- Transpo - list.sfgreens.org

Re: [Transpo] more event followup
by ed 03 May '05

03 May '05

I was looking at the Issei Memorial Hall at the JCCCNC... Occupancy: Seats 150-175 people; fits 175-250 people for a lecture or film; fits 275-300 people for a social Email: facility(a)jcccnc.org ph#: 415-567-5505 x227 What would be the budget for something like this? Ed At 01:32 PM 5/1/2005 -0700, you wrote: >Wonderful. I received the previous e-mail and will be in touch with Dave >Room (who wants to be a PANELIST when we do our next event -- I think he >should be). I'm going to check with Michael Connor (O'Connor?) about >doing the event at The Independent for Ross. Someone else also suggested >Cole Hall at UCSF. I'll look into both those places. > >Sue >

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Re: [Transpo] music concourse/mlk drive letter
by susan_e_vaughan＠juno.com 02 May '05

02 May '05

Here are two letters below, one to Jon Rubin, the other to Steve Heminger. John-Marc, can you format them without me sending them in attachment form? Sue 1028A Howard Street San Francisco, Ca. 94103 May 1, 2005 Jon Rubin President of the Metropolitan Transportation Commission Metropolitan Transportation Commission 101 Eighth Street Oakland, California 94607 Dear Mr. Rubin: The Transportation Working Group of the San Francisco Green Party promotes social, economic and environmental justice through the expansion of inexpensive and appealing public transportation services, improved pedestrian areas and safer bicycling, especially in underserved and low-income neighborhoods of San Francisco. For this reason, we endorse the proposal for a bike pathway on the West Span of the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge, completing the bike pathway already planned from Oakland to Yerba Buena Island. It is especially important that residents of Treasure Island be provided links to San Francisco and Oakland beyond buses, which run infrequently, and privately-owned cars. Because increased bicycling is essential in order to improve Bay Area air quality, reduce traffic congestion, and maintain and improve the health of the regions inhabitants, we encourage the Metropolitan Transportation Commission to seek funds for this project in ways that will not negatively impact other bicycle and pedestrian projects or mass transit projects. In addition, the Transportation Working Group endorses the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition resolution below: We support the construction of a shore-to-shore bicycle/ pedestrian/ maintenance pathway on the San Francisco- Oakland Bay Bridge, and request that the California State Legislature and/ or the Metropolitan Transportation Commission include funding for this vital, and long overdue transportation link as part of any plan to raise the funds necessary for re-construction of the replacement East Span. A shore to shore pathway will support the Bay Area's desire to increase public health through physical activity and decreased air pollution, decrease traffic congestion, and expand sustainable modes of transportation and recreation. Sincerely, Sue Vaughan and John-Marc Chandonia Co-Chairs, the Transportation Working Group of the San Francisco Green Party Cc: Leah Shahum, executive director of the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition Steve Heminger, executive director of the Metropolitan Transportation Commission 1028A Howard Street San Francisco, Ca. 94103 May 1, 2005 Steve Heminger Executive Director of the Metropolitan Transportation Commission Metropolitan Transportation Commission 101 Eighth Street Oakland, California 94607 Dear Mr. Heminger: The Transportation Working Group of the San Francisco Green Party promotes social, economic and environmental justice through the expansion of inexpensive and appealing public transportation services, improved pedestrian areas and safer bicycling, especially in underserved and low-income neighborhoods of San Francisco. For this reason, we endorse the proposal for a bike pathway on the West Span of the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge, completing the bike pathway already planned from Oakland to Yerba Buena Island. It is especially important that residents of Treasure Island be provided links to San Francisco and Oakland beyond buses, which run infrequently, and privately-owned cars. Because increased bicycling is essential in order to improve Bay Area air quality, reduce traffic congestion, and maintain and improve the health of the regions inhabitants, we encourage the Metropolitan Transportation Commission to seek funds for this project in ways that will not negatively impact other bicycle and pedestrian projects or mass transit projects. In addition, the Transportation Working Group endorses the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition resolution below: We support the construction of a shore-to-shore bicycle/ pedestrian/ maintenance pathway on the San Francisco- Oakland Bay Bridge, and request that the California State Legislature and/ or the Metropolitan Transportation Commission include funding for this vital, and long overdue transportation link as part of any plan to raise the funds necessary for re-construction of the replacement East Span. A shore to shore pathway will support the Bay Area's desire to increase public health through physical activity and decreased air pollution, decrease traffic congestion, and expand sustainable modes of transportation and recreation. Sincerely, Sue Vaughan and John-Marc Chandonia Co-Chairs, the Transportation Working Group of the San Francisco Green Party Cc: Leah Shahum, executive director of the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition Jon Rubin, president of the Metropolitan Transportation Commission

