June 2007 - Transpo - list.sfgreens.org

Re: [Transpo] reminder - Wednesday meeting to discuss MUNI charter ref orm
by susan_e_vaughan＠juno.com 30 Jun '07

30 Jun '07

It's unlikely that I will be able to make it to the meeting. However, I did read Peskin's charter amendment prior to a discussion about the item at the Sierra Club. Not that I remember the details. I took notes, but I can't remember where I left them. If I remember correctly, the reform empowers the MTA to raise parking fees and dedicate all the increase in parking fees to public transit. It also reforms some of the relationship between the employees and the management -- and it's my understanding that the unions are not happy about the changes. Sue Please note: message attached Hi, This is a reminder that the Transpo WG will meet tomorrow night from 7-9 to discuss the Peskin and McGoldrick MUNI charter reform amendments. I sent copies of both to the Transpo list, so members of that group can find them in the archives. Peskin's is fairly coplicated, so please read it before the meeting. If anybody else needs copies of the legislation, let me know. JMC

3 3

Fwd: Worldwatch: Planet Gets a Lemon as Global Car Industry Revs Up
by Ann Garrison 29 Jun '07

29 Jun '07

And Schwarzenegger, our Jolly Green Governor, wants to build more freeways instead of a bullet train. > From: Darcey Rakestraw <DRakestraw(a)worldwatch.org> > Date: June 27, 2007 8:32:24 AM PDT > To: Darcey Rakestraw <DRakestraw(a)worldwatch.org> > Subject: Worldwatch: Planet Gets a Lemon as Global Car Industry > Revs Up > > FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE > Wednesday, June 27, 2007 > > Contact: Darcey Rakestraw > (+1 202) 452.1992 x517 > drakestraw(a)worldwatch.org > > > Planet Gets a Lemon as Global Car Industry Revs Up > > 2006 U.S. Fleet Heaviest in Three Decades as Gas Prices Soar > > > WASHINGTON, D.C.-The world's auto manufacturers produced a record > 67 million vehicles in 2006, putting more cars on the road than > ever before, according to a new Vital Signs Update from the > Worldwatch Institute. While global production grew 4 percent last > year, China increased its production by nearly 30 percent, > overtaking Germany to become the third largest producer. > > "America's car addiction is becoming a global phenomenon with no > sign of reversing," says Worldwatch Senior Researcher Michael > Renner, who authored the update. "This trend begs immediate and > innovative transportation solutions to address the consumption of > fossil fuels that is harming our climate." > > China's rise represents the most dramatic change in the world auto > industry, with production there more than quintupling in the last > decade. Sales within China surpassed the 3 million mark in 2005, > with nearly 9 million passenger cars on the country's roads. While > this is still a comparatively small fleet, it is likely to grow > rapidly in coming years, and China is expected to become a major > exporter within the next four years. > > Traffic congestion, road accidents, air pollution, climate change, > and peak oil are all challenges the world faces from car-centered > transportation, according to the Institute's State of the World > 2007 report. On average, urban car travel uses nearly twice as much > energy as urban bus travel. > > Despite growing awareness of environmental impacts from burning > fossil fuels, consumers have generally been slow to adopt more fuel- > efficient vehicles. However, the