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Politics : Sioux Nation -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Wharf Rat who wrote (99636)	2/16/2007 6:38:25 AM
From: Wharf Rat	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 362605

BERKELEY Mayor's vision for city is green and prosperous Carolyn Jones, Chronicle Staff Writer Wednesday, February 14, 2007 Berkeley is on the cusp of becoming a regional arts hub and a national leader in the fight against global warming, according to a vision outlined by Mayor Tom Bates in the annual State of the City address Tuesday night. In a warmly received speech in the packed City Council chambers, Bates described sweeping plans to make the city a model of sustainability -- both economic and environmental -- and a key player in region's future. "Berkeley and its neighboring cities can be a headquarters for creative, innovative and emerging businesses," said Bates, who was re-elected with 63 percent of the vote in November. "We can be a creative engine for the entire Bay Area." Bates outlined his plans for boosting the city's lagging economy and implementing Measure G, which sets a goal of reducing the city's greenhouse gas emissions by 80 percent by 2050. The measure, one of the most ambitious environmental plans in the country, applies to every residence and business in the city. The city gave $100,000 to a non-profit group called Sustainable Berkeley to hire a consultant to help get Measure G rolling. Although no specific plans have been decided yet, Bates said residents can expect expanded car-sharing programs, green requirements for all new construction, increased energy efficiency requirements for homes, more solar power and local heat and power generators. "Climate change is the single greatest environmental threat in human history," he said. "We all have an obligation to do our part -- both locally and globally." Councilmember Betty Olds called the environmental goals "very optimistic." "It's going to be very hard to change people," she said. "In my district alone, we've got to stop people driving up and down the hill four or five times a day." On the economic front, Bates said he wants to jump-start the city's economy by cutting red tape for new businesses throughout the city, encourage residents to shop locally and at independent stores, and loosen zoning laws in West Berkeley to encourage businesses to stay. Clif Bar and some other West Berkeley businesses announced recently they'd be leaving partly because of the city's strict zoning. The city's acting economic development director, Michael Caplan, said aggressive promotion of a green economy could be transformative in an innovative city like Berkeley in partnership with the UC campus, which recently announced a landmark deal with British Petroleum to develop biofuels. "We are at the center of biotech research," Caplan said. "This could transform not just Berkeley but the whole East Bay and hopefully save the planet." Bates also stressed the arts, saying he wants to continue promoting Berkeley as a center for arts and culture in the East Bay. The arts, he added, are also key to the city's economic future. He set a goal of 1 million people a year visiting Berkeley for arts events by 2012. Last year, 350,000 visited downtown for arts events, not including movies. "Our arts economy is poised to explode over the next few years," he said, pointing to $200 million in private and UC investments in museums, music halls and theater space, most of which is slated for downtown. To encourage further arts expansion, Bates wants to earmark part of the hotel tax to fund arts groups. sfgate.com

To: Wharf Rat who wrote (99636)	2/16/2007 9:38:19 AM
From: coug	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 362605

Every Texan should turn up their thermostat on their air conditioner about 5 degrees (homes and offices)in the summer, and take the roofs off those giant enclosed malls. Or turn the ACs off completely, open their windows and breathe some fresh, uncycled, unprocessed air for a change.. If they try it, they might even like it:) Then some of those giant coal-fired plants will fall off the drawing boards and some of those green house gasses out of the sky. It's the consumption baby, it's just the consumption.. :)