October 11, 2008 Environment Forum Questionnaire
Asa Dodsworth . District 4
Please introduce yourself,
tell us briefly why you are running, and tell us, if you were elected,
what your priorities would be with respect to land use, transportation
and addressing global climate change.
My name is Asa Dodsworth,
And I am running as a problem solving council candidate, Not satisfied with pretty words, I will do this problem solving by bringing the volunteer enthusiasm of a community organizer back to our civil proceedings. I want a city with real neighborhood representation. I want a neighborhood Association on every block, and I know that we can do that. That next year we can have a real neighborhood association on every block. And it wont cost much at all. It takes faith in public process, and the grace to keep it simple. I want a city with multiple Victory Gardens, and community centers in every district. These would be places where neighborhood associations can meet and solve the problems that their communities face.
I want neighborhood oversight on the
planning and zoning process. I believe that we can do it all on the
cheap, by giving communities that live in Berkeley the opportunity to
represent themselves and conduct their own meetings with the caveat
that these privileges will be revoked and all guilty parties prosecuted
for fraudulent conduct. We don't need city staff at every meeting, we
just need real accountability mechanisms.
1) Questions from Livable Berkeley:
In order to reduce greenhouse gases, new city policies and actions are needed to help people live where they work, shop where they live, and reduce travel.
1. How will you work with
the University to reduce single occupant auto travel to the campus from
and through Berkeley neighborhoods?
Asa: With work with the diligence, patience and pride. Environmental Justice and sustainability are critical to my world view. I do not know about current UCB plans, but I will work on legislation and policy, that encourages, scooters, motorcycles, and bicycles.
2. What city policies will
you support to enable more UC employees and private sector retail, office
and service workers to live in Berkeley?
Asa: Right now there are many different
developments that hope to provide affordable, ie work force, housing
in Berkeley. But they get knocked off the tracks over and over by communities
that don't like how they are implemented. I want to establish neighborhood
zoning commissions where the commission members are appointed by registered
neighborhood associations from those communities. Zoning increases the
value of property, so lets get the community together to zone developments
that they actually want, so they don't have to keep on fighting the
ones they don't want.
3. What kinds of public
transportation improvements will you support to provide more attractive
connections to our three BART stations, Downtown, and our main employment
and commercial districts?
Asa: I would work to form neighborhood development commissions for two different project time lines. By doing the Zoning and project design for an area, we increase the value of the property and allow the various local developers to individually assess whether or not they believe it would be profitable to complete these designs.
4. How will you achieve a more diverse population so students are not the only occupants of new private sector housing?
I am not sure, that is a very important question, for starters I think the zoning process has to require units large enough for someone who has graduate form college, for people who live with their partners. Tiny student units wont do that.
Several Years ago, Citizens for a Strawberry Creek Plaza was formed, with support from Ecocity Builders and others,to advocate for a pedestrian plaza on Center Street between Oxford and Shattuck. Center Street would be closed to traffic but provision would be made for deliveries and emergency vehicle access.
In November 2007, DAPAC (the Downtown Area Plan Advisory Committee) adopted a draft Downtown Area Plan. Center Street between Oxford Street and Shattuck Avenue was seen by the DAPAC as a centerpiece component to a bold new vision for downtown.The DAPAC supported, as the preferred option for Center Street between Shattuck Avenue and Oxford Street, thecreation of a public pedestrian-oriented open space or plaza.
As a gift to the City, Ecocity Builders, with financial contributions from the Mazer Foundation and Berkeley residents, hired renowned local landscape architect Walter Hood to help design a proposal for a Center Street Plaza as called for by DAPAC and is preparing to present the design to the Planning Commission and the City Council this year, following upon a number of public and stakeholder meetings and events already held over the past year, including meetings with downtown and Center Street merchants, the University and Berkeley Art Museum, the proposed Berkeley Charles Hotel, BART, the City of Berkeley including the Fire Department and Planning Department, the DBA, plus other advocacy groups in Berkeley.DAPAC recommendations , along with Planning Commission recommendations, will be delivered to City Council for its consideration in December 2008. Downtown Plan adoption by the City Council is expected in May 2009. The Center Street Plaza cannot become a reality without City Council backing.
As Mayor/City Councilperson, would
you support the proposed plaza on Center Street? Would you make it a
priority for the City to pursue funds to make the
plaza a reality? What variety of funding sources do you think the city
could utilize?
