Bay Area Issues, Links for July 11th, 2008
Green Contract Campaign in Marin County
Marin Courts workers are undertaking a Green Contract Campaign in a contract fight with Marin County’s California State Courts System, proposing System to include in their contracts Flexible Scheduling, Transit Subsidies, Tele-Commuting, and Inter-Court Transfer Rights.
“Because most Marin public workers cannot afford to live in Marin, the gas crisis has hit them especially hard.”
A measure for a light rail system between Marin and Sonoma was voted down by Marina County in 2006, but will be on the ballot again.
Commission to retrofit existing plants
The San Francisco Public Utilities Commission voted to retrofit the existing power plants in the Potrero District, rather than building new gas-burning combustion turbines.
“Public Utilities Commission officials said in a prepared statement that the retrofit would allow for reduced emissions, better water quality in San Francisco Bay, and ‘the eventual retirement of all fossil-fuel burning electric generation in San Francisco.’”
Earlier in June, supervisors proposed closing the existing Mirant Plant.
Case to defend Delta Bass fishery in preparation
The California Department of Fish and Game (CDFG) prepares its case against Coalition for Sustainable Delta, which claims the Delta Striped Bass fishery is one of the causes of the collapse of the Delta Smelt.
According to California Sportfishing Protection Alliance webmaster, Jerry Neuburger, “these agencies are consumers of vast amounts of water pumped south through both the state and federal conveyances. A healthy striped bass fishery is a major obstacle in their ever increasing need for delta water…”
Also represented with the CDFG are the California Striped Bass Association and the Northern California Council of the Federation of Fly Fishers.
Committee donates $600,000 to Nunez
The Voter Registration 2008 Committee contributed $600,000 to a committee led by former Assemblyman Fabian Nunez.
“Under state rules, he could choose to spend the money without limits on a statewide initiaitve campaign, or he could transfer portions of the money to a campaign for future office, subject to state contribution limits.”
- More from Bob Brigham
Schwarzenegger and Feinstein propose new water bond plan
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sen. Dianne Feinstein proposed a new water bond plan to provide funding for conservation and water recycling while building new dams and a Delta Canal.
“Feinstein joined forces with Schwarzenegger earlier this year to pursue a water bond in California. The Republican governor had hoped enlisting one of the state’s leading Democrats would lead to a deal, but Democratic lawmakers have raised environmental concerns since last year about the environmental impacts of dams and other projects.”
- Read Dan Bacher‘s response on IndyBay
Related posts: