtown Parking Reform, and now Healthy Saturdays). He is a nice guy but he is too conservative for his district. HIS VOTE ALONE, COST US HEALTHY SATURDAYS. PLease drop by one of the following events...even for a few minutes to show solidarity and momentum. The press will be there. (please send this to other lists) EVENTS ------------------------------------------------------ Lucky 13 Tonight 6pm (Market between 15 & 16)- Come toast a progressive in D8. Pick up some fliers & a Dump Dufty Button! Dolores Park 1pm - Saturday - Lets send off the mini mass. Rally. Put out a few fliers in D8 & find a pub to toast Bevan Farewell. IN THE MEDIA: ------------------------------------------------------ http://www.DumpDufty.com check out the coverage in Bay Area Reporter: http://www.ebar.com/news/article.php?sec=news&article=841 Newsom Slams DumpDufty! http://www.SFPartyParty.com

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