Absolutely, to revitalize this commercial
district we will have to invest in beautifying it. The Center St plaza
is a critical first step in opening up this public space for a more
livable and commercially viable down town. I believe there are grant
opportunities that could support the investment of city money, working
with Business Improvement District Financing.
3) Questions from Urban
Habitat
Most of the people I live and work with fit in to the poverty category, and my personal friends have always been one of the most divers communities I know of.
Critical to working with people from diverse back rounds is recognizing that though we as humans, and as American residents have a great deal in common, all our experiences are fundamentally different. The privileges that I may have experienced, others have not. We must all stay open, clear and available for feedback.
These boards would not be reflective
of the city of Berkeley if they did not have members with these backgrounds
and experiences. I celebrate and will continue to support the work that
Kriss Worthington has carried thus far of researching the actual statistics
of our constituencies and his advocacy for the appointment of representatives
that truely reflect their communities backgrounds.
Real public transit is critical to our
future, for transit to be a real alternative to cars, it has to operate
all night, otherwise it is simply a commuter system, and not a real
alternative. Transit also and it has to be respectful of its passengers.
One of the nastiest things that happens to services for poor people
is that they providers start to treat their customers as low class.
The agent of the service become unprofessionally rude and distrustful.
As if the customer was always wrong. To be a real alternative these
two hurdles will have to addressed. Often we are told that the positive
change we need cost too much. I don't believe that. Costs too much is
a product of failed creativity. The solutions that get people out of
cars will be diverse an require attentiveness to the public experience.
They have an incredible amount of solutions and observations, if we
can hear them. Public commentary features incorporated into the websites
can eliminate allot of the work of reviewing all the commentary, as
the commentators review each others commentary, and select and support
the best observations.
4) Questions from Ella Baker Center
The Berkeley FIRST program will help property owners pay for the up-front costs of installing solar energy systems on their homes and businesses. There is some concern that such a program will not address the need to reduce energy consumption or sufficiently benefit low-income residents.
Would you support expanding the program to include energy efficiency retrofits and measures to ensure access for low-income households?
Absolutely, if this program is not viable for people across the social spectrum, it will be limited in its success. The prototype that is being developed must be continually improved. As this will also increase that amount of green collar work, its will boost our economy an help pull us out of our economic slump.
Under the umbrella of the East Bay Green Corridor Partnership, the cities of Berkeley, Oakland, Richmond, and Emeryville have come together with U.C. Berkeley and the Lawrence Berkeley National Lab to support emerging green industries and create green-collar job opportunities in our region.
Do you support working with
East Bay Green Corridor cities to invest in green jobs, training, and
education?
Absolutely, these benefits of leadership
and action now are in a livable natural environment, vibrant local economies,
and equality in the standards of living for every one in our region.
That cannot be misconstrued for Cart Blanche to any project that sells
itself as green. The clear cutting of African, and South American rainforest's
for heavily sprayed genetically modified oil fuel crops, is not green
it is toxic.
However the investment in local jobs
insulating, and refurbishing our local buildings is immense and the
wealth it will create undeniable. Solar Electric, Solar thermal, Insulation,
and and mechanical upgrades are all investment grade fields of work.
We can finance them against the tax value of he property and reduce
the overall cost of living for our residents and business while revitalizing
our job sector. This is win win win. And it is just on of the many fields
we must explore.
5)
Questions from Bay Localize
As global climate change worsens
and energy bills rise to painful levels for working people, cities and
counties have powerful options under state law to develop local, affordable,
clean energy. One of the strongest tools is known as Community Choice
Energy, in which a city can become a buyers' coop for electricity. In
this public/private partnership, a city can contract for higher levels
of renewable power, boost energy efficiency, and use low-cost financing
to build our own renewable energy generation.
Candidates: As other cities
and counties - notably Marin and San Francisco - forge ahead with Community
Choice Energy, how will you forward Community Choice Energy in Berkeley?
I will actively work for it, I am not a spineless politician, I am running to permanently change things for the better so I can get back to my life. CCE is a legacy I will have a part in. Not only will it help our city reach its environmental goals, it will by providing a real market value for solar electricity create a market the private sector to invest in solar electricity. With CCE we will see solar sprout up all across our city, and we will have the potential to directly invest and broker electricity produced by private investment in sustainable energy. CCE is the kinda of mechanism that puts us way beyond our environmental footprint.
As the cost of imported goods rises in the coming years, we're going to need all the space we can get to process materials and manufacture our own goods. Describe your level of commitment to preserving Berkeley's industrially-zoned lands and what you intend to do about it?
