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General Plan Update is missing big climate change tool

Coastal Post online

Also in Marin IJ Marin Voice October 16, 2007

General Plan Update is missing big climate change tool

By Dwayne Hunn

If you find our self-imposed Iraq War much more than inconvenient, then prepare for scaring self-flagellation from the tsunami of climate change.

To prepare for the tsunami, Marin’s General Plan Update cultivates the right slogans. However, it doesn’t provide enough tools to grow the smart development needed for the affluent isle of Marin to do its share to combat global climate change.

Global climate change (GCC) requires every governmental level to develop an aggressive plan that, as Board President Kinsey says, “Walks the talk.”

Each Marinite’s ecological footprint requires 27.4 acres to recoup its damage. It is one of the nation’s largest, yet doesn’t include the damage Marin’s exclusive developmental pattern causes by fostering clogged commutes.

Marin’s General Plan (GP) espouses a call to action, but it doesn’t provide strong enough tools to allow some of today’s children to live here affordably tomorrow.

At the 1200-acre St. Vincent Silveira property, the GP fails in combating GCC. Allowing a paltry 50-221 senior units there does not provide the planning tool needed to increase the supply of worker housing, build new, resource conserving communities, provide senior housing in the state’s oldest median aged county, or reduce bloodying our troops supporting our automobile addiction.

The GP lauds “smart growth… building community… transit oriented development…” Yet, it fails to provide Marin’s largest undeveloped parcel with a mixed-use overlay map option that would allow designers, architects, and property owners the opportunity to offer a smart, new, rail oriented community to your children.

GCC’s devastating implications require we fight it as a war, which requires building sustainable, compact, mixed use communities along rail lines that preserve space, air, and your children’s military exemption.

Segregating seniors on 1200 acres in a county that already preserves 87% of its land continues ceding the GCC battlefield to clogged freeways. In a carbon war, winning armies will develop their rail infrastructure to help reduce resource consumption.

Europeans leave a much smaller environmental footprint than Marinites. In the 21st century, we have the design and rail opportunities to better European standards. Imagine a village on 10-15% of the land encircled by a neighborhood of porched-homes and small parks that encourages residents to walk to their mixed-use 2-3-story town center. Included in it would be the retirement community. Running through the town center would be the train, whose second generation would be fuel cell driven.

As the clock ticks toward climate change’s midnight, isn’t it time Marin offers designers and property owners the planning tools that provide as many environmentally healthy developmental options as possible?

Marin should not allow planning tools to be controlled by environmental sounding groups, who oppose providing new pedestrian oriented villages along rail lines that bolster train rider ship. The climate change crisis requires building smart transit-oriented communities at every opportunity. If a state law makes that difficult in Marin, change the illogical law.

While working as an affordable housing developer with North Bay Family Homes, we pushed the Vintage Oaks developer to add second story residential units to his Novato shopping center that fronted the rail line. His response, “We know how and would love to, but we are so sick of 13 years of politics here that we just want to get out of town.” We worked with the Berg-Revoir’s Hamilton proposal to provide a pedestrian rail oriented community that would have provided a windfall of worker units, start-up costs to the train, and $32 million (non-inflated) or $92 million (inflated) to assist on-site workers in owning or renting at Hamilton.

Both projects would have dramatically increased rail rider ship and reduced climate-warming pollutants. Both failed because too few provided the vision for a more sustainable today.

We are in the 11th hour of moving the black gunk of ancient sunlight into the atmosphere. For about 7 billion people, Mother Nature is about to vehemently respond. The Isle of Marin’s General Plan should provide the 21st century planning tools, so skilled visionaries can offer environmentally designed communities that takes Mother Nature’s anger seriously.

Dwayne Hunn consults for the Kerner Canalways Partnership www.canalway.hypermart.net and is Executive Director of People’s Lobby, sponsor of the American World Service Corps (AWSC) Congressional Proposals. www.WorldServiceCorps.us

 

Obama’s ’08 AWSC support letter

Barack Obama

October 9, 2007

Dwayne Hunn
People’s Lobby Inc.
359 Jean Street
Mill Valley, CA 94941

Dear Dwayne,

Thank you very much for sharing your materials about the American World Service Corps.  Active efforts like yours make this journey worthwhile. I hope you will continue to follow our campaign for change. If you want to get involved right away, visit My.BarackObama.com and register for events in your area.

obama08 symbolsincerely-barackobama

Obama for America  * PO Row 8210  * Chicago, IL  60680 *  BarackObama.com

 

 

 

 

Obama’s ’08 support letter

Barack Obama

October 9, 2007

Dwayne Hunn

People’s Lobby Inc.

