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Press Release

April 24, 2003

Contact:
Kelly Brown, Sonoma-Marin Field Representative, 707-575-3661

Press Advisory: Bay Area Bike Tour stops in Santa Rosa to join environmental leaders in encouraging affordable housing in downtown

Photo Opportunity

Santa Rosa—More than 50 bicyclists on a 480-mile Bay Area bike tour will join local environmental leaders in calling for the City of Santa Rosa to include affordable housing in its downtown redevelopment plans at a rally on Friday, May 2 at 9 am, at the White House Site, at Second and E streets in downtown Santa Rosa. 

"The City of Santa Rosa needs to do a better job providing affordable housing for teachers, child care workers, and young working families," says Kelly Brown, Sonoma-Marin Field Representative for Greenbelt Alliance. "By creating affordable housing close to job centers, shopping and schools, Santa Rosa can help alleviate pressure to develop in Sonoma County's greenbelt of open space and agricultural lands."

The City of Santa Rosa is currently crafting its downtown redevelopment plans, and there is substantial community support for the plans to include a substantial number of affordable housing units. "Environmentalists strongly support affordable housing on locations like the White House Site," comments Paul Burkes of the Sierra Club. Santa Rosa could raise the money to fund affordable housing by instituting a jobs-housing linkage fee.

Speaking at Friday's event are Kelly Brown (Greenbelt Alliance), Paul Burkes (Sierra Club), and representatives of other local environmental organizations. They will be joined by more than 50 bicycle riders participating in Greenbelt Alliance's fourteenth annual, weeklong Go Greenbelt! Bay Area bike tour.

WHO: Bill Kortum (Sonoma County Conservation Action), Kelly Brown (Greenbelt Alliance), Paul Burkes (Sierra Club), Michael Allen (Service Employees International Union, Local 707), Margo Merck (Sonoma County Housing Advocacy Group Representative), and 50+ brightly-dressed Go Greenbelt! bicyclists.

WHAT: Media event for environmentalists to urge the City of Santa Rosa to include affordable housing in its downtown redevelopment plans. The bicyclists are participating in Greenbelt Alliance's Go Greenbelt! 480 mile trek around the Bay Area, which highlights protected open space and agricultural lands as well as areas at risk of development.

WHEN: Thursday, May 1, 2003, 9 a.m.

WHERE: The White House Site, Downtown Santa Rosa. Surface parking lot bordered by Third Street to the north, Second Street to the south, and E Street to the east. RAIN LOCATION: In the event of rain, the press event will take place Friday May 2 at 9 am at the Environmental Center, 404A Mendocino Avenue, in downtown Santa Rosa.

WHY: There is an acute shortage of affordable housing in the City of Santa Rosa. The City is currently moving forward its downtown redevelopment plan, and there is substantial community support for inclusion of affordable housing in these plans. Environmentalists strongly support affordable housing on locations like the White House Site. By creating affordable housing close to job centers, shopping and schools, Santa Rosa can help alleviate pressure to develop in Sonoma County's greenbelt of open space and agricultural lands. To help fund the development of affordable housing, Santa Rosa should establish a jobs-housing linkage fee.

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For 50 years, Greenbelt Alliance has been the San Francisco Bay Area's advocate for open spaces and vibrant places, with offices in San Francisco, San Jose, Walnut Creek, Fairfield, and Santa Rosa. www.greenbelt.org