I am one of the only people I know
out side of the WEBAIC that has stood up time and time to challenge
the developers push to gut our protected zoning for industrial areas.
As a Zero Waste Commissioner west Berkeley's industrial zoning is on
of the greatest resources we have to reach our Zero Waste Mark.
I am fundamentally as a resident,
as an environmentalist, as an artist, as a Zero Waste Commissioner and
as a citizen proud of Berkeley's leadership and legacy, and will continue
to defend West Berkeley.
Once again this isn't just environmentally
sound, it makes economic sense.
In a context of rising
food and energy prices, one way to increase Berkeley's food security
(especially for low income residents) is to increase access to healthy
nutritious food through local food production in community, backyard,
and rooftop gardens. As a council member, how will you boost local
food production in Berkeley?
I like your group, you ask all the questions I live for. As a naturalist, Certified Permaculture Designer, and community empowerment worker I am skilled in building gardens and have personally experienced and seen the value these provide for health, and quality of life.
The Demonstration Victory Garden is at the core of my mission to create real neighborhood communities that support each other in economic independence, environmental stewardship, and true health. The Victory Garden is where neighbors learn about grey water, fruit tree pruning, garden planting, it is where a tool shed doubles as a demonstration for solar and grass roofs, for insulation techniques, and for mud plaster options.
I will work to secure empty lots
for demonstration gardens, and explore financing methods for neighborhoods
to permanently acquire these lots as open space. I want to see several
demonstration gardens and gather spaces in every district.
6) Friends of BRT Questions
1. Opponents of Bus Rapid Transit, or
BRT, drafted and are supporting Measure KK on Novembers ballot. Friends
of BRT is, of course, opposed to Measure KK, which is also opposed by
7 of 8 members of the City Council. Measure KK would delay implementation
of BRT by requiring an additional plan and voter approval before bus
or HOV lanes could be created in Berkeley. The City Attorneys impartial
analysis of KK states that a plan and election could cost the City as
much as $1.2 million. Do you support Measure KK?
2) If Measure KK is approved by voters, what action do you think the City Council should take?
3) Cities typically implement transit improvements
in phases adding new light rail or BRT routes to supplement or extend
existing routes. (e.g light rail in Portland; BRT in Boston and Eugene)
If the City gives AC the go-ahead to implement BRT on Telegraph, Bancroft
and Shattuck downtown, would you support an eventual extension of BRT
service down University Avenue?
4) Besides BRT, what public transit improvements
do you think the city should support and/or fund to reduce greenhouse
gas emissions from transportation in Berkeley?
7) Aquatic Park EGRET Questions
Will you work to bring Berkeley
into compliance with the 1971 State Water Board order permanently prohibiting
the discharge of storm water into the lagoons of Aquatic Park?
This would fit into a valuable issues
time line, but I am not informed enough about the issues around the
discharge of storm water into aquatic park and its effects on I presume
the birds and other wildlife to make a statement at this point.
As I live on strawberry creek and
see the devastating torrents that come through during a rain event,
I know first hand about the destabilization of the natural water cycles
that is a product of so much construction.
I want to work to increase the amount
of ground water infiltration across our city. Ground water infiltration
can be increased by permeable paving strips in the gutters, they can
be further enhanced with native grasses that grow in the cracks an are
trimmed by the wheels of parking cars. These soil filter and infiltration
strips would biologically break down the motor oils and recharge the
groundwater table. Rain storms would not produce so much storm water
as this water as it would instead percolate into the ground where it
would encourage tree growth, and gradually feed into the creeks year
round.
These effort would reduce the toxicity
of storm water, and reduce its flow. Right west Berkeley gets flooded
every year.
8) Questions from the Sierra
Club
Two years ago the City formed
the Creeks Task Force to listen to creek property owner concerns and
environmental concerns about the original Creeks Ordinance in order
to revise it. The Council passed the Task Force's recommendations. Growing
out of that effort the City created a Watershed Coordinator position
to come up with a watershed plan for the City. A staff person has been
hired and is working on that plan. What things would you like to
see in that plan?
I would like to see more permeable
paving to reduce the intensity of the storm water that flows through
the creeks. And I want to see real plans for day light creek sections.
across Berkeley.
A Sierra Club priority is
completion of the East Shore State Park. What are your views on this
and where do you stand on the November ballot measure WW to reauthorize
Measure AA funds to buy more open space and parklands?
Secure parks and open spaces are
part of our environmental and social legacy. I support this work to
secure more natural open space.