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music concourse/mlk drive letter
by susan vaughan 02 May '05

02 May '05

Below and attached is the music concourse/mlk drive letter. There is something wrong with the file for the cantilever letter so I am probably going to have to type it all over again. Tonight I hope. I think we should also come out with a position on Rincon Hill. This thing is massive. The entire Green Party should be coming out and saying that the includionary housing should be 51 percent as far as I'm concerned. Sue 1028A Howard Street San Francisco, Ca. 94103 May 1, 2005 Supervisor ____________ City Hall Room 244 1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place San Francisco, Ca. 94102 Dear Supervisor ___________: The San Francisco Green Party promotes social, economic and environmental justice through measures that maintain and expand inexpensive and appealing public transportation services, improve pedestrian areas and enhance the safety of bicycling. The legislation introduced by District 5 Supervisor Ross Mirkarimi on April 26 reflects these values. This legislation seeks to enhance the recreational enjoyment of visitors in and around the Music Concourse of Golden Gate Park. We believe this legislation, which would prohibit the physical widening of MLK Drive, keep private traffic out of the Music Concourse, and urge the Department of Parking and Traffic to incorporate pedestrian and bicycle improvements in and around the Music Concourse, is closer to the original concept of a pedestrian oasis as promised to the voters by Proposition J, passed in 1998. We encourage you to support this legislation. Sincerely, Sue Vaughan and John-Marc Chandonia, co-chairs of the Transportation Working Group of the San Francisco Green Party CC: Gloria Young, board.of.supervisors(a)sfgov.org __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com

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mid-market letters
by susan vaughan 01 May '05

