East Bay

BRT Proposal Raises Questions, Fewer Answers at Commission

Editor2 — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 17:32:49 -0500

By Richard Brenneman

Planning commissioners Wednesday confronted what Chair James Samuels called “a chicken/egg problem”: How to define a Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) route without knowing its full impacts.

The controversial proposal from AC Transit would create a new bus route from Berkeley to San Leandro—running (possibly) from Berkeley’s downtown Bay Area Rapid Transit station to Bayfair BART.

But, as the report from city transportation planners Beth Greene and Kara Vuicich made clear, a great many questions remain unanswered, especially when four different governments are involved.

While the project belong to AC Transit—a public agency with its own elected board drawn from both Alameda and Contra Costa counties (the A and C in its name)—the cities of Berkeley, Oakland and San Leandro must all sign off on the final plans.

YES on Measure V V

Editor2 — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 18:43:28 -0500

Keep AC Transit Affordable For Youth & Seniors

Preserve affordable bus passes
Help kids get to school and after-school activities
Allow seniors and the disabled to live independently

Today, 60,000 youth will ride AC Transit to get to school and after-school jobs and activities.

Today, 13,500 seniors will ride AC Transit to see their families, doctors, and buy groceries and other essential needs.

AC Transit 2008 Parcel Tax Background and Basics

Editor2 — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 17:49:41 -0500

History

AC transit is facing a cut of $19 million from the Governor’s May budget revise. In addition, rising fuel and health care costs are putting in

creasing pressure on AC Transit’s budget. More importantly, AC transit, and bus service for low income communities, communities of color and the transit-dependent across the Bay Area, face chronic operating shortfalls as a result of racist, classist and pro-developer funding decisions made by the region’s Metropolitan Planning Organization known as the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC). Combined, these forces have created a hole in AC Transit’s budget of over $20 million in FY 2009/10 alone.

In January 2008, to deal with its budget gap, AC Transit staff recommended a fare increase for ALL riders. The staff-recommended proposal would increase the adult pass by 14%, the senior/disabled pass by 40% and the youth pass by 87%. Seniors would have had to pay $28, rather than $20 a month and youth would have had to pay $28 rather than $15 per month.

Let's Revisit the CyberTran Plan

Editor2 — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 15:16:19 -0500

By Jeffrey R. Smith

As many local residents know: Alameda is an island. But that could change: it may become an atoll, a shoal or an oyster bed. Many residents are also aware that fuel prices are rapidly catching up to the prices of table wines: a gallon of the carbonated pink Catawba currently sells for less than $5!

Small Band Fights Big Development

Editor2 — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 12:36:04 -0500

By Amy Sylvestri

A group of San Leandro residents who don’t support the construction of hundreds of new housing units as part of the Transit- Oriented Development (TOD) has banded together to fight the project.

Estudillo Estates resident Frank Lynn started a group called “Save San Leandro” to protest the San Leandro Crossings project that is part of the TOD plan. They say city officials don’t listen to the public’s opinion.

Teens show their urban planning prowess

Editor — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 00:00:00 -0500

By Chris Treadway

DEVELOPERS, PLANNERS, city officials and community members have tried for years to devise a cohesive and appealing plan for the area along San Pablo Avenue at the Del Norte BART station in El Cerrito. Now, 10 students from Kennedy High School in Richmond have come up with their own ideas for the area as the culmination of their summer internship in a program sponsored by the West Contra Costa Transportation Advisory Committee.

This is the second year WCCTAC has held the program, which focused "on transportation and urban planning, with an added emphasis encouraging students to examine and explore their own local environment."

East Bay incomes higher, but poverty rates not going down

Editor2 — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 00:00:00 -0500

By Matt O'Brien

If the East Bay economy could be judged by Pleasanton's median household income of $113,345, or its poverty rate of 2.1 percent, the region would seem to be doing fine.

The U.S. Census Bureau released statistics Tuesday that show the Tri-Valley city of about 68,000 people has regained its place as the most affluent midsize city in America.

"We're certainly in an enviable position and I'm not complaining," said Pleasanton Mayor Jennifer Hosterman. "We're better poised than most to ride out these rough economic waves."

Release of New Report on Community Benefits and Development: Sept 24, 2008

Editor2 — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 12:24:55 -0500

Save the Date!
Wednesday, September 24th, 2008
****Please Note the CHANGE IN DATE****
Community Benefits and Development Report Release

Report: some Pleasanton apartment complexes discriminate

Editor2 — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 17:02:44 -0500

by Janet Pelletier

A new study released by ECHO Housing, a nonprofit housing counseling agency, says 30 percent of Pleasanton apartment complexes that were audited showed some form of discrimination based on race.

Donate School Supplies to Homeless Children

Editor2 — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 13:27:40 -0500

Building Opportunities for Self-Sufficiency (BOSS) is asking for donations for the Children's Learning Center where homeless children receive daily academic support throughout the school year. Our children of all grade levels live on site at the Ursula Sherman Village, emergency and transitional housing.

We are currently in need of new or gently used backpacks, notebooks, pencils and pens, markers, crayons, binders and more approximately 30 school age children.

Please help if you can by bring donations to our administration office in downtown Berkeley 2065 Kittredge Street, Suite E, Berkeley Ca.