In the Media
Pleasanton General Plan Delayed again by Housing Cap Dispute
Atty. Gen. Brown, lawsuit contend cap blocks affordable units
Pleasanton Weekly Staff
Community and city leaders started updating the
Pleasanton General Plan in 2003, a hoped-for three year process that is
just now nearing completion and waiting for final approval by the
Planning Commission and City Council within the next few weeks.
But now everyone may have to wait a bit longer.
Yes on V-V Letter to the Editor
Yes on VV
MAYBE YOU'VE HEARD the expression "Half the battle is showing up." We all know it's true, especially for school success, and public transportation plays a key role in San Leandro students' academic achievement.
Yes on the Measure VV Event
Over 50 students, parents, bus riders, and people
representing community and faith organizations gathered at the busiest bus hub
in 
y to bus riders.
If passed by voters in November, Measure VV will fill the gap in AC Transit’s operating budget – preventing service hikes and major budget cuts. If Measure VV doesn’t pass, then the consequences could be devastating to AC Transit’s over 200,000 daily riders- many of whom have no other transportation option and include youth, seniors, working people, and people with disabilities.
Listen to KPFA Wendall Harper's report on the event click Here or listen to KCBS' Bob Melrose click Here
San Leandro development proposal draws mixed reaction
SAN LEANDRO — In its inaugural meeting with the public, the developer for the city's first transit-oriented development project was met with cheers and jeers as it laid out the proposed plans and tried to gain feedback from residents.
Many of the objectors were residents of the Pacific Plaza condominium complex near the BART station. They said they vehemently opposed the development proposal because they feared it would attract an influx of low-income residents and drag down property values.
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Press Release: Alameda County Hosts National Initiative to Reduce Health Disparities
OAKLAND, Calif., July 23, 2008 /PRNewswire-USNewswire via COMTEX/ -- The Alameda County Place Matters Team will host a three-day meeting July 24-26 at the Oakland Marriott to address the social conditions that lead to poor health outcomes in individuals from low-income and communities of color. Over 100 representatives from 24 U.S. cities and counties will attend. Place Matters is a national initiative of the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies' Health Policy Institute and is funded by the W. K. Kellogg Foundation.
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Press Release: Chevron Offers Richmond $61 Million to Approve Refinery Expansion
Richmond Residents and Bay Area Community say, “Our Health is Not for Sale.” In a last minute effort to lock-in City Council approval for Chevron’s refinery expansion, yesterday Chevron presented the City of Richmond with a $61 million dollar ‘Community Benefit Agreement’ (CBA). The Agreement, submitted to the city council in closed session immediately before the public council hearing, would reportedly include $6.75 million for jobs and education programs, $6 million for community health programs, and requires the City Council’s approval of the expansion project.
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Affordable Housing Lawsuit Back in Play--No More Excuses from Pleasanton
Given his statements last week (Affordable Housing Lawsuit Back in Play, June 26, 2008) Pleasanton City Attorney Michael Roush apparently needs to study up on his basic arithmetic.
As stated in the article, the City has reneged on its promise in the last Housing Element to rezone enough land for some 800 units of lower-income housing by June 2004. An additional 3,277 new units were allocated this month for the next planning period. For Mr. Roush’s benefit, that’s more than 4,000 units now needed, significantly more than the 2,755 units remaining under the 29,000-unit Housing Cap according to the City’s own staff report.
Court of Appeals reinstates affordable housing lawsuit against city of Pleasanton
The California Court of Appeal has reinstated a 2006 lawsuit claiming the city of Pleasanton has failed to meet its affordable housing obligations due to exclusionary policies and practices.
The ruling allows the group Urban Habitat and Pleasanton resident Sandra De Gregorio to pursue their challenge to the city's voter-approved housing cap and growth management program, as well as ask the court to require the city to rezone land for affordable housing.
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AC Transit to pitch $48 property tax
Directors for the East Bay's largest bus agency will meet at 5 p.m. today to consider a new $48-a-year parcel tax increase aimed at staving off fare increases.
AC Transit's board of directors had been scheduled to consider a fare increase, including raising base fares from $1.75 to $2 and a highly controversial youth pass boost from $15 to $28 a month.
A recent poll commissioned by AC Transit showed that the required two-thirds majority of residents of the district it serves, in western Alameda and Contra Costa counties from Richmond to Fremont, would support a parcel tax increase of $4 a month. Agency officials estimate the tax would raise an estimated $14 million a year.
AC Transit's board of directors had been scheduled to consider a fare increase, including raising base fares from $1.75 to $2 and a highly controversial youth pass boost from $15 to $28 a month.
A recent poll commissioned by AC Transit showed that the required two-thirds majority of residents of the district it serves, in western Alameda and Contra Costa counties from Richmond to Fremont, would support a parcel tax increase of $4 a month. Agency officials estimate the tax would raise an estimated $14 million a year.
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