Richard Goldman, S.F. philanthropist, dies at 90
By Carolyne Zinko, San Francisco Chronicle
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Richard Goldman, a philanthropist whose annual environmental prize is considered one of the world's top ecological awards, died Monday of natural causes at his home in San Francisco. He was 90.
Mr. Goldman and his wife, Rhoda, dispensed hundreds of millions of dollars in support of a variety of charitable causes in the Bay Area and internationally through the Richard and Rhoda Goldman Fund they started in 1951. In 1989, the couple created the global Goldman Environmental Prize for grassroots ...
Richmond casino deal by environmentalists, tribe
Tribe, developer, environmental groups announce major shoreline deal
By Carolyn Jones
Chronicle Staff Writer
Thursday, October 21, 2010
Richmond will get a Bay Trail extension and hundreds of acres of open space as part of a sweeping deal struck Wednesday between environmental groups and a tribe that hopes to build a $1 billion casino resort at Point Molate.
The agreement, which stems from a 2008 lawsuit filed by Citizens for East Shore Parks and other environmental groups, calls for at least $43 million in open space acquisitions and sets aside two-thirds - 180 ...
Tribe, developer, environmental groups announce major shoreline deal
By John Simerman
Contra Costa Times
Wednesday October 20, 2010
RICHMOND -- An American Indian tribe and the developer of a planned billion-dollar casino resort at Point Molate have reached a deal with local environmental groups that calls for at least $48 million to buy and protect prime shoreline if a gambling emporium rises.
The deal ends years of litigation against a plan to build an Indian casino, along with a hotel, convention center, retail mall and nightclubs, on former Navy land along the Bay near the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge. And it comes less than ...
Endorsements 2010: Yes on 21; parks need a stable source of funds
Thursday, Sep. 16, 2010
California's 278 state parks are undisputed treasures. Anyone who has soaked in the pools of Grover Hot Springs State Park or camped on the beach of Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park or seen the spring wildflowers at Anzo-Borrego Desert State Park can testify to the splendor of these public lands.
On Nov. 2, California voters must be prepared to answer two questions in regard to their state parks:
• Is the state providing adequate support for its state parks system?
• If not, does Proposition 21 offer a reasonable and fair funding ...
North Richmond rezoning could bring development to shoreline open space
September - October, 2010
The North Richmond Shoreline, from the West County Landfill to Point Pinole Regional Shoreline, is a large contiguous block of Bay wetlands and coastal prairie. It deserves to be preserved in unified public ownership, but soon the Richmond City Council may take an action that would greatly perhaps prohibitively raise the costs of acquiring these lands.
The East Bay Regional Park District has owned Point Pinole since the 1960s. In 2006 it voted to acquire most of Breuner Marsh through eminent domain, over the fierce opposition of the ...
Broad Coalition of Supporters Qualify State Parks Initiative for November Ballot
June 10, 2010
Sacramento, CA - California Secretary of State Debra Bowen today qualified the State Parks and Wildlife Conservation Trust Fund Act of 2010, a measure that will provide a stable and adequate funding source to keep state parks open, for the Nov. 2 statewide ballot. With passage of the initiative, not only will state parks have a long-term funding solution, but also important General Fund dollars will be made available for other vital needs.
A wide-ranging coalition that includes business, public health, education, labor, entertainment, public safety, ...
Open space on Albany Waterfront
By Patricia Jones, Albany
Thursday, May 20, 2010
The Albany community has come together for open space and recreation for the Albany Waterfront, envisioning only nominal "green" development for its shoreline.
On April 19, the Albany City Council unanimously voted to accept the Voices to Vision Report and to treat it as a living planning document that reflects Albany residents' waterfront vision.
Mayor Joanne Wile joined the council in praising the public participants and Fern Tiger & Associates for their hard work and dedication to producing an open, ...
Environmentalists fight Redwood City project
By Carolyn Jones, Chronicle Staff Writer
Monday, March 1, 2010
Environmental leaders are gearing up for a protracted fight over plans to build a 30,000-resident development at the Redwood City salt flats.
More than 90 current and former elected Bay Area officials last week demanded that Redwood City immediately halt the Saltworks project, which would bring up to 12,000 housing units, offices and retail to the shoreline.
"We all have a stake in what happens in Redwood City," said Contra Costa County supervisor John Gioia. "It's about habitat, biological ...
Big ideas sought for Oakland Bay Bridge park
By John King, Chronicle Urban Design Writer
Monday, March 1, 2010
It's a good bet that few drivers crossing the Bay Bridge pay attention to where it touches down in Oakland - a smear of maintenance yards and parking, stray buildings and scrub.
But with the new eastern span of the bridge scheduled to open in 2013, government planners are floating the idea of a much different role for the 1.5-mile-long strip: a park that would celebrate the bridge and the region, with attractions scaled to the immense cranes of the nearby Port of Oakland.
There's no design ...
Ballot initiative to fund state parks draws big interest
By Kurtis Alexander, Santa Cruz Sentinel
Friday , February 26, 2010
SANTA CRUZ -- A massive volunteer-led signature drive is finding its way to street corners, grocery stores and weekend festivities along the Central Coast.
The corps of name gatherers, who range from college students to retirees, has seen the gates come down across many of California's 278 state parks this year, and the group thinks the cash-starved park system can be resurrected with a ballot measure.
"I don't remember signature-gathering on this scale before," said Bonny Hawley, executive ...