The City of Berkeley has
an ambitious goal of achieving zero waste by 2020. What are your thoughts
on this goal and do you have any ideas about ways to achieve it?
I believe that Zero Waste though technically impractical, us basically achievable. It will require a rebuild of the transfer station, and the securing of industrial zoning in west Berkeley, as Waste management system transforms from transfer to landfills to sorting for reuse, refurbishing and recycling.
What environmental issues
do you see in your District and what would you do about them if anything?
9) Transportation and Land
Use Coalition Questions
1. Transit Efficiency
Bus Rapid Transit (or BRT)
has been proposed by AC Transit to run from downtown Berkeley to downtown
Oakland via Telegraph Avenue and then on to San Leandro. AC Transit
is currently waiting for a response to the BRT Draft Environmental Impact
Report (DEIR) from the City of Berkeley in the form of a Locally Preferred
Alternative (or "LPA"). Berkeley's LPA would allow the City
to articulate what the City wants AC Transit to look at in the the Final
Environmental Impact Report for BRT as it runs through Berkeley.
Despite the many benefits that
BRT would bring (as we can see in the video), and despite the City of
Berkeley's Transit-First policy, and with dedicated lanes for BRT endorsed
by both our General Plan and the draft Southside Plan, some Berkeley
merchants and residents have come out against the project. They fear
that reducing lanes for cars on Telegraph Ave. could create "cut
through traffic" on parallel streets. They also have concerns about
how the project would impact parking on Telegraph Ave.
To validate and truly mitigate
these concerns, AC Transit needs to study the impacts of BRT with dedicated
lanes as part of a "built alternative" in Berkeley's LPA.
However, based on speculation, opponents want Berkeley to reject the
idea of dedicated lanes altogether in the LPA for BRT from the City
of Berkeley.
Do you support AC Transit's
study of dedicated lanes for BRT as part of a
"build alternative" in Berkeley's LPA?
I watched the video and enjoyed it, and have personally long hopped for greater development of buses for real public transportation. That being said, I believe that is is unwise and impractical to force it on to our communities. Bus RapidTransit is one of the solutions we so badly need, people will support it when they have had the proper input into its design and consideration. Berkeley was ornery enough to stall the implementation of BART for I believe it was five years while the floated a voter initiative and tax to underground the trains. It is that under grounding of BART that makes its application in Berkeley so attractive.
Have faith in public process, it is the only real check against abuse, corruption, and tyranny. This is the same problem Berkeley faces in the struggle for affordable housing, green development, and transit oriented growth. These are issue which are important to all our communities, but when railroaded by developers, they are perennial derailed by neighborhood activists. We need real community process to define these projects, to design them in the image of our communities. Other wise you are just a colonist pushing the little people out of the way.
Remember,
Sheriff Nottingham was a preservationist, and Robin Hood was a Poacher,
What side of history will you find
yourself on.
2. Measure KK
Measure KK would create costly,
time consuming delays before the City could dedicate lanes for streetcars,
transit, light rail or HOV lanes anywhere in Berkeley. The ballot measure
claims it "increases democracy". However, measure KK would
actually undermine Berkeley's democratic planning processes which currently
include passing dedicated lane proposals through Commissions, Committees,
Workshops, Charettes, public, and City Council hearings that already
encourage public participation. We don't require these kinds of delays
when we expand roads for cars, or for parking, and it seems ironic to
have to go through even more bureaucracy before improving transit, especially
considering Berkeley's "Transit First" policy.
The Sierra Club, The League
of Women Voters, TALC, the Alameda County Labor Council and other diverse
leaders in the community have taken a "No on Measure KK" position.
Mayor Bates and a majority of the City Council have also taken a "No
on Measure KK" position. On Election Day, how will you vote
on Measure KK and why?
I support the intention, but not
the implementation of measure KK. Mostly because I don't want to encumber
transit solutions, when we don't place these same restrictions on expanding
roadways, and parking.
10) Walk and Roll Berkeley
Questions
1. Pedestrian Plan
Will you support adoption
and implementation of Berkeley's Pedestrian Plan? Will you vote to allocate
funds for its implementation at least equal to the City's bicycle account
(from the General Fund or from a transportation services fee, Vista/City
College mitigation funds or parking fee allocation)?