rise in oil prices and concerns > about climate change in recent years have spurred interest in more > efficient vehicles, including low-emission diesels and hybrids. > Toyota, the largest distributor of hybrid gasoline-electric cars, > sold 312,500 hybrids in 2006 and expects to sell 430,000 in 2007. > Dozens of new hybrid vehicle models are under development by Toyota > and other companies. > > Governments are increasingly eager to regulate fuel economy and > carbon dioxide emissions. In the late 1990s, car manufacturers > selling to the European Union voluntarily agreed to reduce carbon > emissions to 140 grams per kilometer by 2008, but they have not yet > come close to meeting this target. In response, the EU decided to > impose mandatory limits requiring further cuts to 130 grams per > kilometer. Meanwhile, California sued six of the world's largest > automakers over climate change, charging that greenhouse gases from > their vehicles have caused billions of dollars in damages. China's > first national mandatory fuel economy standards went into force in > July 2005, and a more stringent second phase will be introduced in > January 2008. > > In the United States, where the 2006 model year included the > heaviest vehicles in three decades, the Senate passed an energy > bill last week that includes an increase in average fuel economy > from 25 to 35 miles per gallon for cars, SUVs, and pickup trucks by > 2020. > > "With more cars on the road year after year, regulating auto fuel > consumption and emissions alone is not a solution. What is truly > needed is a transportation revolution," says Renner. "Cities from > Bogotá to London are decreasing their dependence on cars, and many > more cities could follow their example. We need denser cities with > better land-use practices and a commitment to public > transportation." Innovative transportation solutions, such as bus > rapid transit and light rail, are already helping to green urban > transportation, according to State of the World 2007. > > - END - > > Note to Editors: > > To obtain the full report, or to interview the author, contact > Darcey Rakestraw at drakestraw(a)worldwatch.org or 202-452-1992 x 517. > > Worldwatch E-mail list: If you would like to receive Worldwatch > press advisories regularly or wish to be removed from this mailing > list, please send your request to Darcey Rakestraw at > drakestraw(a)worldwatch.org or call 202.452.1992 x517. > > About the Worldwatch Institute: The Worldwatch Institute is an > independent research organization based in Washington, DC. Through > accessible, fact-based analysis of critical global issues, > Worldwatch helps to inform people around the world about the > complex interactions among people, nature, and economies. For more > information, visit www.worldwatch.org. > > Darcey Rakestraw > > Communications Manager, Worldwatch Institute > > 1776 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Suite 800 > > Washington, DC 20036 > > phone: 202-452-1992 x 517 > > cel: 202-210-0152 > > fax: 202-296-7365 > > drakestraw(a)worldwatch.org > > h. for MAYOR!!! Ahimsa for MAYOR!!! Diamond Dave for Mayor!!! Anyone but Laurence Pelosi's cousin Gavin for MAYOR!!! ---Ann Garrison anniegarrison(a)mac.com (415) 285-7259 (415) 786-3896 "El Baradei has as much chance of stopping proliferation as George Bush has of stopping the drug trade." --Craig Reishus, Nuclear Free Future Awards, http://www.nuclear- free.com/english/frames7.htm

