We received 1 completed questionnaire, from Phoebe Anne Sorgen.
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Your Name: Phoebe Anne Sorgen Address: Cragmont Ave, 94708 Email:
Website: www.phoebesorgen.com
1. Motivation -- Why did you choose to run for this office? I wish to keep Berkeley progressive, and to keep my Berkeley Hills district and all of Berkeley safe, healthy, thriving.
2. Priorities -- What do you believe are the main priorities for your office? My job will be to represent the residents of District 6, and we are all connected. I will act locally as a first priority, with attention to also acting globally here in the U.S. belly of the beast. It is in all people’s interest that we simultaneously try to prevent and prepare for fires, post peak oil, global warming, and other disasters. What are some specific tasks (e.g. specific legislation, policies, et.) you intend to accomplish while in office? I will address my constituents’ practical needs for city services, etc. Alarmed by the injustices of Katrina, in organizing preparation towards the future, I will encourage those who can to grow victory or community gardens and to stock double or triple earthquake supplies to share with those who cannot. The City can provide incentives and more assistance, such as lending unused land for gardens and providing city-wide storage sites.
3. Qualifications -- Please give a brief summary of your background and qualifications for being a City Councilmember. I’ve been Dona Spring’s appointee to the Berkeley Peace and Justice Commission since 2003 where I authored many Berkeley Resolutions that passed on the Commission and were adopted by the City Council. This includes Berkeley’s Resolutions challenging corporate constitutional “rights” and “personhood,” asserting local sovereignty from “free” trade agreements, and addressing the 2004 stolen election. I helped convince Sen. Boxer to stand up to the latter. In 2005, I received the “Outstanding Berkeley Woman Award” in recognition of my “leadership” and “dedication, commitment and inspirational efforts to improve our community.” I’m a founding member of the U.S. Steering Committee of Johan Galtung’s peace organization, Transcend, and of the Bay Area chapter of ReclaimDemocracy.org which works to end corporate rule. I chaired the Berkeley Fellowship of Unitarian Universalists Social Justice Committee and serve on the boards of BFUU, KPFA, and the national Pacifica Governance and By-Laws committees. My focus had been the nuclear weapons freeze and ecology until 9/11 turned me into a peace activist.
4. Instant Runoff Voting -- The voters of Berkeley overwhelmingly passed instant runoff voting in 2004, but it has not yet been implemented in Berkeley by the County Registrar of Voters. What will you do to insure that there will be instant runoff voting for the 2010 City Council and Mayoral elections? I voted for IRV and am a strong supporter. I’ll raise hell for it and fight smart, which entails education, collaboration, and when necessary, growing public pressure in varied modes.
5. Public Campaign Financing -- Would you support a pilot program for financing mayoral campaigns in 2012? Yes, I would support a pilot program for financing mayoral campaigns, which I see as a good start. Would you support a measure on the Berkeley 2010 ballot in favor of full or partial public financing? Yes, I am a strong supporter of public campaign financing and would strongly support a ballot measure for it. This is an important step and we want it to work well. I would collaborate with my colleagues on the Council, members of the community, and advocates for public financing from other communities where it is in place to help determine what works best and will be most applicable for Berkeley.
6. U.C. Berkeley-- Are there any conflicts between U.C.’s long range development plan and the City of Berkeley’s area and general plans? I opposed the secretive nature of the settlement with U.C. and especially opposed the fact that Berkeley ceded land use authority to U.C. The Long Range Plan also increases the numbers of people and traffic, both of which have negative impacts on the city and the environment due to traffic congestion, burdens on city sewer services, as well as fire safety impacts. What remedies would you support? We must defend our turf to the fullest extent of the law, and simultaneously lobby to change the laws that permit U.C. to refuse to pay for costly city services. What ideas do you have for trying to get more accountability from U.C. in its proposed long range plan for both the U.C. and the LBNL campus? First, sunshine, which will facilitate accurate reporting, increasing public awareness and pressure. In return for city services, regular reporting on amount of water use, etc. may be required. Would you support taking legal action if necessary? Yes, in fact if UC and LBNL do not provide the necessary information for making an informed decision so that we can hold them accountable, going to court may be our only effective recourse. What is your position on the current campus Oak Grove and athletic facility controversy? I have been a strong supporter of the tree sitters, and joined them briefly in one of the trees. It is foolish to put many people in a facility that is on an earthquake fault.
