- Transpo - list.sfgreens.org

Fwd: Rebuttal to Endorsement of John Rizzo
by Katherine Roberts 04 Nov '06

04 Nov '06

------- Forwarded Message From: Jym Dyer <jym(a)econet.org> Date: Fri, 3 Nov 2006 09:32:44 -0800 (PST) Subject: Rebuttal to Endorsement of John Rizzo =v= The _Bay_Guardian_ chose not to print this letter. <_Jym_> Dear Editor, Campaigning for College Board, John Rizzo promises fiscal integrity and better public transit. This sounds good, and you gave him your endorsement, but look at his track record: he made the very same promises when campaigning for 1998's Prop J, which authorized an underground parking garage in Golden Gate Park. Garage proponents calling themselves "San Franciscans for Better Parks" hired the public relations firm Solem & Associates, which boasts among its clients Bechtel, Chevron, PG&E, and Lucasfilm. This is the group that funded Rizzo's pro-J ballot argument. A textbook example of an astroturf group, its messages were tailored to address, or rather flimflam, the concerns of the grassroots opposition to the garage. They did this by cobbling together garage supporters who called themselves environmental activists, with Rizzo as their spokesperson. With a budget of half a million dollars, the campaign was a success: voters narrowly approved the garage and the formation of the Golden Gate Park Concourse Authority, to which Rizzo was appointed by then-Mayor Willie Brown. The Authority immediately got down to the business of breaking Prop J's many promises to the public. Rizzo settled into the role of "loyal opposition," at times the lone dissenting vote. This was an exercise in futility -- a futility that he himself put into place -- and the only thing that benefited from the exercise was his image. Considering how thoroughly the public was being defrauded, and that every promise he'd signed his name to was being broken, he should have done more than that. Others did do more than that. Lawsuits were filed, including one by Katherine Roberts of Trees Not Cars, who argued that Prop J was being violated. A judge agreed on one point, so the garage-builders responded with an outrageous scheme to widen a park road. This riled up public opposition, as it was surely intended to. At this point, Rizzo stirred from his naysaying repose to spring into action. His efforts centered on last year's Prop G, which had two parts, the first serving as a Trojan horse for the second: 1) weak wording about not widening the park road, and 2) strong wording to render the Trees Not Cars lawsuit moot. Rizzo campaigned tirelessly for this thing, taking it to a number of groups to win their endorsements. He focused on part 1 and avoided talking about part 2, apart from implying that Roberts was in league with the GOP. The poor judgement and lack of integrity he's shown in the public sphere disqualifies him for public office. I'm not voting for Rizzo for College Board in November. Sincerely, Jym Dyer Trees Not Cars San Francisco ________________________________________________________________ Notes ~~~~~ [1] San Franciscans for Better Parks spends half a million dollars, much of it going to Solem & Associates. http://www.sfgov.org/site/ethics_page.asp?id=13953 http://www.sfgov.org/site/ethics_page.asp?id=14930 [2] Solem & Associates gushes about their clients. http://www.solem.com/solem_pages/services/guide.htm "If you're a major oil company and the San Francisco board of supervisors wants to force you to sell your gasoline outlets in the city, you call Don Solem. If you're a development company hoping to build on a prime mid-town location, and you want everything to go smoothly, you call Don Solem. And if you're a citizen's group hoping to pass a bond measure for environmental improvements, you call Don Solem. At least that's what Chevron, Forest City Development and San Franciscans for Better Parks did, and in each case the result was the same: victory." http://www.solem.com/solem_pages/services/saopinionresearch/opinions_client… m [3] From the ballot pamphlet, Rizzo's promises that Prop J would do environmental wonders (promises funded by San Franciscans for Better Parks). LOCAL ENVIRONMENTALISTS FOR PROPOSITION J Proposition J converts 250,000 square feet of surface parking into grass, trees, and open space where today there are cars and more parking will be removed later. Proposition J jump-starts long-discussed public transportation projects including a free inter-park shuttle, supported by fees from the parking garage, as well as better public transportation to the Park. It preserves the Museum Concourse while removing cars from the surrounding area. Frop J also enables the Park to keep the Academy of Sciences, an institution that supports wildlife, plant, and habitat conservation through research and education. None of this is a coincidence. Environmentalists worked hard on the design of Proposition J to ensure that it would improve and enhance Golden Gate Park for recreationists, museum-goers, and everyone else who enjoys the Park. VOTE YES ON PROPOSITION J John Rizzo, Environmental Activist David M. Jamison, Chair, Golden Gate Park Conservancy Kirby Walker, Board Member, National Resources Defense Council Dennis Antenore Helen Martin Spalding, Trustee, Wildlife Conservation Society Walter C. Sedgwick, Director, National Audubon Society Director, Land Trust Alliance The true source of funds used for the printing fee of this argument was San Franciscans for Better Parks. ------- End of Forwarded Message