1 0

OOPS! District 3 Dem Club Forum On Muni Reform Already Happened..
by Eric Brooks 27 Jun '07

27 Jun '07

OOPS! I thought it was July. How did it go? dave(a)livablecity.org wrote: > except that you missed it. It was Monday. > >> Hi all, >> >> The D3 Dem Club has often broken the mold and supported Green candidates >> and causes. >> Some of us should definitely show up at this forum as friendly >> participants to counter the inevitable nonsense that will be put forward >> by Andrew Sullivan (who has been invited to attend - the club likes to >> foster active debate); especially those of you like John-Marc who have a >> really tight grasp of Muni issues. >> >> [begin forward] >> >> The District 3 Democratic Club wrote: >> >> Addition to prior meeting notification: we'll also be welcoming panelist >> SPUR Transportation Policy Director Dave Snyder. All other details >> remain the same. Thanks & hope to see you there for another fun forum! >> >> DATE: >> Monday, June 25th, 6pm - 8:15pm >> >> LOCATION: >> Bocce Café (478 Green St, SF 94133, cross street Grant St (North Beach)) >> in the back outdoor covered area >> http://boccecafe.com/ >> >> PANELISTS: >> * President of the Board of Supervisors Aaron Peskin * >> * Chairman of Rescue MUNI, Andy Sullivan (www.rescuemuni.org) * >> * SPUR Transportation Policy Director Dave Snyder (www.spur.org) * >> >> AGENDA: >> 6 - 6:30pm Mix & mingle, reception (no host bar) >> 6:30 - 8:15pm Forum discussion followed by Q&A >> >> DESCRIPTION: >> The recent MUNI T-Third light-rail line was introduced to much fanfare >> but had numerous issues sparking widespread criticism and a wider >> community debate on the poor state of our city's transportation system. >> Supervisor Peskin has responded to recent MUNI woes with a charter >> amendment that includes the following measures for the Municipal >> Transportation Agency (MTA): >> * Allocate all revenue from The City's parking garages and meters to the >> MTA >> * Revoke the agency's non-negotiable salary formula, which keeps its >> operators among the highest paid in the country >> * Give the agency more time to adopt its budget. >> * Incent MTA executives with bonuses for increased ridership >> * Require in the city's constitution that the MTA produce a plan to >> reduce carbon emissions from all vehicles and increase ridership >> While the amendment addresses important areas in need of improvement, >> labor union representatives have indicated that drivers salaries are not >> so much the issue as the ongoing budget deficit. Please join us as >> Supervisor Peskin sheds more details on this significant ballot measure >> and the panelists and attendees join in this fascinating discussion. >> >> >> ARTICLES: >> http://www.examiner.com/a-678076~Peskin_to_make_Muni_reform_push.html >> >> http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/06/10/MNGR0QCTEC1.DTL… >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> Transpo mailing list >> Transpo(a)sfgreens.org >> https://list.sfgreens.org/mailman/listinfo/transpo > >

1 0

Schwarzenegger and the Bullet Train
by Ann Garrison 27 Jun '07

27 Jun '07

You may not have time for this on Wednesday but I hope you all know how fiercely Schwarzenegger opposes the bullet train we're supposed to have a chance to vote on, as a referendum, at the same time as the upcoming presidential debacle, in November 2008. but he's likely to try to outmaneuver us, as he did with the prisons. He wants to build more freeways instead and says that's what we Californians want too, but of course, this is the gov who said that he'd give us all the mass transit we need until the I-580 Freeway Connect could be emergency repaired for $20 million, (but not thereafter). I know this may not be top priority now, but having run into the story in the LA TImes today, I thought I should pass it on to Transpo. h. for MAYOR!!! Ahimsa for MAYOR!!! Diamond Dave for Mayor!!! Anyone but Laurence Pelosi's cousin Gavin for MAYOR!!! ---Ann Garrison anniegarrison(a)mac.com (415) 285-7259 (415) 786-3896 "El Baradei has as much chance of stopping proliferation as George Bush has of stopping the drug trade." --Craig Reishus, Nuclear Free Future Awards, http://www.nuclear- free.com/english/frames7.htm

1 0

reminder - Wednesday meeting to discuss MUNI charter reform
by John-Marc Chandonia 26 Jun '07

26 Jun '07

Hi, This is a reminder that the Transpo WG will meet tomorrow night from 7-9 to discuss the Peskin and McGoldrick MUNI charter reform amendments. I sent copies of both to the Transpo list, so members of that group can find them in the archives. Peskin's is fairly coplicated, so please read it before the meeting. If anybody else needs copies of the legislation, let me know. JMC -- John-Marc Chandonia (jmc(a)sfgreens.org) http://sfgreens.org/

1 0

June 30 Newsom 'Town Hall Meeting' Subject Will Be MUNI
by Eric Brooks 23 Jun '07

23 Jun '07

Hey all, Perfect chance to pester Newsom about free Muni. see below or http://www.examiner.com/printa-793806~City_Hall:_Newsom_to_discuss_Muni.htm… Politics City Hall: Newsom to discuss Muni Staff reports, The Examiner 2007-06-22 10:00:00.0 Current rank: # *291* of 6,947 SAN FRANCISCO - Mayor Gavin Newsom will hold his next "community discussion" in The City's District 3, which encompasses Chinatown and North Beach and Fisherman's Wharf, on Saturday, June 30. Newsom will discuss The City's efforts to improve Muni service, as well as the plan to build a Central Subway by 2016. The discussion will also include what The City is doing to increase pedestrian and bicycle safety. The community discussion will be held at 10 a.m. June 30 at the Jean Parker Elementary School, 840 Broward at Powell Street.