Yes this is a no brainer, walking is one of the healthiest ways to move about and certainly the most environmentally friendly. It creates healthy hearts bodies, and a real livable city. And this doubles a the real access for disabled people, and the disabled community brings their own economy with them as they provide local employment for caregivers. Additionally the disabled are some of the best council people we can hope for. In their daily lives they must become very adept at human resources management, daily task planning, life planning and are furthermore their lives are open books. Their lives provide them ample opportunity to develop an ease at operating effectively with every body involved in their business. This is the kind of perspective that we need to implement and operate open and clear process in governance. We need to make a city that can safely accommodate the full diversity of disable people in our community to enrich our collective potential and perspective.
In 2005, the City staff and the Transportation
Commission proposed creation of a new transportation services fee, which
was called for by the Citys General Plan and mandated as a mitigation
in the General Plans EIR. Many cities in California, including San Francisco,
require developers to pay such fees. The required nexus study for the
fee was completed by the same consultants who put together Palo Altos
transportation fee. It would require developers to pay a fee to cover
the costs of new auto traffic generated by new development. The fee
would pay for trip reduction efforts. Since 2005, the proposed fee has
been in bureaucratic limbo and has not gone to the City Council for
approval. Do you support establishing a transportation services fee?
Should the City Council ask staff to make it a priority to finish work
on the Transportation Services Fee and bring it to the Council?
Absolutely Positively yes, this is
another no brainier. Its been done before, it addresses a tangible negative
impact on society, what are we waiting for. We need council people with
back bone, not opportunistic politicians
What other funding sources
do you think the city should use to support programs aimed at reducing
transportation-related greenhouse gas emissions by encouraging walking
bicycling and transit use? Specifically, should the city use a portion
of parking tax revenues for this purpose? A portion of the $3.5 million
in Vista mitigation funds that have not yet been spent? General Fund
revenues? What other sources?
All options should be considered, with due prudence to what they have been collected for. Using Parking meter fees to reduce the amount of auto traffic and fee up parking space seems like another no brainer. I don't know what vista fees are for, and will not speak on matters for which I am not adequately informed
3) Eco Pass Questions
Eco Pass programs make transit more affordable
for employees and students. UC Berkeley has an Eco Pass program for
its students called Class Pass. The City of Berkeley has an Eco-Pass
program for its employees. Both have led to reductions in driving and
increased use of transit by participating employees and students. The
way Eco Pass programs work is that employers pay transit agencies a
relatively modest sum per employee for every employee so that they can
have a bus pass. In most cases, employers give the passes to employees
for free. In the case of the Class Pass at UC, students assess themselves
to pay AC Transit for the passes. Some cities, including Boulder and
Ann Arbor, have Eco Pass programs for people who work in their downtowns.
This encourages transit use and reduces employee demand for parking
leaving more parking for customers of local businesses.
Asa: More no brainers, especially
when the city simply packages the deal and it is he individuals pay
for it. I would like to look at the cost savings that would come from
Berkeley paying up front for free access to buses throughout the Berkeley
area. Buses move faster and cover more stops for the same driver working
hours if passengers can get on and off at the front and back of the
bus, and don't bottle neck at a fare gate. The cost saving could make
it worthwhile to pay for the transit upfront from parking fees, general
fund and grants for public sector innovation. Further more the time
saved for all the passengers has a dollar and social value.
When the bus is free and easy for
local access, people will abandon expensive and antisocial automotives
for the opportunity, to relax, read and socialize in transit.
When Donald Shoup, an expert on parking
policy and parking pricing visited Berkeley, he said that Berkeley needed
to raise its parking rates in downtown and that it should use some of
the revenues from higher parking rates to help fund an Eco-Pass program
for employees of Downtown businesses. Do you support establishing
a downtown Eco-Pass program to encourage downtown employees to use transit?
Absolutely, especially if business
and employees can reduce the financial cost by paying a share.
If yes, would you support
using parking revenues to support some of the cost? Besides contributions
from employers, what other revenue sources
would you support for such a program?
Parking revenue fees increases, increase
parking space turn over for businesses to get more shoppers in and out.
There are always for public sector innovation. I believe that the various
transit authorities need to start working closer together, as increasing
bridge fees provides revenue for public transit, and encourages people
to consider other means of transit.
It has also been proposed that the City establish a city-wide residence-based Eco Pass. All residents would get passes and could ride buses for free. AC would improve service in Berkeley to accommodate increased ridership. Berkeley residents would pay a special tax to cover the cost of free, improved bus service.
Do you think the City Council
should ask staff to discuss a citywide bus pass with AC Transit and
to do a survey of Berkeley residents to see if they would be willing
to pay more taxes in return for free, improved bus service for Berkeley
residents?
Absolutely, this also ties into the
aforementioned potential, to eliminate the fare gate process in Berkeley.