363 Jean Street

Mill Valley, CA 94941

Dear Dwayne,

Thank you very much for sharing your materials about the American World Service Corps.  Active efforts like yours make this journey worthwhile. I hope you will continue to follow our campaign for change. If you want to get involved right away, visit My.BarackObama.com and register for events in your area.

obama08 symbol sincerely-barackobama

Obama for America  * PO Row 8210  * Chicago, IL  60680 *  BarackObama.com

 

 

 

Obama’08

BarackObama.com

DC staffs met

Staffs People’s Lobby met during a week  August 07 trip to DC seeking support for the AWSC Congressional Proposal.  All 23 staffs expressed as much support as staffers could.   Many spent more than an hour in positive discussions.

Some were later involved with providing input into the 2009 Kennedy Serve America Act, which integrated many of the provisions in the AWSC Congressional Proposal — but not all of its robust, big difference making provisions that remain needed more each day.

Joe Biden

US Senate Leg Correspondent

Met: Jill Stracko

201 Russell Senate Office Building

202-224-5042

Barbara Boxer

US Senate Leg Aide

Met: Danielle Leone

202-224-3553

 

Sherrod Brown

US Senate Leg Correspondent

Met: Ben Weiss

202-225-3401

 

Sam Brownback

US Senate Leg Correspondent

Met: Daren Guries

303 Hart Senate Office Bldg.

202-224-6521

Hillary Clinton

US Senate Leg Aide

Met: LaToya Johnson

Russel Bldg.

202-224-2432

Susan Collins

US Senate Leg Correspondent

Met: Patrick Hughes

112 Hart Building

202-224-2523

Chris Dodd

US Senate Leg. Director

SR-448 Russell Building

Met: Jim Fenton

202-224-2823

Dianne Feinstein

US Senate Legislative Assistant

Met: Olyvia Rodriguez

331 Hart

202-224-3841

Chuck Hagel

US Senate Leg Aide

Met: Maggie Stuckey

248 RUSSELL SENATE OFFICE BUILDING

202-224-0483

Edward Kennedy

US Senate Staff

Met: Jorrie Feldman

315 Russell Senate Office Building

202-224-4543

John Kerry

US SENATE Leg Staff

Met: Lindsey Ross

304 RUSSELL

SENATE OFFICE BUILDING 2

WASHINGTON, DC

202-224-9737

Amy Klobuchar

US Senate Leg Director

Met: Lindsay Calderone

123 RUSSELL SENATE OFFICE BUILDING

202-224-3244

Carl Levin

US Senate Leg Correspondent

Met: Kevin Glandon & several other Levin staffers.

269 Russell Office Building

202-224-6221

Dan Lungren

House of Representative, Legislative Director

Met: Kevin Holsclaw

202-225-5716

Jerry McNerney

House Representatives Leg Aide

Met: Andrew Horowitz

312 Cannon House Office Building

202-225-1947

Bill Nelson

US Senate Leg Aide

Met: Kevin Holsclaw

716 HART SENATE OFFICE BUILDING

202-224-5274

Charles Rangel

House of Representatives

2354 Rayburn House Office Building

Met: Jon Sheiner

202-225-4365

John Tester

US Senate Leg Aide

Met: Alpha Lillstrom

144 Russell Senate Office Building

202-224-

George Voinovich

US Senate Leg Aide

Met: Steve Kittredge

524 HART SENATE OFFICE BUILDING

202-224-3353

John Warner

US Senate Leg Correspondent

Met: Kristen Fallon

225 Russell Building

202-224-2023

Jim Webb

US Senate Chief Counsel

Met: Nelson Jones

144 Russell Senate Office Building

202-224-4024

Heather Wilson

US House Representatives

Met: Joshua Baca

442 Cannon

202-225-6316

Lynn Woolsey

House of Representatives – Leg. Aide

Met: Jason Feld

2263 Rayburn

202-225-5161

 

Assemblywoman Loni Hancock

Loni Hancock ASSEMBLYWOMAN, FOURTEENTH DISTRICT      
August 7, 2007 COMMITTEES:

NATURAL RESOURCES, CHAIR

BUDGET,

HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES EDUCATION

HOUSING & COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

 

Mr. Dwayne Hunn, Executive Director Peoples Lobby, Inc.

359 Jean Street

Mill Valley, CA 94941

Dear Mr. Hunn:

I am writing to express my support for the American World Service Corps (AWSC) Congressional Proposals initiated by citizens and the Peoples Lobby, Inc. I believe that in this increasingly complex world, we need new resources to face the challenges of tomorrow.