01 May '05

Here are two Mid-Market letters -- one for Sue Lee, president of the Planning Commission, and the other for Ramon Romero, chair of the SF Redev. Commission. Sue 1028A Howard Street San Francisco, Ca. 94103 May 1, 2005 Sue Lee President, San Francisco Planning Commission San Francisco Planning Department 1660 Mission Street San Francisco, Ca. 94103 Commission.Secretary(a)sfgov.org Dear Ms. Lee: The Transportation Working Group of the San Francisco Green Party promotes social, economic and environmental justice through the expansion of inexpensive and appealing public transportation services, improved pedestrian areas and safer bicycling, especially in underserved and low-income neighborhoods of San Francisco. We recommend that the housing under consideration for Mid-Market include as few parking spaces as possible, with the greatest share of what parking there is going to car-share vehicles. We remind you that Mid-Market is one of the most transit-rich parts of the city. It is served by all the light-rail lines, as well as by BART, most of the major Muni bus lines, and by Samtrans and Golden Gate Transit. We also remind you that San Francisco, according to city charter, is a transit-first city. For all these reasons, we also encourage you to eliminate the short-term parking garage planned for the project. Besides the fact that the project is in a transit-rich part of the city, as already mentioned, there are two other municipal garages nearby � the garage at 5th and Mission streets and the garage at the Civic Center. Below are several sections of the Transportation Plank of the San Francisco Green Party platform relevant to parking: C.3. The San Francisco Green Party recommends that the City prohibit new parking facilities in the downtown district north of Townsend and Division, east of South Van Ness and Van Ness Avenues, and within 500 feet of a transit-preferential street anywhere in San Francisco. A few cities in the U.S. and many in Europe have reduced parking in their downtowns as a means to reduce traffic and promote alternatives to the automobile; San Francisco should emulate these successful programs. C.5. The San Francisco Green Party recommends that the City eliminate parking requirements for new housing, starting with affordable, senior, and Single-Room Occupancy, and institute maximum parking limits for new housing. The specific maximum limits should vary by neighborhood, ranging from a high limit of one parking space per housing unit in less transit-friendly areas such as parts of the Sunset and Bayview, to a low limit of .25 parking spaces per housing unit in neighborhoods such as downtown, North Beach, and the Mission, which are densely populated, already congested with traffic, and well-served by transit. Parking requirements in new housing are subsidized by developers for the private benefit of relatively wealthy housing consumers. These changes will result in lower housing prices for consumers as well as higher profit margins for developers. Parking requirements should never be an impediment to housing construction. C.9. Mandate car-sharing parking pods in every neighborhood and in new developments, preferably in highly visible and accessible locations. Car-sharing permits residents to have access to cars without having to invest in permanent ownership. The pay-per-use system of car-share cooperatives and nonprofits saves residents money and reduces car use. Sincerely, Sue Vaughan and John-Marc Chandonia, co-chairs of the Transportation Working Group of the San Francisco Green Party CC: Ramon Romero, chair of the San Francisco Redevelopment Commission Jeremy Nelson, Transportation for a Livable City 1028A Howard Street San Francisco, Ca. 94103 May 1, 2005 Ramon Romero Chair, San Francisco Redevelopment Commission San Francisco Redevelopment Agency 770 Golden Gate Avenue San Francisco, Ca. 94102 Commission.Secretary(a)sfgov.org Dear Mr. Romero: The Transportation Working Group of the San Francisco Green Party promotes social, economic and environmental justice through the expansion of inexpensive and appealing public transportation services, improved pedestrian areas and safer bicycling, especially in underserved and low-income neighborhoods of San Francisco. We recommend that the housing under consideration for Mid-Market include as few parking spaces as possible, with the greatest share of what parking there is going to car-share vehicles. We remind you that Mid-Market is one of the most transit-rich parts of the city. It is served by all the light-rail lines, as well as by BART, most of the major Muni bus lines, and by Samtrans and Golden Gate Transit. We also remind you that San Francisco, according to city charter, is a transit-first city. For all these reasons, we also encourage you to eliminate the short-term parking garage planned for the project. Besides the fact that the project is in a transit-rich part of the city, as already mentioned, there are two other municipal garages nearby � the garage at 5th and Mission streets and the garage at the Civic Center. Below are several sections of the Transportation Plank of the San Francisco Green Party platform relevant to parking: C.3. The San Francisco Green Party recommends that the City prohibit new parking facilities in the downtown district north of Townsend and Division, east of South Van Ness and Van Ness Avenues, and within 500 feet of a transit-preferential street anywhere in San Francisco. A few cities in the U.S. and many in Europe have reduced parking in their downtowns as a means to reduce traffic and promote alternatives to the automobile; San Francisco should emulate these successful programs. C.5. The San Francisco Green Party recommends that the City eliminate parking requirements for new housing, starting with affordable, senior, and Single-Room Occupancy, and institute maximum parking limits for new housing. The specific maximum limits should vary by neighborhood, ranging from a high limit of one parking space per housing unit in less transit-friendly areas such as parts of the Sunset and Bayview, to a low limit of .25 parking spaces per housing unit in neighborhoods such as downtown, North Beach, and the Mission, which are densely populated, already congested with traffic, and well-served by transit. Parking requirements in new housing are subsidized by developers for the private benefit of relatively wealthy housing consumers. These changes will result in lower housing prices for consumers as well as higher profit margins for developers. Parking requirements should never be an impediment to housing construction. C.9. Mandate car-sharing parking pods in every neighborhood and in new developments, preferably in highly visible and accessible locations. Car-sharing permits residents to have access to cars without having to invest in permanent ownership. The pay-per-use system of car-share cooperatives and nonprofits saves residents money and reduces car use. Sincerely, Sue Vaughan and John-Marc Chandonia, co-chairs of the Transportation Working Group of the San Francisco Green Party CC: Sue Lee, president of the San Francisco Planning Commission Jeremy Nelson, Transportation for a Livable City __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com

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bike plan update template
by susan vaughan 01 May '05

01 May '05

Here's my final draft of the BPU letter. Sue 1028� Howard Street San Francisco, Ca. 94103 May 1, 2005 City Hall, Room 244 1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place San Francisco, Ca. 94102 Dear Supervisor: The Transportation Working Group of the San Francisco Green Party promotes social, economic and environmental justice through the expansion of inexpensive and appealing public transportation services, improved pedestrian areas and safer bicycling, especially in underserved and low-income neighborhoods of San Francisco. We believe that Bicycle Plan Update, which you will soon be considering, is in need of improvement. The plan fails to do a number of things, which are enumerated below: 1) The update does not express a connected network of bicycle paths and lanes, following the desired lines of travel of current bicyclists. Such a network should be treated as a single public works project; 2) The update does not prioritize the completion of recommended sections of the bike network; 3) The update should be improved to reflect best practices from throughout the world. Such a document would include greater use of contra flow lanes in small alleys in SoMa and other parts of the city and the placement of bike lanes on very slow streets in residential neighborhoods; 4) The update does not recommend slower speed limits on some bike network lanes in residential neighborhoods; 5) The update does not specify quantitative standards such as the creation of a minimum number of bike lanes or miles bike of lanes added per year; 6) The update should � but does not � reflect an increase of 25 percent in the number of bicycle network miles; and, 7) The update does not commit the city to accomplish goals by any particular date. Below are some of the deficiencies of the Bike Plan Update in your district. Sincerely, Sue Vaughan and John-Marc Chandonia, co-chairs of the Transportation Working Group of the San Francisco Green Party CC: Aaron Peskin, aaron.peskin(a)sfgov.org Gloria Young, board.of.supervisors(a)sfgov.org __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com