By eliminating the fare verification process, passengers can board quicker
at the front and end of the buses. Saved time equals greater speed and
coverage for the same payed driver hours. The Merchants could also find
value in supporting this free transit option in Berkeley. Riders from
other cities would shop in Berkeley because they know that the ride
home will always be free.
We would be negligent not to explore
such options.
4. Vista Funds Question
The Transportation Commission
recommended that 55% of the $3.5 million in Vista College Mitigation
funds should go to transit, pedestrian and bicycle improvements and
45% should go to parking improvements in downtown, including the possible
rebuilding of the City's Center Street public parking garage. The Commission
based this on the fact that only about 45% of students and staff coming
to Vista classes require parking. We asked about Vista funds at the
2004 election forum. More than four years later, the money has still
not been spent. How do you think this money should be allocated between
promotion of alternative modes of transportation and parking? In the
context of Measure G and global climate
change, what should have a higher priority?
The longer we wait to spend this
money, the less value it will have, the time to act is now. I believe
that the city should consider spending an even greater percentage of
that money on transit alternatives as transit alternatives further will
further reduce the amount of student who drive.
12) Bicycle-Friendly Berkeley Questions
1. Bicycle Plan
Berkeley was a national leader
in 2000 with the adoption of our Bicycle Plan, which detailed a network
of bicycle priority streets where everyone, young and old, and people
with disabilities, whether walking, bicycling or using a wheelchair,
would feel safe and
comfortable to get anywhere in town.
However, throughout this decade little progress on the network has been
made. Berkeley is falling behind. The number one reason people are not
bicycling remains that they do not feel safe, let alone comfortable.
Bicycle improvements can be quick and inexpensive, yet we have had not
even one full time employee (FTE) on average working on bicycle issues,
and Berkeley still does not have a multimodal planner, in contrast to
many cities moving forward. More staff time would bring in new money
to Berkeley and move established elements of the Plan forward.
Cutting edge research reveals the obvious, that a supportive local culture
for bicycling is key to getting more people on bicycles. However, in
Berkeley the bicyclist's experience is too often discouraged by harsh
treatment and conditions. Harassment from motorists is a common problem.
Bicycle theft remains a primary deterrent to bicycling, and we are currently
losing much of our bicycle parking near shopping to provide new automobile
parking systems. Berkeley has some of the most extreme bicycle laws
in the world (it is a misdemeanor to park to a parking meter, which
contravenes state law). Relationships with the police department have
not moved forward despite a council directive almost a decade ago and
years of efforts from local advocates; and police "stings"
against walkers and bikers remain the City's primary form of bicycle
education.
This lack of progress and harsh environment stands in stark contrast
to our climate action goals and public health goals. A sizeable portion
of our daily automobile trips can be replaced effectively and conveniently
by the bicycle. Bicycling rates of even 25-50% of all trips occur in
comparable cities where provisions have been made. The bicycle is a
tool which extends and improves life, and prevents disability, without
contributing to climate change emissions and other deadly air pollution.
Every year that we wait is a lost opportunity to improve and literally
save the lives of our citizens.
After generations of automobile planning, it will take more than a fraction
of a percent of funding and an occasional staff hour to make our city
a healthy hive for the healthier modes of walking and bicycling. A committed
focus on upgrading the city is required.
a. Do you support the City mobilizing to expediently update and implement
the Bicycle Plan and make Berkeley a place where everyone feels safe,
comfortable, supported and protected to ride a bicycle?
Yes this is a easy one for me. I
am not interested in antagonist relationships with motorists. Bicycles
are amazing transit systems. cheap and effective.
What more can I say. I love biking
b. Implementing the city's
Bicycle Plan sometimes presents a challenge between providing space
on the roadway for bikes, and retaining space on the roadway for motor
vehicles. If elected, how can you help provide leadership on more detail
issues like this?
Parking is a real issue, and not one I will ignore.
The more we invest into getting people out of their cars and onto bikes the less cars we will find in our way. I would like to offer the limited conversion of automobile parking spaces to bicycle parking spaces for neighbor hoods that request that.
c. what would
you like to see done in your district to improve conditions for bicycling?
I believe that by increasing the
number of bicyclists we increase the safety for bicyclists. Perhaps
the city could engage in more civil support of bicycle programs
Cities pay for all sorts of programs,
perhaps Berkeley could offer yearly rebates for bicycle acquisition
like ten dollars a year, or rotate through the city with 30 every three
years, of bicycle bucks redeemable in products from local bike shops.
