When is a Blog not a Blog? When it is a petition.

At last, we are creating a stir.  After all, grass roots does mean from the bottom up, not from the top down.

When is a blog not a blog?  When it's a petition. The orindawatch.org petition is well written, took a lot of thought and has obviously threatened some entity.  A petition that simply states, "We the People" of Orinda want to have a say in what our council does with regard to the new development within "our" city. 

Moraga, take note. You're the next transit hub.  Huh?

This thing is really heating up.  Zoning?!  I just want to know where, when and what they are planning, before it comes to fruition. Don't you?  It's such a hassle listening to John Q. Public, isn't it?  They don't need our help. We just live here. This thing has become so fluid. It changes constantly.

Want to park in an underground parking lot at Bart and walk to La Piazza in the rain, instead of parking on the street?  Could happen. May be not. Just pretend you're in S.F.  Will there be enough spaces? Plan Bay Area wants minimal parking, wants us out of our cars. 

Tried to go to Danville for dinner by Bart and bus?  If everything goes perfectly, it's one hour and 46 minutes round trip (not including getting to and from it and your ultimate destination).  Aren't they widening the freeway down there? I'm confused.  I thought this was about quality mass transportation, clean air, and getting people out of their cars....but I digress.

Fascinating how our city scrambled to put out a letter in every possible venue to explain their position on zoning four days, (this coming Tuesday) before an announcement and a petition is to be presented. How long has this thing been going on? And if their position is so transparent, then it's a wonder that they would even bother. 

This is a petition that gives you a voice now and in the future should things  change, AGAIN...and you know they will.

Isn't it unfortunate that so many people will be on vacation this summer for announcements that will change our city forever?  I'm particularly worried about the young people who have small children, may be each work, and don't know this is going on, or just learned of it.  They will inherit this city!  I've talked to some in my area.  They didn't know what the heck I was talking about.  May be they read the Chronicle, the WSJ or the NY Times and not the local papers, or are just too busy.  I mean, really.  Who would have thought in our lifetime.....?

Shouldn't we have had citizen action committees like other cities did right from the beginning?  How novel. It's called balance.

Corte Madera put in an award winning development for those of low income but  ABAG came back and said it wasn't enough. They opted out of ABAG. 

As I've stated before, in my opinion, the original housing for seniors, 66 of 70 being low income, fits the demographics of an aging population.  It seemed like the perfect sized building for a business district that is 9/10 of a mile long and barely a half mile wide.  We do have to meet our mandated housing allotments, but I guess it's just too much for mere mortals to understand.

Me thinks they doth protest too much!

It's like a mouse shooting a giant with a peashooter, but a petition IS an effective way to get a message across that you want to have input BEFORE important decisions are made.  And not have to give 3 minute speeches to the Orinda council with no questions allowed, no interaction, and barely a response except a thank you and may be an occasional rolling of the eyes.  No, really.  It's in the minutes!

In closing.  Who has the power here?  Feeling marginalized yet?  They do, including all the email addresses,  a newspaper with a mouthpiece that never says a disparaging word about what they are doing, and the final word.  We have a petition.  What is the downside?  They've had their say.  Now, it's our turn.

Please go to orindawatch.org, a non partisan group, and read and sign the petition.  Help us reach our goal and yours of 1000 signatures in 10 days.

For your reading pleasure see The Berkeley Planet, A Shocking Theft of our  Democracy and The San Francisco Bay Guardian, Planning for Displacement
I don't like the trend I'm seeing.