To address those challenges adequately, we need to engage and involve more Americans in domestic as well as international concerns. Doing so not only improves the world; it also increases our understanding of the complexities facing us at home and abroad.

The AWSC Congressional Proposals provide an opportunity for Americans to learn about and address the growing number of problems. AWSC involves Americans in building ourcapacity to seek solutions through service and peaceful means. By having one million Americans each year voluntarily work in effective governmental and non-governmental organizations, the program provides Americans with the capacity and insights to produce significant improvements in each state, our nation, and the world.

These opportunities can inspire more California Conservation Corps members to work on many basic infrastructure needs in our parks and on our levees. We need more Head Start teachers and assistants, and more AmeriCorps volunteers to work on environmental needs. Peace Corps members can contribute value services to developing nations and build good will internationally. Volunteers with the Red Cross and International Rescue Committee can assist in emergencies around the globe.

Volunteers participating in the AWSC benefit by gaining a deeper understanding of communities other than their own. They are also rewarded with other incentives including funds for education, down-payments on homes, medical savings and IRA account deposits.

Today, Americans are increasingly aware that the political process needs more citizen involvement to offset the lopsided power of special interests. Efforts such as those by the

CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE P.O. BOX 942849 SACRAMENTO, CA 94249-0014 (916) 319-2014 • FAX (916) 319-2114
DISTRICT OFFICE • 712 EL CERRITO PLAZA – EL CERRITO, CA 94530 • (510) 559-1406 • FAX (510) 559-1478

 

People’s Lobby, Inc. reflect a level of civic involvement that allows Americans to help create laws that benefit all of us.

For these reasons, I strongly encourage citizens and our Congress to add the AWSC Congressional Proposals to our nation’s toolbox.

Sincerely,

LONI HANCOCK Assemblywoman

lh:tw

“…Today, Americans are increasingly aware that the political process needs more citizen involvement to offset the lopsided power of special interests. Efforts such as those by the People’s Lobby, Inc. reflect a level of civic involvement that allows Americans to help create laws that benefit all of us.

For these reasons, I strongly encourage citizens and our Congress to add the AWSC Congressional Proposals to our nation’s toolbox…”

SONOMA DEMOCRATIC CENTRAL COMMITTEE 2007

SONOMA COUNTY DEMOCRATIC CENTRAL COMMITTEE RESOLUTION
SUPPORTING INTRODUCTION AND PASSAGE OF THE CITIZEN-INITIATED AMERICAN WORLD SERVICE CORPS

WHEREAS:  The World Service Corps (WSC) cost-effectively involves more than a million skilled, can-do Americans aged 18-60+ in working on world and domestic problems, and thereby gives them a deeper understanding, concern for and ability to practically address domestic and international policy needs, while raising America’s political IQ; and

WHEREAS:  The WSC invests in America’s education, health and economy through tuition, medical savings or IRA account investments, (which at $15,000 is one-sixth of the recruitment bonus presently offered to military recruits) to those who complete WSC service and thereby helps strengthen our knowledge of world and domestic needs, educational and economic competitiveness and our citizenry’s understanding of and voting on public policy needs at home and in the world; and

WHEREAS:  A one-million strong WSC offers a cost-effective, robust, peaceful army to augment our courageous 1.4 million military personnel; and thereby productively answers the increasingly alarming and costly spread of the critically dangerous “Ugly American” image, terrorist recruitment, poverty, environmental degradation and misunderstandings that inspire hatred, by involving many more of America’s best assets, its concerned, patriotic citizens, in addressing worldwide needs;

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Sonoma County Democratic Central Committee proclaims our support for the introduction and passage of the AWSC concepts into legislation, which encompasses the goal espoused by President Kennedy’s words:  “And so, my fellow Americans: ask not what your country can do for you–ask what you can do for your country.  My fellow citizens of the world: ask not whatAmerica will do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man;” and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Sonoma County Democratic Central Committee distribute copies of this resolution to Senators Feinstein and Boxer, members of the US House of Representatives, California Senate, and California Assembly representing Sonoma County, to such media outlets as the Public Relations Committee may deem appropriate; and to Democratic clubs in Sonoma County, and to all other California county Democratic central committees for consideration and support; and that the Sonoma County Democratic Central Committee transmit such correspondence as may advance the principles of this resolution.