That would amount to about on million dollars a year, or 0.3% of our
total city budget. Give every resident a reason to go check out their
local bike shops.
To get more bang from these bike
bucks we could requiring bike shops to operate a loaner tool corral,
to qualify for the redemption of city bike buck. A person that can fix
their bike will always be a biker. One that cannot easily gets derailed.
A million dollars a year in bike bucks to be spent only at local bike
shops could alone support 10 new corner store bike coops/nonprofits.
And corner store bike nonprofits could provide good used bike for about
$50 a piece. And all the money stays in the community.
2. Car-free Housing
Over the past 30 years, Berkeley's
population has remained fairly stable while automobile traffic has risen
substantially. This is in large part due to the development over time
of a jobs-housing imbalance, wherein new commuters have been created
without providing housing for them locally, giving people the impression
of overcrowding when population has not changed.
At the same time, our Downtown is hurting for lack of residents, and
there is a large and growing population who wish to live without a car
and live near their primary destinations to enjoy a simpler, walking-biking-transit
or "car-free" lifestyle who would happily choose to live in
Downtown if provided for.
One solution that has been proposed is to provide more residential density
in Downtown Berkeley without providing parking, a strategy that has
worked well in many cities around the world. This is particularly viable
given the rise of convenient car sharing programs in the Bay Area, and
the presence of a transit hub in the center of town.
Concerns about increased pressures on nearby residential areas have
been the primary political objection, yet car-free housing would reduce
existing commuter trips, and contracts with residents, along with a
refusal to issue parking permits to car-free housing residents, would
provide ample control. Many cities successfully waive parking limits
in centers without providing any regulation. Everyone would benefit,
while promoting the revitalization of our Downtown and reducing climate
emissions per capita in Berkeley.
Do you support establishing a program allowing the development of
car-free housing in our Downtown?
Absolutely and positively, I believe
it is critically necessary for us to move beyond a parking space for
every unit. We must be delusional, I question if any of the other top
twenty densest cities in the world require parking to be provided for
every unit. Berkeley is among the top twenty densest cities, the least
we could is eliminate the parking requirement for buildings within 200"
of BART stations
3. Milvia Street
Milvia street is our primary
designated bicycle boulevard Downtown, and as such it is shared by the
widest array of residents from throughout the city. Yet it is also our
most problematic designated bicycle boulevard, with dangerous and uncomfortable
conditions.
Among the proposals which would make Milvia into a bicycle boulevard
is the idea of a plaza in front of City Hall, similar to the successful
Frank Ogawa Plaza in Oakland, with the benefit of making our city center
a more pleasant place to be and allowing for special
functions on the steps of City Hall.
a. Would you support pursuing this idea of a plaza in front of City
Hall on Milvia Street?
I would have to explore it before, I would support it.
I have visited cities with pedestrian roadways and plazas and they are real and functional.
I would like to see more of that in our lovely little city.
b. Do you support moving rapidly to implement Milvia as a bicycle
boulevard in our downtown?
I support moving forward with the bicycle as a real alternative to the automobile.
In every reasonable way we can move
forward, I believe it is our responsibility.
12) Kyoto USA Questions
Climate change present the single biggest threat to humanity. The artic methane ice mud melt will end life as we know it on earth. the time to act is now. And we must be bold, as we provide leadership, that will be watered down as the torch is passed from Berkeley to the bay, to the state of California to the USA to China, which is the ten ton gorilla everyone is ignoring. China is gearing up to burn coal on a scale that it has never been burned before.
2) What have you done personally in the last year to reduce your carbon emissions?
Motorcycle instead of automobile, I have helped friends get bicycles, I have planted fruit trees to produce food for myself without the trucks necessary to ship it here, I use only salvaged lumber for construction, I wear almost exclusively second hand clothes, I bulk order my food, and I eat primarily meals prepared for many people rather then using all that fuel for just one meal, I switched all my lights to compact florescent years ago, and I am helping my friends make that same transition. I have volunteered my time as a Garbage and Recycling Commissioner in the city of Berkeley developing policies that don't just reduce reuse and recycle, but aim to stop waste at its production. And most importantly I do this willingly without ever guilt tripping any one, cause this isn't a cross I bear, its a wonderful lifestyle I share.
3) The City has just released its 2nd draft Climate Action Plan (see, 3) The City has just released its 2nd draft Climate Action Plan What measures described in the Plan would be your top priority and why? Please be as specific as possible.
