Smart Growth and Just Growth: the quest for equity in transit-oriented development

Join leaders from prominent Bay Area transportation and social justice organizations as we explore regional issues and visions for transit-oriented development that support social equity. Panelists include:

Catalina Garzon, Program Co-Director, Pacific Institute
Joel Ramos, Planner, TransForm
Bob Allen, Director of Transportation Justice, Urban Habitat
Evelyn Stivers, Field Director, Non-Profit Housing Association of Northern CA
Margaret Gordon, Co-Founder, West Oakland Environmental Indicators Project, Ditching Dirty Diesel Collaborative

In the next 25 years, the Bay Area population is projected to climb by about 2 million residents, nearly all concentrated in urban areas. How can we accommodate this tremendous influx of people and keep regional greenhouse gas emissions under control? Transit-oriented development may be the answer.

But in an already packed region, increasing density could mean that affordable housing gets squeezed into areas that pose serious health and safety risks to residents -- near freeways, railways, ports, and other transit corridors. Low-income communities may have to choose between staying here and suffering negative health consequences or relocating entirely. While public health advocates wave these red flags, affordable housing advocates facing cuts in funding are reluctant to place more caveats on new developments.

We'll ask questions such as, "What should the vision for transit-oriented development that supports social equity be? How can we protect people's right to breath clean air while still keeping housing and transit affordable? If housing is sited next to sources of heavy pollution, what mitigation measures should developers put in place to safeguard people's health?"

Cost: Free.
Info: 510-548-2220 x233, debra [at] ecologycenter.org.
Wheelchair accessible.