The Sonoma County Democratic Central Committee adds its support, as did the California State Democratic Party on January 28, 2006, to Peoples Lobby’s citizen-initiated American World Service Corps Congressional Proposals, which by the seventh year after its enactment will add one million additional American volunteers into serving country and world through such organizations as the Peace Corps, AmeriCorps, Habitat for Humanity, Head Start, Doctors Without Borders, Red Cross, International Rescue Committee, OxFam, Mercy Corps, and State Conservation Corps.

Adapted from Dwayne Hunn, Executive Director, People’s Lobby
Distinguished Senior Consultant for Public Policy, OPS-Alaska

100 Friends Project

100 Friends Project

Hello,

My name is Marc Gold and I am the director of the 100 Friends Project. I have been operating this nonprofit charity for the past 19 years.

The idea is very simple. Every year many people contribute to the project and I take the money to Third World Countries and look for the neediest people I can find. I then put the money to work in the most compassionate, appropriate, culturally compatible, constructive and practical manner possible. You put the donation into my hands and I put the funds directly into the hands of the needy individual or family, or a small trusted grassroots organization helping them.

100 Friends has been able to provide assistance to thousands of needy people in many countries. I have now completed twelve humanitarian missions and dispensed over $250,000 directly into the hands of needy people all over the world. I try to find people who are not being assisted by anyone else. I make sure that the person needing the help really receives it. The donor puts it in my hands and I put it in the hands of the needy for housing, medical expenses, education, living expenses, small business development and many other purposes. I report the results back to the donors and answer any questions they may have about the process.

I am writing this letter to express my highest and full support of the citizen initiated American World Service Corps congressional proposal. I can speak with a special authority and expertise on the topic because for the past 19 years I have been doing exactly what this proposal intends to accomplish in the real world in many countries. I am only one person, but what I have been able to accomplish for thousands of poor people has been simply phenomenal.

If this proposal was enacted as written it would be the greatest tool imaginable to improve the battered image of the United States and would restore it to its former high place in people’s mind. It would be a fantastic opportunity to undue the damage to our national prestige and to show, in face to face encounters, the good ideas and humanitarian values that this nation is based upon

If enacts, this proposal would drive a stake through the heart of the propaganda that comes from Al Queda and other terrorist cells that seeks to portray us as “the enemy”. And this proposal is cost-effective and would make a powerful statement all over the world. It would also be a fantastic opportunity for young people to manifest their ideals in a troubled world.
If you have any questions, please feel to contact me at any time.

Below are some links that describe my work.

Sincerely,

Marc Gold 100 Friends Project

http://www.100friends.com/2007newsletter/
http://www.helenair.com/articles/2007/04/22/helena/f01042207_02.txt#

www.vantuyl.info/DumpRescue.wmv

www.100friendsproject.org

http://www.voanews.com/english/AmericanLife/2007-03-29-voa39.cfm

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2006/11/12/INGL2M90FS1.DTL

 

California State Senator Carol Migden

From California State Senator Carol Migden

July 12, 2007

 Mr. Dwayne Hunn, Executive Director

Peoples Lobby, Inc.

359 Jean Street

Mill Valley, CA 94941 

 Dear Mr. Hunn:

 As your State Senator, I would like to express my support for the American World Service Corps (AWSC) Congressional Proposals initiated by citizens and the People’s Lobby.  In California and across the nation, we have many unaddressed needs that will exacerbate the challenges we will face tomorrow. 

 To address those challenges adequately, we need to involve more Americans and Californians in addressing domestic as well as international concerns. Doing so not only improves the world, it also increases our understanding of the complexities facing us at home and abroad.

 The AWSC Congressional Proposals for Americans provide an opportunity for Americans to learn about and address the growing number of problems that are lying on our doorstep.  By having a million Americans a year voluntarily work in effective governmental and non-governmental organizations, the program provides can-do Americans with the capacity and insights to produce significant improvements in each state, our nation, and the world.

 We need to inspire more California Conservation Corps members to work on many of our basic infrastructure needs in our parks and on our levees, with appropriate technology.  We need more Headstart teachers and assistants, and more Americorps volunteers to work on environmental needs. We need concerned volunteers to be rewarded with funds for education, down-payments on homes, medical savings and IRA account deposits.

 Today, Americans are increasingly aware that the political process needs more citizen involvement to offset the lopsided power of special interests.  People’s Lobby reflects the level of civic involvement that allows Americans to help create laws that benefit all of us.

 For these reasons, I strongly encourage citizens and our Congress to add the AWSC Congressional Proposals to our nation’s toolbox.  We can make a lot of progress in our world, and the AWSC involves Americans in building our capacity to fix those needs peacefully. 

Sincerely,

 Carole Migden

Senator, 3rd District