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Help me win a BART seat?
by Emily Drennen 03 Nov '06

03 Nov '06

Hi there, I could really use some help this weekend. I am running in a tight race and help from the SF Green Transportation Group might be the difference between a Republican incumbent and a new progressive voice on the BART Board. If you have an hour or two before the polls close, please call or email my campaign manager Richard to find out how you can help. Richard Dunn 510-459-3561 or richard(a)emilydrennen.com Thanks, Emily Drennen Green Candidate for SF BART Board www.emilydrennen.com ____________________________________________________________________________________ Get your email and see which of your friends are online - Right on the New Yahoo.com (http://www.yahoo.com/preview)

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Prop 87 'Slosh Over' Theory Really Dangerous Policy
by Eric Brooks 02 Nov '06

02 Nov '06

This idea that we should go ahead and vote for Prop 87 even though it will vastly ramp up biofuels and natural gas and perpetuate the automobile economy far into the future, simply because a little of the money will slosh over into renewables like solar and wind, is very flawed logic. This is because the net result will be that solar, wind and other -real- renewables, and mass transit, will get off the ground much too slowly to stop the global warming crisis, because so much massive effort and funds will be poured into biofuels and natural gas. And the voters, after this Tuesday will foolishly breathe a huge sigh of relief and falsely imagine that we are at last on the road to solving the crisis. The will relax and stop worrying. So the net effect of Prop 87, will be to kill real renewables and mass transit for at least another couple of decades. And that is the goal of the neoliberals. And that could be the doom of our planet's future. The alternative to this dark scenario is to flatly reject Prop 87 and demand a piece of legislation that levies the -same- tax, but puts the proceeds from this tax -solely- into the development of solar, wind, wave, tidal etc. and mass transit, with heavy emphasis toward -electric- mass transit. We must vote no.... Eric Brooks

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Questions on Spare the Air
by christine mcclintock 10 Oct '06

10 Oct '06

Hi, All... I was just reading over my state voters' guide and see that there are a lot of transpo-themed props. I was noticing, though that none of them seem to mention the "Spare the Air" program. Does anyone know where that money actually comes from? I thought that it was from the gas tax, but it doesn't look like it is. Also - I was wondering if anyone had any insight on why the three Spare the Air days were used all in a row this year. That seemed really odd to me, and that there might have been some behind closed door politicking going on around that. If you have any juicy bits on this, please let me know - I'm curious! Thanks! Christine

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[Julie.Kirschbaum@sfcta.org: Mark your calendar - Upcoming Workshops for Geary Corridor BRT Study]
by John-Marc Chandonia 03 Oct '06

03 Oct '06

FYI... ----- Forwarded message from Julie Kirschbaum <Julie.Kirschbaum(a)sfcta.org> ----- Greetings, The San Francisco County Transportation Authority and Muni invite you to the last series of public workshops for the Geary Corridor Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Study. Participants will have an opportunity to comment on evaluation results for conceptual designs and learn about next steps. Community input is critical, so come and be heard! Thursday, November 2 from 6 pm to 8 pm Jones Memorial Methodist Church 1975 Post Street @ Steiner Japanese interpretation provided Saturday, November 4 from 10 am to 12 pm Self Help for the Elderly 408 22nd Avenue@Geary Boulevard Russian & Chinese interpretation provided Saturday, November 4 from 2:30 pm to 4:30 pm Tenderloin Community School 627 Turk Street@Polk Spanish & Vietnamese interpretation provided I encourage you to attend and hope you will help us spread the word by circulating the workshop logistics to relevant email and mailing lists. Other key next steps include presenting the final report to the Geary Citizens Advisory Committee in February 2007 and to the San Francisco County Transportation Authority Board in March/April 2007. Have a great weekend, Julie Kirschbaum Julie B. Kirschbaum Senior Transportation Planner San Francisco County Transportation Authority 100 Van Ness Avenue, 26th Floor San Francisco, CA 94102-5244 ph. 415.522.4830 fax. 415.522.4829 ----- End forwarded message ----- -- John-Marc Chandonia (jmc(a)sfgreens.org) http://sfgreens.org/

