SEC News

BALLE announces new Economic Justice Initiative

Editor2 — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 15:48:17 -0500

Business Alliance for Local Living Economies (BALLE) is excited to announce its new Economic Justice Initiative to further address the issue of economic justice in our local communities, and ultimately in North America and the global economy.

BALLE has an ongoing commitment to creating new models of economic development through which communities left out of ownership opportunities in the old industrial economy gain ownership positions in the emerging local living economies.

BALLE will form five task forces of people committed to economic justice with experience in business development and network development, as well as specific experience in the building blocks of local living economies, such as food, fiber, and energy.

Bay Area Industrial Roundtable Wrap-Up

Editor2 — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 15:48:12 -0500

On May 8 the Bay Area Industrial Roundtable held its first public event, a half-day forum on industrial land use. Co-sponsored with the Association of Bay Area Governments, the forum attracted about 100 people from around the region to the MetroCenter in downtown Oakland.

After a welcome by Oakland Mayor Ron Dellums, the keynote speaker, City of Los Angeles Planning Director Gail Goldberg, described her agency’s efforts to retain LA’s industrial lands for job-producing uses. In a city with a serious congestion problem and a low median income that contributes to an affordable housing crisis, many industrial businesses, she said, provide well-paying jobs to a local, often transit-dependent workforce.

Mayor Dellums Vows Oakland Will Be Next City to Pass a Comprehensive Clean Trucks Program

Editor2 — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 15:48:04 -0500

With Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa at his side, Mayor Ron Dellums pledged to follow the L.A. Harbor’s example and fix the broken Oakland Port trucking system that is contributing to a public health crisis and forcing drivers to endure sweatshop working conditions.

"I want to take this public opportunity to say to you, Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, that you were first, but Oakland is going to be second, so don’t slow down,” said Mayor Dellums. “We must maintain the integrity of good jobs for our migrant truck drivers who need to have a real living -- not a false wage that continues to perpetuate poverty and pollution.”

New Health and Environment Grant Opportunities Kresge Foundation

Editor2 — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 15:47:59 -0500

Kresge Foundation Announces New Grantmaking Programs in Health and Environment

Deadline: Open

The Kresge Foundation has announced two new comprehensive grant- making
programs: the Health Program and the Environment Program.

Historically, the foundation has worked in six fields of interest:
health, the environment, arts and culture, education, human services, and community development. With the announcement of these two new programs in health and the environment, the foundation is expanding its commitment and narrowing its focus in each field for maximum long-term impact in its strategic areas of interest.

Merritt College Offers Environmental Justice courses and Carl Anthony Keynote

Editor2 — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 15:47:53 -0500

Carl Anthony and Paloma Pavel will keynote the free Friday, October 3 Urban Sustainability Conference at Merritt College 9am - 3pm register at www.sustainableperalta.org. Carl Anthony was a founding member of the David R. Brower, Ronald V. Dellums Institute for Sustainable Policy Studies at Merritt College.

Rep. George Miller tours Richmond BUILD Training Program

Editor2 — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 15:47:47 -0500

Congressman to view City of Richmond’s nationally recognized “Best Practices” program

Richmond, CALIF – Congressman George Miller will visit and meet with students at the Richmond BUILD Construction Skills & Solar Installation training program. Richmond BUILD has received local, national and international recognition as a “best practice” Green-Collar Job training program. To date, 19 graduates (20% of the program’s total graduates) have obtained a Green-Collar job, 16 of whom obtained professional Solar Installation jobs.

AC Transit to place Parcel Tax on November Ballot rather than raise fares

Editor2 — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 15:10:06 -0500

In January 2008, AC Transit staff recommended a fare increase for ALL riders. The proposal would have increased the adult pass by 14%, the senior/disabled pass by 40% and the youth pass by 87%.

Community and coalition organizing, a rally, and public outcry pressured the AC Transit Board to explore other ways to fund their service without raising fares. AC Transit’s Board heeded the calls and chose to place a parcel tax on November’s ballot that will raise as much as $14 million a year.

AC Transit Votes to Preserve Fares, Seek Alternative Funding

Editor2 — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 18:30:03 -0500

In response to the Transportation Justice Working Group’s rally, phone calls and media coverage, the AC Transit Board of Supervisors voted to prevent the proposed fare hikes for youth, seniors, and all riders and examine other funding strategies-- for now.

Last night, AC Transit’s Board unanimously voted to postpone a fare hike until after November’s elections. They also unanimously approved a staff recommendation to place a parcel tax on the November ballot (details below).

AC TRANSIT HAS NOT GUARANTEED THAT IT WON’T RAISE FARES (even if the parcel tax passes in November).

Foreclosure Victims Share Difficulties with Countrywide

Editor2 — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 18:29:52 -0500

In this short video by California Reinvestment Coalition, Countrywide mortgage borrowers faced with foreclosure share with their difficulties in attaining a loan modification.

California mortgage borrowers struggling to make their payments have reported difficulties working with their loan servicer to attain a loan modification. Four borrowers, who shared their stories with the California Reinvestment Coalition, are featured in this short video.

New Report from CPHEN on Diabetes & Place

Editor2 — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 18:29:45 -0500

The Unequal Landscape of Diabetes: Place based solutions to end an epidemic, a new report by CPEHN, provides statistics on the growing diabetes epidemic among communities of color and highlights policy recommendations and innovative solutions to improve our communities' nutritional and physical landscapes. To access the brief, please click here.