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Reminder: Meeting Tonight (Monday, Jan 19)
by Eric Brooks 19 Jan '09

19 Jan '09

Joint Meeting: Transportation & Sustainability Working Groups When: Monday, 1/19/09, 6:30PM-9:00PM Where: SFGP Office, 1028A Howard St Agenda Items Transportation: - New York City proposal for free mass transit, how to apply it to SF - Leveraging Obama stimulus dollars for mass transit - Stopping likely fare increase and Muni's disrespect for riders (especially disabled riders) - MTA increasing fare inspectors instead of revenues - need to act to get big revenue boost to Muni - BART police shooting of passengers and morphing of local transit into Homeland Security police state Sustainability: - Mayor's corporate privatization of San Francisco biofuels - Board of Supervisors Clean Energy Act - 100% clean electricity in SF! - SFPUC's hiring of former PG&E employee to run Community Choice clean energy project - Keeping Community Choice on track - SFPUC staff's move to defund nonprofit/low-income Mirkarimi solar program to increase Mayor's private solar subsidies

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Google adds mass transit to maps
by Ann Garrison 16 Jan '09

16 Jan '09

http://blogs.seattleweekly.com/dailyweekly/2009/01/ can_i_google_my_bus.php

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Transpo/Sustainability Meeting Tue, Jan 20?
by Eric Brooks 15 Jan '09

15 Jan '09

Hi all, Who's up for a joint Transportation/Sustainability meeting on Tuesday the 20th at 6:30pm? (Keep in mind the 20th is inauguration day.) cheers Eric B -- "I am not a liberator. Liberators do not exist. The people liberate themselves." – Che Guevara

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Network of Spiritual Progressives - Sign Gaza Ad
by Katherine Roberts 12 Jan '09

12 Jan '09

If anyone wants to sign this ad, you can just write $0.00 if you don't want to donate. Or you can donate to help get it printed. It will go into the New York Times on Wednesday. --K. http://www.spiritualprogressives.org/article.php/gaza "Let's have a moment of silence for all those Americans who are stuck in traffic on their way to the gym to ride the stationary bicycle." - Earl Blumenauer

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Fw: [Carfreeliving] 299 Valencia Appeal of CU for too much parking
by susan vaughan 11 Jan '09

11 Jan '09

Hi Everyone, I don't know that the SFGP, via the Transportation Working Group, has taken a position on this matter. In short, the developer of 299 Valencia got a Conditional Use permit from the Planning Commission to increase parking in the development from .5:1 (one parking space for every two units) to .75:1. A number of groups and individuals are appealing this to the newly seated Board of Supervisors on Tuesday, at 4 pm or later. I hope to be there supporting the appeal. See the letter for details. Sue --- On Sun, 1/11/09, Jason Henderson <jhenders(a)sbcglobal.net> wrote: From: Jason Henderson <jhenders(a)sbcglobal.net> Subject: [Carfreeliving] 299 Valencia Appeal of CU for too much parking To: Carfreeliving(a)livablecity.org Date: Sunday, January 11, 2009, 7:08 AM Friends, Happy New Year. The Appeal of the CU for parking at 299 Valencia is on for Tuesday, Jan 13th, 4pm "time certain." That means it could be at 4 or anytime after, but not before 4. Please try and attend and speak in favor of the appeal. Attached is the appeal letter from the Hayes Valley Neighborhood Association, for background and talking points. Thanks, -jh -- Jason Henderson San Francisco, CA (415)-255-8136 jhenders(a)sbcglobal.net _______________________________________________ Carfreeliving(a)livablecity.org mailing list to facilitate and promote car-free living in SF To unsubscribe: mailto:Carfreeliving-request@livablecity.org?subject=unsubscribe or, for all options, go to: http://livablecity.org/mailman/listinfo/carfreeliving_livablecity.org

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Need To Decide On Jan Meeting Day/Time
by Eric Brooks 02 Jan '09

02 Jan '09

Hi all, This is a very important month for both Transportation (Transbay/High Speed Rail/Likely Fare Hikes) - and Sustainability policy (BIG stuff on clean energy, power plants and an animal rendering biofuel plant). Since the GM day/time was changed to fourth Wednesdays we need to choose a new regular day/time so that we are ahead of the monthly County Council meeting on the third Wednesday. I propose that we meet on the third -Tuesday- each month, which would give us a January 20 meeting this month. If everyone is ok with it, lets just keep the time at 6:30pm - leading with Transportation issues. Affirmations?/Suggestions? peace Eric -- "I am not a liberator. Liberators do not exist. The people liberate themselves." – Che Guevara

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NYC Transit Proposal Would Make Buses/Rail Largely Free & Still Gain Revenue
by Eric Brooks 28 Dec '08