I would focus an the methods that
empower individuals to leverage themselves into the earth saving mission,
as I believe it will take each and every one of us. Many hands make
for light work. These would be specifically, Community Choice Aggregate
Solar Utility, Expanding the solar financing district to cover solar
thermal hot water heating, insulation, and Energy efficiency upgrades.
Where we can do even more is by building on the community outreach commitment
to engage the neighborhood associations and communities in the establishment
of victory demonstration gardens, where they can learn about all the
various sustainability techniques that one can demonstrate in a community
garden/gathering space including but not limited to grey water, green
construction, and gardening and landscape cultivation techniques
Ecology Center Questions (submitted two days before forum)
In 2001 the Berkeley City Council
passed passed the historic Berkeley Food and Nutrition Policy that has been
touted as a model across the planet. However according to the 2007 health
status report diet related diseases remain the number one killers in
our community, disproportionately
I am trained and certified in permaculture, I was raised by my mother a lifelong nutritionist, who now manages Alameda counties WIC program. I have cultivated my own home yard scape with 13 fruit trees chickens, herbs, berries, and an amazing perennial spicy pepper bush, Additionally I have helped my mother and father do the same for their yard space. I have worked on the Establishment of two different community gardens with very different models, and I was a founding member of a community farm that is thriving today in upstate New York. These are issue that are part of my daily life, especially because they empower everyone that develops the skills to cultivate the earth. They are not just healthier for the body and earth they are liberating, economically and spiritually.
The Solid Waste and Recycling
Division is a $30 Million city-run enterprise serving every voter in
this city. The Transfer Station and related services constitutes one
of the largest sources of income for the city. In 2003 the Berkeley
City Council passed one of the county's first Zero Waste Policies setting
a goal of 75 percent waste diversion by 2010 just around the corner
and Zero Waste (or darn close) by 2020. The Zero Waste Commission is
advancing on the creation of a strategic plan that includes the development
of new policies (such as the plastic bags ordinance), programs (such
as multi family and commercial recycling) and key infrastructure focused
on the creation of a world class Zero Waste Enterprise facility. The
City Council has approved funding for a feasibility study to explore
funding mechanisms for what is likely the largest infrastructure development
project in this next term. How would you work with the City Manager
and Public Works staff to reach our Zero Waste Goal? What are your priorities
for Zero Waste and how will champion the investment in infrastructure
required to meet our goal?
I am one of the Zero Waste Commissioners
currently working on this issue, I will reaffirm the value of our work
as commissioners and council people working together to solve the problems
our city faces. The commissioners need the verbal, and implicit support
of the council that Gordon Wozniak, damaged when he attacked our commission
and the sanctity of all our public service commissions.
We must secure the completion of
the Solid Waste Transfer Station Rebuild.
We must secure the future of West
Berkeley's industrial zoning that so we can begin developing the green
manufacturing, recycling, refurbishing, industries that will replace
land fills as the destinations for our cities discards.
I will make sure that the city attorneys are responsive to the needs of the commission for ordinance review. For months our commission has waited for the city attorneys to review and return our ordinance with any necessary legal corrections.
Measure G passed in 2006 with a 81% voter approval supporting a goal of reducing our community wide carbon emissions by 80% by the year 2050. Over the last year and a half, the City led a process to develop a Climate Action Plan now in its second draft. We all know that in order to reach this challenging goal, we will need to make drastic changes. Knowing which changes to make and when to make them will be critical in reaching the goal. Many of the proposed changes are costly and/or politically controversial. Many proposed changes involve making having a car more difficult or expensive, and developing a denser urban center in our city. Where would you rank this in your top 10 priorities as an elected official? And what criteria would be most important to you in making decisions about which proposals to implement?
My top priorities are economic, environmental and social responsibility an stewardship, this is a triple bottom line. Many of our best businesses already operate within these three standards, I will work to make our city a strong leader in these three fields. Proper community process and involvement will be critical in our success. Neighbors that are left out of the process become the ones that derail the process. The top down developers railroading, vs the bottom up derailing of policy and construction has left our city in recoil and limbo for too long.
We need visionary construction and development
to make reach new levels of grace and efficiency, and we need real community
protection and preservation of our existing functional built environment.
These are two issue that most people think are opposed. I do not see
them that way. Demolition and deconstruction produce a huge amount of
landfill waste and require the production of tons of green house gasses
to produce new material, yet old buildings waste huge amounts of energy
in heating and cooling. These are not mutually exclusive realities but
real calculable limits and guidelines that define what is the best practice.
And this is real work we as a city can do.