SF.StreetsBlog.org reports on how public transit will fare in Gov. Jerry Brown's proposed budget. The budget proposes $329.6 million in aid to local transit agencies for fiscal year 2011-12, a substantial increase over the past two budgets of Gov. Schwarzenegger. The feeling among many transit advocates in Sacramento is that, given the draconian cuts other programs are facing, getting almost $330 this year is actually a victory, even though it doesn't even begin to address the real need. Under the plan, transit agencies would receive 75 percent of diesel fuel taxes instead of the current 50 percent. Read more about SF.StreetsBlog's take on the budget proposal here.

Bike lanes create more jobs than other road projects, per $ 1 mil

According to a new report by the Political Economy Research Institute at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, building bike lanes, pedestrian projects, and bike boulevards, creates more job per million dollars spent than road repairs and road resurfacing. The report finds that while road construction projects create approximately 7 jobs per $1 million spending, pedestrian projects create over 11 jobs for the same level of spending, and bicycle projects create up to 14 jobs. View the full report

Sacramento Housing Alliance Seeking Policy Director

Our friends at the Sacramento Housing Alliance are seeking a policy director for Housing and Environmental Justice.  Under the direction of the Executive Director, the Policy Director will develop affordable housing policy for the organization and coordinate the Environmental Justice Initiative. The position also includes policy analysis, advocacy and community relations, research and project coordination.  For more information or for a complete job description, please contact Shamus Roller at shamus@sachousingalliance.org.     

Planning and Conservation League Seeks New Executive Director

The core responsibility of the Executive Director (ED) is to provide leadership to PCL and the PCL Foundation (PCLF) in liaison with their respective Boards of Directors. The ED is responsible for overall strategic planning, revenue generation, financial management, organizational development, staff management and program operations.  Interested individuals should email their cover letter, resume and three references to Sandi Walsh at swalsh@mognot.com .   No calls please.  For more information on the Planning & Conservation League and the Foundation, please visit our websites here and here.

Announcements

1/28-1/30 - Northern California Home and Landscape Expo, Cal Expo Fairgrounds, 1600 Exposition Blvd., Sacramento.  Whether you are planning to build, remodel or simply redecorate, the Home & Landscape Expo promises to bring you the largest gathering of professionals to help you with your home project.  For Show and Attendee Information contact: Stefani Norville stefani@homeandlandscapeexpo.com.  For general information, visit website.

1/29 - 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. - Edible Communities presents Edible Institute 2011, Hotel Mar Monte, 1111 East Cabrillo Blvd., Santa Barbara CA.   Edible Communities presents Edible Institute 2011 - a weekend of talks, presentations, workshops, and local food & wine tastings - by some of the local food movement's most influential thinkers, writers, and producers.  For more information, contact Kelly Day at kelly@ediblecommunities.com and 800-652-4217, or visit website.

1/30 - 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. - East Sacramento Citrus Harvest, McKinley Park Tennis Court Bleachers, 33rd Street and McKinley Blvd, Sacramento.  This is a fruit harvesting event. Volunteers will be in groups of 5-10 with a trained harvest leader. Each group will have a list of 3-5 tree sites (depending on the number and size of trees at each site) and will be provided with all necessary harvesting materials, including gloves, picker-poles, ladders, clippers and boxes. Sacramento Food Bank and Family Services will transport our harvested fruit from our meeting location to their main warehouse for distribution the following week.  For more information, contact Randy Stannard at rstannard@soilborn.org or visit website. 

2/3 - 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. -- Oak Park Neighborhood Association Meeting, Sacramento Food Bank, 3333 3rd Avenue, Sacramento.  Monthly Neighborhood Association Meeting and Cops & Coffee.  Discuss specific neighborhood issues with Sacramento Police Officers. Find out what's happening in our community. Exchange ideas and information with your neighbors and City, County, State staff.  Meet & Greet starts at 5:30 pm. Meet your neighbors and share information about what's happening on your street.  This is a great way to meet your neighbors and let others know about your interests and concerns.  Contact: Joany Titherington, 1bejonzy@gmail.com, (916) 704-2843, or visit website.
  

2/12 - 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. - An event supporting the ongoing activities and advocacy of the Avondale Glen Elder Neighborhood Association (AGENA).  For more information or to purchase tickets please contact Constance at (916) 455-4900 or Lesli at (916) 410-6603.