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Re: [Transpo] more event followup
by susan_e_vaughan＠juno.com 01 May '05

01 May '05

Wonderful. I received the previous e-mail and will be in touch with Dave Room (who wants to be a PANELIST when we do our next event -- I think he should be). I'm going to check with Michael Connor (O'Connor?) about doing the event at The Independent for Ross. Someone else also suggested Cole Hall at UCSF. I'll look into both those places. Sue On Sat, 30 Apr 2005 09:19:28 -0700 John-Marc Chandonia <jmc(a)sfgreens.org> writes: > Once again, great event! We netted $176 and got about 15 more > people > on our newsletter. We kind of forgot to plug voter reg, so we > didn't > get anybody to register Green. > > I put all the items back in the office. There were a couple I > didn't > know what to do with. There was a pouch of pens and a filled out > Santos Reyes petition that I didn't know what to do with: they're > in my mailbox in the office. I think Jim might have brought the > Reyes petitions, so I copied him on this message. > > JMC > -- > John-Marc Chandonia (jmc(a)sfgreens.org) > http://www.dolorespark.org/ > _______________________________________________ > Transpo mailing list > Transpo(a)sfgreens.org > https://list.sfgreens.org/mailman/listinfo/transpo > >

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Re: Another idea for Mayors Conference
by susan_e_vaughan＠juno.com 01 May '05

01 May '05

Does anyone know if Ken Livingstone is coming to the conference? Sue On Fri, 29 Apr 2005 00:58:45 +0000 "Maureen DeBoer" <maureen_deboer(a)hotmail.com> writes: > that's a really good set of ideas, Charles. As a suggestion, Ross > and > interviewee Mayor could talk about a government model they have > implemented > that represents one each of the 10 Key Values in their own cities. > Each > Working Group could then organize press conference for their > respective Key > Value. There's at least 10 press conferences that way. > > As for Step 3, let's talk about other organizations that might work > with us > on that and the messages. I'd hate to see the good will of Step 2 > overshadowed by an aggressive Step 3. > > Erika, what do you think? > > Maureen > > ----Original Message Follows---- > From: "Charles Kalish" <chkalish(a)ix.netcom.com> > To: <grns-sf-staff(a)greens.org> > Subject: Another idea for Mayors Conference > Date: Thu, 28 Apr 2005 01:23:17 -0700 > > Here's a suggestion that someone made: > > Step 1: Identify attending cities who have solved problems in > effective, > innovative ways. > > Step 2: Promote a press conference or series of press conferences > for > the mayors of those innovative cities. Make them educational press > conferences. Get the press to attend by promoting them as "part of" > the > mayors conference. > > Step 3: Stage press conferences and letter writing campaigns that > decry > the chasm between Newsom's words and his actions. Use the > information > garnered from the Step 2 press conferences to hi-lite Newsom's lack > of > leadership compared to other more innovative cities. > > It's tough to get the press to cover our press conferences. But if, > for > example, Ross staged a press conference with the mayor of London, > the > press might come, especially if we did a telephone blitz to them. > The > mayor of London could speak about the effectiveness of their > downtown > traffic mitigation fees. Perhaps Ross could do a press conference > with > a different mayor each day of the conference - on the steps of > wherever > ng is hosting the conference. It probably wouldn't be a good idea > for Ross to blast Newsom during these press conferences - I don't > think > the mayors would appreciate being used that way. But we could > promote a > letters-to-the-editor writing campaign afterwards and/or organize a > demonstration about something related to Newsom's empty promises. > > Charles > > _________________________________________________________________ > 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: ClosingMarket st to cars/Critical Mayors
by susan_e_vaughan＠juno.com 01 May '05

