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Greetings!
New Series
The article about the local branch of the Italian Catholic Federation is the first in a series describing groups belonging to CCOP's Diversity Committee. You are invited to learn about the group and consider joining them at their potluck dinner meetings, charitable activities and other events.
The Green Scene claims "Pleasanton has one of the most comprehensive Climate Action Plans in the Bay Area. The plan addresses energy and renewables, water and wastewater, waste management, land use and transportation, and community outreach." The plan is posted on the City's website at http://www.ci.pleasanton.ca.us/pdf/FinalCAP2-1-12.pdf.
[Note: depending on what email service you are using you may need to copy any PDF address into your browser rather than clicking on it.]
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Upcoming Events
Saturday, April 13, 8:00 A.M. to noon
Community Recycling Day
Pleasanton Operations Service Center
3333 Busch Rd., Pleasanton
Monday, April 22, 6:00 - 9:00 P.M.
Contra Costa County Plan Bay Area Open House 6:00 - 7:30 P.M. Public Hearing 7:00 - 9:00 P.M.
Marriott Hotel, 2355 North Main Street, Walnut Creek, CA
Wednesday, May 1. 6:00 - 9:00 P.M.
Alameda County Plan Bay Area Open House 6:00 - 7:30 P.M. Public Hearing 7:00 - 9:00 P.M.
Mirage Ballroom, 4100 Peralta Blvd., Fremont, CA, 94536
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Prospects for Affordable Housing in Pleasanton Endangered
At the Social Justice Committee meeting on April 4 committee member Pat Belding explained that a recent court ruling which negated inclusionary zoning means that the state law supporting affordable housing is no longer in effect. A result in Pleasanton is that developers are not required to include such housing as before. Recently, it was announced that the large California Center property (formerly Carr America) in Hacienda Business Park will be developed with only 7% affordable and will be primarily a luxury housing development.
The design of this housing development was approved by the Planning Commission, but there may be discussion of what actions the city should take to encourage or ensure adequate affordable housing from current and future developments. However, they expressed concern that the Housing Commission had not recommended the proposed Housing Agreement for the project due to the exceptionally low number of affordable units planned. This may be taken up at the City Council meeting on April 16, and interested persons are urged to attend.
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Invitation to Slow Food Potluck Meal April 28
The East Bay chapter of Slow Food USA sponsors quarterly potluck meals throughout the East Bay. The idea is to bring people together to enjoy each other's company and enjoy delicious food that is good for the planet as well as for our bodies, grown and harvested to benefit our local ecosystems and promote biodiversity. The aim also is to make nutritious food plentiful and produced with fair wages.
The next date is April 28 and in our area it will be a potluck lunch at Hillcrest Olive Oil Ranch, 11901 Foothill Road in Sunol. Anyone in Pleasanton or surrounding towns who would like to attend is asked to send an email to socialjustice@catholicsofpleasanton.org. In a few days you will be notified and given a link for the Sunol potluck to make your reservation, with a $5 charge per person, through Brown Paper Tickets.
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Brief Links
Brookings Foreign Policy Highlights. Topics include "Negotiating with Iran: How Best to Reach Success", "A Discussion on Afghanistan with General John Allen", and "Women in a Changing Middle East: An Address by Under Secretary of State Tara Sonenshine", link
As OSHA Emphasizes Safety, Long-Term Health Risks Fester (N Y Times), link
This bill would permit the filing of a declaration without having to meet the prior bargaining and time requirements and would expand the definition of an agricultural employer to include subsequent purchasers of an agricultural employer's business where the original employer had an obligation to bargain with its workers. SB 25, link
A Secret Deal on Drones, Sealed in Blood (N Y Times), link
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Sustainability of California's Central Valley
Living and working conditions of farm workers, immigration reform, land use and water resources are issues of great importance for the sustainability of California's Central Valley. The Central Valley consists of the San Joaquin Valley and the Sacramento Valley and stretches approximately 450 miles between the Sierra Nevada Mountains and the Coastal Range.
The book, "Valley of Shadows and Dreams"
After five years of research on California's Central Valley Ken and Melanie Light see "a two-ton truck of ecological and social disaster" rolling over us. Melanie had embarked on collecting background information about one of the first woman photographers for Life magazine. Her research took her and her husband to Tulare County, south of Fresno. Melanie says, "We were astonished by the frenzy of development there. Massive tracts of agricultural land were being turned into cul de sacs and suburban neighborhoods. Though we started to explore that story, we soon discovered a complex web that went far beyond residential development. As we witnessed the real estate bubble implode in the valley, we expanded our story to what I can only describe as a slow motion train wreck of unsustainability. This project gripped me at many levels because the issues are played out in the valley American style but they are the global challenges of our generation: water, land use, population, growing economic disparity. It will be fascinating to see how the pressure between a growing population and the limits of the earth unfolds; how the challenges are met or how we fail to find a model for sustainability."
American Land Conservancy
The American Land Conservancy (ALC) is a national nonprofit land conservation organization that protects land and water resources for the benefit of people and wildlife. They conserve critical habitat for plants and animals, protect threatened lands and rivers, preserve working farms and ranches, and create recreation areas that allow people to enjoy and explore the natural world. Their projects in the Central Valley are described here
United Farm Workers
UFW efforts for immigration reform are shown here. The history of the United Farm Workers is detailed here.
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Action Alert
The Senate is about to vote on legislation to reduce gun violence!
Take Action Now!
A showdown vote is scheduled for today (Thursday). If 60 approve, the Senate will begin consideration of a series of gun safety proposals that could still face much opposition.
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ITALIAN CATHOLIC FEDERATION, Branch 285, Pleasanton-Livermore
The mission of the Italian Catholic Federation is to promote faith renewal and cultural heritage, provide college scholarships and to provide "Gifts of Love" to specially challenged persons. Our local branch 285 supports research at Oakland Children's Hospital, vocations to the priesthood, and the Organ Donor Program, as well as our parishes.
We also enjoy great food together! Branch 285 has 58 members. You do not need to be Italian to join the organization, just enjoy helping others. Meetings are on the 3rd Friday of the month. For information, contact Anna Yocham (925) 484-1523.
Our National Organization has 14,000 members in the states of Arizona, California, Illinois, and Nevada.
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