28 Dec '08

Hey all, There's a very interesting new proposal for fees and funding for autos and mass transit in New York City which would make buses and rail transit nearly free while still gaining large revenues for the entire New York transportation system. The proponents have crunched numbers and compiled spread sheets and projections to back up their assumptions. I'm not sure whether this model could be directly transfered to San Francisco, but it is worth looking at for a concept to switch to free mass transit without losing any revenue. (The taxi surcharge looks a bit daunting, but would be feasible and necessary because of a sharp increase in taxi use that would otherwise result under the plan if there were no surcharge.) To get started on the basics go to: http://nnyn.org/kheelplan/kheel_plan2.html Or if you receive information better by hearing it described verbally go to: http://www.kpfa.org/archives/index.php?arch=30139 and fast forward the program to the 14 min, 15 sec mark, to hear an interview with one of the project's proponents. cheers Eric -- "I am not a liberator. Liberators do not exist. The people liberate themselves." – Che Guevara

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(fwd) NYTimes: Detroit Churches Pray for 'God's Bailout'
by John-Marc Chandonia 09 Dec '08

09 Dec '08

----- Forwarded message from Michael Smith <msmith(a)nextbus.com> ----- Clearly a parody created by the famous Reverent Billy! Oh my god, it isn't a parody! Aaaaaaaaarrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh! Mike Andy Thornley wrote: > >front page of today's NY Times, above the fold: > > >PRAYING FOR A MIRACLE S.U.V.'s sat on the altar of Greater Grace >Temple, a Pentecostal church in Detroit, as congregants prayed to save >the auto industry. > > >NY Times >December 8, 2008 > >*Detroit Churches Pray for 'God's Bailout'* >By NICK BUNKLEY > >DETROIT - The Sunday service at Greater Grace Temple began with the >Clark Sisters song "I'm Looking for a Miracle" and included a reading >of this verse from the Book of Romans: "I consider that our present >sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be >revealed in us." > >Pentecostal Bishop Charles H. Ellis III, who shared the sanctuary's >wide altar with three gleaming sport utility vehicles, closed his >sermon by leading the choir and congregants in a boisterous rendition >of the gospel singer Myrna Summers's "We're Gonna Make It" as hundreds >of worshipers who work in the automotive industry - union assemblers, >executives, car salesmen - gathered six deep around the altar to have >their foreheads anointed with consecrated oil. > >While Congress debated aid to the foundering Detroit automakers >Sunday, many here whose future hinges on the decision turned to prayer. > >Outside the Corpus Christi Catholic Church, a sign beckoned passers-by >inside to hear about "God's bailout plan." Roman Catholic churches in >the Detroit area distributed a four-page letter from Cardinal Adam >Maida, the archbishop, offering "some pastoral insights and >suggestions about how we might prepare to celebrate Christmas this >year when economic conditions are so grim." > >In the letter, Cardinal Maida acknowledged that "things in Michigan >will probably never be the same" but encourages the region's 1.3 >million Catholics to maintain their faith. "At this darkest time of >the year, we proclaim that Christ is our light and Christ is our >hope," he wrote. > >Last week Cardinal Maida gathered 11 Detroit-area religious leaders, >representing Christian, Jewish and Muslim congregations, to call on >Congress to approve the $34 billion in government-backed loans that >the automakers have requested. > >At Greater Grace Temple, an 8,000-member Pentecostal church in >northwest Detroit, the Sunday service was dedicated to addressing the >uncertainty facing workers whose livelihood depends on the well-being >of General Motors, Ford Motor and Chrysler. > >"We have never seen as midnight an hour as we face this coming week," >Bishop Ellis said, referring to the possibility that Congress would >soon vote on a deal to give the carmakers enough money to stay afloat >into next year. > >"I don't know what's going to happen, but we need prayer," he said. >"When it's all said and done, we're all in this thing together." > >Greater Grace, the largest church in Detroit, invited officials from >the United Automobile Workers union to speak before Bishop Ellis gave >his sermon, titled "A Hybrid Hope." > >The S.U.V.'s on the stage, a Chevrolet Tahoe, Ford Escape and Chrysler >Aspen on loan from local dealerships, were all gas-electric hybrids, >and Bishop Ellis urged worshipers to combat the region's woes by >mixing hope with faith in God. > >"We have done all that we can do in this union, so I turn it over to >the Lord," General Holiefield, a U.A.W. vice president for Chrysler, >told the crowd. A vice president for the parts suppliers, James >Settles Jr., asked those present "to continue your prayers, so we can >see a miracle next week." > >Bishop Ellis encouraged the congregation to pray, not that Congress >would "do the right thing" and approve loaning money to the car >companies, but that Detroiters would "make it" through these tough times. >"We've got to keep the faith," said Mike Young, 47, who works for the >Dana Corporation, a parts supplier, and has spent more than three >months of this year on furlough. His factory, in the suburb of Auburn >Hills, builds drive shafts for Chrysler, which has said it would soon >run out of money without billions of dollars in aid from Congress. >"But you can't count on that," Mr. Young said. "All my hope is in God." ----- End forwarded message ----- -- John-Marc Chandonia (jmc(a)sfgreens.org) http://sfgreens.org/

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Re: [Transpo] [Sustain] Switch Meetings To Third Thursdays?
by Eric Brooks 19 Nov '08