01 May '05

At the Transportation Working Group event on Wednesday night (screening of The End of Suburbia, followed by a panel discussion), Leah Shahum said something about wanting to do something on World Environment Day that would expose San Francisco for what it really is when it comes to the environment. She mentioned Gavin Newsom's anti-littering campaign, and Ross noted that the Chronicle gave Newsom front-page, above-the-fold coverage with headlines that rivalled those when Japan attacked Pearl Harbor. A proposal to close Market Street for a day -- with all the resistance it will probably generate, might accomplish that. Sue On Wed, 27 Apr 2005 09:09:23 -0700 marc <marc(a)cybre.net> writes: > If Market Street were closed to auto traffic, then there would be no > > need to spend the many (tens of) millions of dollars to build bike > lanes > from 8th to Embarcadero that the deficient Transportation Authority > > Market Street Study called for. The TA report, obviously not > written by > engineers, is disappointing because it declines to make several > simplifying assumptions that would have produced a more elegant > system > and cost far less money. > > Market Street is at its widest from 8th to Octavia, and the > resolution > passed yesterday to implement bike lanes there represents some of > the > lowest hanging bike lane fruit in the City which could have been > done > easily 15 years ago. > > Mayor Willie L. Brown Jr., upon his inauguration at Yerba Buena Park > in > 1996, promised that he would close Market Street to private > automobiles. I believe that SFGTV has archived video of that. That > was > right before he promised to fix MUNI in 100 days. > > If Market Street were closed to private auto traffic for one weekend > > day, as it is closed to traffic for any big parade, then the impacts > > would be minimal and would highlight the gap between San Francisco's > > perception of itself as an environmental leader and the lackluster > reality of our current position. > > The reality is that when MUNI does not have to compete with private > > autos, those efficiencies translate directly as social justice for > MUNI > riders, most of whom are not rich. When peds don't have to compete > with > private autos, that saves lives on the most dangerous transit > corridor > for peds in the City. When private autos don't block the pinch > points > on Market, at the boarding islands, then the need for explicit bike > > lanes to mediate that competition is mitigated as bikes can travel > at > speed more distance. > > -marc > Dave Snyder wrote: > > > There will be new bike lanes on Market Street between 8th and Van > Ness > > by World Environment Day, but no action on bike lanes east of 8th. > > > That could be our demand. > > > > Dave > > > > > > > > At 9:03 PM -0400 4/25/05, MrPlutocrat(a)aol.com wrote: > > > >> Actually, if we close Market St., it would make Critical Mayors > bike > >> ride really easy. We should do both! > > > >> > > > >> In a message dated 4/25/2005 5:53:55 P.M. Pacific Standard Time, > > >> funking(a)mindspring.com writes: > >> > >> Critical Mayors bike ride is a cute idea that might get > strong > >> support with a low turn out. Closing Market St to cars for > the > >> whole day is far more radical- and I think we should persue > it. > >> > >> > >> > >> We could showcase our main street, transit service and > popularity > >> of bikes and make a statement about cars being central to > many of > >> our environmental problems. We would keep the other major > streets > >> downtown open, so there would still be plenty of automobile > >> access, esp. since most commuters use Howard, Folsom and the > >> other one-way streets to traverse downtown anyways. > >> > >> > >> > >> I am starting to talk about this idea to several groups. So > far, > >> response has been positive and encouraging. I would like to > be > >> sure that if this idea does go forward, it has the Green > party's > >> name on it. > >> > >> > >> > >> peace, > >> > >> susan > >> > >> > > > > > > >

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more event followup
by John-Marc Chandonia 30 Apr '05

30 Apr '05

Once again, great event! We netted $176 and got about 15 more people on our newsletter. We kind of forgot to plug voter reg, so we didn't get anybody to register Green. I put all the items back in the office. There were a couple I didn't know what to do with. There was a pouch of pens and a filled out Santos Reyes petition that I didn't know what to do with: they're in my mailbox in the office. I think Jim might have brought the Reyes petitions, so I copied him on this message. JMC -- John-Marc Chandonia (jmc(a)sfgreens.org) http://www.dolorespark.org/

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Muni hearings on service cuts
by Susan King 27 Apr '05

27 Apr '05

from Muni's website: Public Meetings on the Service Adjustments Updated April 27, 2005, 3:10 pm. All addresses are in San Francisco. * Civic Center: Tuesday, May 3rd, Room 400, City Hall, 1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place (at McAllister), 2:00 pm. This is at the MTA Board of Directors meeting. Other items may be considered first. * Downtown: Thursday, May 5th, Pacific Energy Center 851 Howard Street (at 4th), 6:30pm. * The Richmond District: Thursday, May 5th, Richmond Recreation Center, 251 18th Avenue (between Clement & California), 6:30 pm. * Chinatown: Wednesday, May 11th, Portsmouth Square Community Room (on Kearny between Clay and Washington) 4:00 to 6:00 pm, conducted in Mandarin and Cantonese. * OMI: Thursday, May 12th, City College, 50 Phelan Avenue (at Ocean), Visual Arts Room 115, 6:30 pm.

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