Abigail Shull

"The Metropolitan Transportation Commission expects to spend $30 billion on transit expansions in the next 25 years. Some slated projects include “eBART” to Antioch and the BART extensions to Livermore and Silicon Valley. Join Ellen Smith and Malcolm Quint from BART, and Leyla Hedayat of the Valley Transportation Authority as they present on the proposed routes, funding mechanisms, and potential obstacles and how they propose to overcome them."

"Robert Olshansky and Laurie Johnson’s new book Clear As Mud offers an objective and intimate look at the first 22 months of New Orleans’ recovery. In addition to rebuilding its structures and institutions, New Orleans had to create an equitable and effective community planning structure while addressing the concerns of state, federal, nonprofit and private- sector stakeholders. With co-author Laurie Johnson."

"The Transbay Terminal will create a “Grand Central Station of the West” in the heart of a new transit- friendly neighborhood in downtown San Francisco. Now that the plan for the terminal has been finalized, what is next for the surrounding neighborhoods? With David Alumbaugh of the SF Planning Department and former Planning Director Dean Macris."

"What can San Francisco learn from San José, its larger and faster growing neighbor? Speakers will explore the need for an urban center in Silicon Valley and the project of retrofitting suburban neighborhoods in and around San José. With Kim Walesh of the City of San José, Connie Martinez of 1stACT Silicon Valley and Egon Terplan of SPUR."

"California continues to face unprecedented budget challenges. While much attention is paid to the problems arising from short-term deficits, groups are also focusing on the need for long-term structural reform. The group leading a statewide effort is California Forward, a politically and geographically diverse leadership council working to reform California’s fiscal, political and governance systems. With Fred Silva and Dennis Qurin of California Forward."

"Bike & Build organizes cross-country bike trips, with participants stopping in nine locations from Virginia to California, to build and raise awareness about affordable housing. Leader Hans Juntunen and his team of Bike & Builders will share the story of the program, as well as experiences from their journey. Co-sponsored by the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition and generously supported by the Koret Foundation."

"Join Supervisor Ross Mirkarimi as he shows us the sights and sounds of District 5. See some of the changes and investments in several of the district’s key commercial corridors, including the greening and sidewalk improvements of the bustling Divisadero Corridor and the dynamism of the Lower Haight. Grab your coffee and join us!"

"Jointly developed by the Institute on Aging and BRIDGE Housing Corporation, and scheduled to open in the fall of 2010, 3575 Geary Boulevard will serve as the main location for IOA’s health and social support programs and BRIDGE’s 150 new units of low-income senior rental housing. Separately owned and financed, the new development combines independent housing for low-income seniors with a senior health services facility in one building. With Don Lusty of BRIDGE and Ken Donnelly of IOA."

"We are lucky in San Francisco to have many groups supporting healthy living for seniors. But approaches to supporting urban seniors are greatly varied, depending on a community’s ethnicity, income level, health needs and geographic location in the city. Join us for a discussion with the leaders of three local organizations who offer programs to meet the needs of specific senior communities. With Seth Kilbourn of Openhouse, Steve Nakajo of Kimochi, Inc. and Christina Olague of the Senior Action Network."

"Green building is rapidly taking hold in our cities, but what’s next? Lucia Athens’ new book Building an Emerald City offers a roadmap for policymakers, public officials and green building advocates to create more sustainable communities and cities through green building practices. With her experience working on such programs for the cities of Austin and Seattle, Athens will explain how green building gained its current stature and predict the top trends for its future."