1 0

Transpo WG next week
by John-Marc Chandonia 20 Jun '07

20 Jun '07

I posted the agenda to the website; I also forwarded copies of the 2 draft resolutions we're considering to the Transpo list. JMC -- John-Marc Chandonia (jmc(a)sfgreens.org) http://sfgreens.org/

1 0

MTA Charter Amendment: Supervisor McGoldrick
by Pooja Jhunjhunwala 19 Jun '07

19 Jun '07

Hi John, Thanks for your interest in the Supervisor's introduced charter amendment for MTA Governance, among other things. Here is a copy of the legislation; please let me know if you have any questions. (See attached file: 050929A1 MTA Governance.doc) Pooja Jhunjhunwala Legislative Assistant Office of Supervisor Jake McGoldrick 415.554.7413

1 0

MTA Charter Amendment
by David Noyola 18 Jun '07

18 Jun '07

Please find attached a copy of the Emissions Reduction and Transit Reform Act of 2007, per your request. David Noyola Office of Supervisor Aaron Peskin City Hall, Room 256 San Francisco, CA 94102 t. 415.554.7451 f. 415.554.7454(See attached file: MTA_1.doc)

1 0

[susan_e_vaughan@yahoo.com: Fwd: Parking for ballot]
by John-Marc Chandonia 08 Jun '07

08 Jun '07

(fwd from Sue) ----- Forwarded message from susan vaughan <susan_e_vaughan(a)yahoo.com> ----- Date: Thu, 7 Jun 2007 08:03:11 -0700 (PDT) From: susan vaughan <susan_e_vaughan(a)yahoo.com> Subject: Fwd: Parking for ballot To: John-Marc Chandonia <jmc(a)sfgreens.org>, Eric Brooks <brookse32(a)netscape.net> TWG should come out in opposition to this and encourage people not to sign the petitions. Sue Howard Strassner <ruthow(a)dslextreme.com> wrote: Subject: Parking for ballot I picked up a hard copy of the ?Parking Space Ordinance?which is out for signatures in an attempt to get on the Nov. Ballot. They need about 11,000 signatures before July 9. They will probably get them. I need a scanner to distribute the 61 pages of the ordinance electronically. The ordinance is proposed to change the Planning Code relative to parking. I reviewed my hard copy: Suggested Position: The SC opposes the proposed Ballot Initiative: Regulation of Parking Space Ordinance The Biggest Change: Replaces the downtown Office Accessory Parking Maximum of 7% of area (or about 0.2 spaces per 1,000 square feet) with an allowable of up one space per 1,000 square feet. [Table 151.1] Other Significant Changes: Permits changes to add parking, to existing buildings, even if the building is on a Transit Preferential Street, or it impacts pedestrians, bicycles or significant trees. [SEC. 150 (c ) (1). Prevents any expansion of the C-3 district beyond the North East Quadrant as defined by the MTC. C-3 comes with the 7% and residential parking limits. Permits exceptions for more than 0.75 parking spaces per unit in the downtown. [Table 151.1] Some other word changes that may increase other allowable parking or increase minimums. Requires payments ($15,000) in lieu of providing a required parking space to be used for new City off-street parking, even if not required. [SEC 161 (g) (2)] Includes some Greenwashing: Designating some spaces for low emission vehicles. Requires a few more spaces for car share vehicles, but car share parking doesn?t count within maximums. --------------------------------- Choose the right car based on your needs. Check out Yahoo! Autos new Car Finder tool. ----- End forwarded message ----- -- John-Marc Chandonia (jmc(a)sfgreens.org) http://sfgreens.org/

1 0