19 Nov '08

I think we couldn't do the 20th for some reason, so I suggested we wait until next month and attend the Nov 13th clean energy conference instead. I was assuming this month was off, especially since we are having a discussion about energy issues tomorrow at the GM. cheers Eric Don Eichelberger wrote: > I suggest we meet this Thursday the 20th and decide what to do for the > future. > > Don > > Eric Brooks wrote: > >> I would be into either one. The third Tuesday would be the 18th this >> month. 2nd Thursday is the 13th. >> >> John-Marc Chandonia wrote: >> >>> On Thu, Nov 06, 2008 at 09:09:31AM -0800, Eric Brooks wrote: >>> >>> >>>> Now that the GM is meeting on the 4th Wednesday of each month, I >>>> think it would be really useful to us to switch our monthly meeting >>>> to each 3rd Thursday so that we can vote on action items and >>>> present them right away to the GM. >>>> >>> >>> Unfortunately, that would be the day after the CC meeting, so it would >>> be harder to get items agendized. How about the 3rd Tuesday or the >>> 2nd Thursday, so the CC has time to schedule items? >>> >>> JMC >>> >>> >> >> -- >> "I am not a liberator. Liberators do not exist. The people liberate >> themselves." – Che Guevara >> >> ------------------------------------------------------------------------ >> >> _______________________________________________ >> Sustainability mailing list >> Sustainability(a)sfgreens.org >> https://list.sfgreens.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/sustainability >> >> > -- "I am not a liberator. Liberators do not exist. The people liberate themselves." – Che Guevara

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City Trying To Sneak New SOMA Fossil Fuel Plant Under Transbay Terminal
by Eric Brooks 17 Nov '08

17 Nov '08

Here we go again... I found out about this when the reporter called me for comments about it. Note that an empty promise of hydrogen is given, but that the plant will be built to run on fossil fuel... http://www.sfexaminer.com/local/High-tech_underground_power_plant_might_be_… High-tech, underground power plant might be built in SoMa *By John Upton <mailto:jupton@sfexaminer.com>* Examiner Staff Writer 11/17/08 Commuters catch their buses at the Transbay Terminal. City officials are developing plans for an underground power plant to service proposed high-rise buildings on the site of the current terminal. Cindy Chew/The Examiner *SAN FRANCISCO* -- As controversy rages about if a power plant should be built or rebuilt in southeast San Francisco, city officials have quietly been developing plans for a separate underground plant to service planned high-rise buildings in SoMa. Massive amounts of power will be needed for the planned 1,000-foot Transbay office tower and rebuilt Transbay Transit Center at Mission and First streets, and for the thousands of new homes and millions of square feet of office space expected to be built in the coming decades in the South of Market neighborhood. The privately owned and operated plant would be designed so it could eventually run on hydrogen fuel cells instead of fossil fuels, Environment Department building official Mark Palmer said. Hydrogen fuel cells are an emerging type of technology that can be recharged using renewable or non-renewable power. Waste heat from the plant would be trapped and used to warm water for a combined heating district, dramatically improving the plant's efficiency and eliminating the need for individual heating and cooling systems, which are often built on rooftops, according to Palmer. "Instead of having a boiler and an air-conditioning plant in every building in a certain district, you could build a central facility that would provide heating and cooling for all the buildings," Palmer said. Combined heating districts, which are common throughout the world, can double a power plant's efficiency by reducing the amount of heat that is wasted, according to Palmer. The districts also maximize useable space in new buildings. About 170 buildings in San Francisco are already heated and cooled using a similar network of steam created by non-electricity producing boilers at Jessie Street between 5th and 6th streets and near the corner of Post and Hyde streets, according to NRG Energy, which owns the system. The steam can be seen wafting up from city streets. Eric Brooks, chairman of the San Francisco Green Party's Sustainability Working Group, pointed to climate change and said The City should spend generously on a plant that runs on hydrogen cells that are recharged using renewable energy. "Building any fossil fuel power plant --- even if it's really efficient --- is a bad idea," Brooks said. A feasibility study, expected to be published within eight weeks, will determine how much power and heat will be needed by new SoMa buildings and whether it could be provided by a subterranean natural gas-burning power plant, according to San Francisco Redevelopment Agency Project Manager Mike Grisso. jupton(a)sfexaminer.com <mailto:jupton@sfexaminer.com> By the numbers 40 acres Former freeway land to be redeveloped around Transbay Transit Center 3,450 New homes planned in redevelopment area 6 million square feet New office space expected near Transbay Transit Center 1,000 feet Proposed height of Transbay Tower 800 feet Maximum proposed height for some buildings near the Transbay Tower 850 feet Height of the Transamerica building --- currently The City's tallest 2014 Expected opening of new Transbay Transit Center /Sources: San Francisco Redevelopment Agency, San Francisco Planning Department/ -- "I am not a liberator. Liberators do not exist. The people liberate themselves." -- Che Guevara -- "I am not a liberator. Liberators do not exist. The people liberate themselves." -- Che Guevara

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