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Agenda Packet for the Geary Citizens Advisory Committee Meeting - Thursday, September 28 at 6:00 pm
by Julie Kirschbaum 26 Sep '06

26 Sep '06

Greetings, The agenda packet for Thursday's Geary Citizens Advisory Committee is attached for your review. The meeting will take place this Thursday, September 28 at 6:00 p.m. in the Authority's conference room at 100 Van Ness Avenue, 26th Floor. The agenda packet is also available for download at: http://www.sfcta.org/Geary/GCAC.htm <http://www.sfcta.org/Geary/GCAC.htm> . I look forward to seeing many of you there. Sincerely, Julie Kirschbaum Julie B. Kirschbaum Senior Transportation Planner San Francisco County Transportation Authority 100 Van Ness Avenue, 26th Floor San Francisco, CA 94102-5244 ph. 415.522.4830 fax. 415.522.4829

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Live Call-in show: get your questions ready! 621-4472
by susan_e_vaughan＠juno.com 24 Sep '06

24 Sep '06

Hello Everyone, Krissy Keefer will be doing a live call-in TV show (Channel 29, Public Access TV) on Tuesday, October 3, from 7 to 8 p.m. (call-in part will be from 7:30 to 8 p.m.). Get your questions ready! The call-in number is 621-4472. Sue

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Re: [Transpo] meeting next week
by susan_e_vaughan＠juno.com 23 Sep '06

23 Sep '06

Well, I'll probably be in the office -- but don't know if IU can get away to do a meeting. We do need to plan a house party. Sue -- John-Marc Chandonia <jmc(a)sfgreens.org> wrote: Hi, I'm out of town next week. If Sue still wants to hold the Transpo meeting on Tuesday, then go ahead (we need to plan a house party for Emily Drennen). Otherwise, we can plan this over email when I get back. 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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meeting next week
by John-Marc Chandonia 23 Sep '06

23 Sep '06

Hi, I'm out of town next week. If Sue still wants to hold the Transpo meeting on Tuesday, then go ahead (we need to plan a house party for Emily Drennen). Otherwise, we can plan this over email when I get back. JMC -- John-Marc Chandonia (jmc(a)sfgreens.org) http://sfgreens.org/

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Re: [Transpo] [marta@transcoalition.org: RE: TALC Summit Likely on Mar ch 24 - Any Conflicts?]
by susan_e_vaughan＠juno.com 20 Sep '06

20 Sep '06

yes, good idea. Are we having a TWG meeting next week? Will have to check with the Keefer campaign. SUe -- "'John-Marc Chandonia'" <jmc(a)sfgreens.org> wrote: I assume we want to do this, right? JMC ----- Forwarded message from Marta Lindsey <marta(a)transcoalition.org> ----- Reply-To: marta(a)transcoalition.org From: Marta Lindsey <marta(a)transcoalition.org> To: 'John-Marc Chandonia' <jmc(a)sfgreens.org> Subject: RE: TALC Summit Likely on March 24 - Any Conflicts? Date: Tue, 19 Sep 2006 15:07:17 -0700 Dear John-Marc, How about we make SF Greens an affiliate group of TALC then? It's free and means less involvement. We definitely want to keep you as part of TALC! Thanks, Marta Marta Lindsey, Membership & Development Director Transportation and Land Use Coalition (TALC) 405 14th Street, Suite 605 Oakland, CA 94612 510.740.3150 x14 office 510.740.3131 fax marta(a)transcoalition.org <mailto:marta@transcoalition.org> -----Original Message----- From: 'John-Marc Chandonia' [mailto:jmc@sfgreens.org] Sent: Sunday, September 10, 2006 1:46 PM To: Marta Lindsey Subject: Re: TALC Summit Likely on March 24 - Any Conflicts? On Wed, Aug 30, 2006 at 05:35:35PM -0700, Marta Lindsey wrote: > Just wanted to check in with you on whether SF Green Party has decided to > renew as a member group of TALC (we hope so!). I don't think so, since we're really broke right now. Thanks, JMC -- John-Marc Chandonia (jmc(a)sfgreens.org) http://sfgreens.org/ ----- End forwarded message ----- -- 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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