7. What is your 10 year plan for downtown Berkeley and our other commercial districts? In my long term vision for commercial districts, transportation is key, as is promoting Buy Local. We need mini eco-bus loops linking neighborhoods and commercial districts. Eco-passes have worked well for city employees. People do change unhealthy habits when given incentives. Local independent businesses are not the heart (the people are) but the hands of Berkeley and deserve help. For example, Alko Office Supplies on Shattuck is celebrating its 100th year. Bekeleyans “get” buying local, yet the city contracts with a big box chain for office supplies. I plan to change that. Alko is near enough City Hall that they could deliver by foot and handtruck thereby eliminating fossil fuel use and greenhouse gasses emitted by the huge truck that idles outside City Hall, often blocking electric vehicle parking. Struggling Mom and Pop businesses deserve tax relief, which could be used as an incentive to green their business. Berkeley’s bookstores are vital and losing ground. Online purchase could be facilitated with links from the city website. Berkeley needs a comprehensive plan and Buy Berkeley campaign that will be a win win for residents, for independent businesses, and keep our city vibrant.
8. Automobiles -- What policies should the city take to reduce automobile use and make the city friendlier to pedestrians and other non-automobile transportation? Should the city do anything about parking in the downtown area and, if so, what? We need more and safer bike lanes. The public can be educated to prevent dooring, as was accomplished successfully in Denmark. During the six years I lived in Europe, I did not own a car, rarely rode in one, and did not miss it one whit because public transit was convenient and affordable. I seldom waited more than 5 minutes to hop on a bus or metro, even at night. I’d like to see a similar system in Berkeley so that all people would have the option of foregoing fossil fueled vehicles. We need frequent solar powered mini-vans criss-crossing the city. People will use mass transit if it is convenient and free or affordable. The city can provide eco-parking incentives with more spaces for electric vehicles.
9. Safety --What are the most important issues of public safety facing the residents of Berkeley? Global warming and post peak oil will increasingly present important public safety issues for which we must prepare. Food prices are rising with the temperature. Berkeley also faces earthquake, fire, and mudslide risks. It is traffic, however, that continues to be one of our most ubiquitous public safety threat.
What kinds of programs are useful for creating a safe environment for all people? Victory and community gardens have social and health benefits. Disaster preparedness workshops can be conducted in a manner that is fun and that facilitate community cohesiveness. As for summer fires and rainy season mudslides, flammable trees need to be replaced with properly rooted, drought tolerant native species. Succulents help prevent fires. Enhanced enforcement of traffic safety laws is essential. When I moved to Berkeley in 1989, I was astonished and delighted when I approached a crosswalk that vehicles stopped and waited for me before I even reached the corner. Drivers were curteous and considerate. The U.S. culture became increasingly hurried and aggressive, and so did drivers, even here. All-electric slow-moving neighborhood vehicles help our streets become friendly and safer again. It is difficult for elders with groceries to bike up District 6. Eco-friendly public transit must be a top prioity. Meanwhile, in 2002 I bought a Global Electric Motorcar which raises our electric bill by only a few dollars a month. The low cost is an incentive, as would be more free parking for neighborhood slow-moving zero-emission vehicles that are all electric and less likely to injure pedestrians or bikers.
10. How will you work to make Berkeley sustainable for the long term, both economically and environmentally? Berkeley’s stature will rise and people will increasingly want to shop and conduct business here as Berkeley becomes better known as the innovative city that cares, where people make a difference. Berkeley will become a centerpiece for solar and other ecological businesses. We will also be a model for sustainable urban living. The City Council can launch the Buy Berkeley campaign by contracting to purchase office supplies from Alko and requiring that city landscaping and other supplies be purchased locally.
11. Please explain the conflict around Bus Rapid Transit in Berkeley. Are you in favor of BRT as currently proposed by ACTransit? We need rapid transit, and it needs to connect to San Pablo Ave, Amtrack, and the ferry at the Marina. I remain open minded, and as I understand it, the current plan is too isolated and needs an ecopass incentive so that working people all along the corridor will use it.
12. The city and the school board have proposed a ballot measure for the June 2010 to fund a warm water pool. Would you support that measure. Please explain. How wonderful that Berkeley has had a warm water pool which alleviates so much suffering and provides such comfort. How could anyone oppose the warm water pool? Every town needs one.
13. What is your opinion of the current sunshine ordinance proposal and what changes would you make? Please explain. I strongly support government transparency and accountability. I hope the ordinance includes a citizens’ enforcement provision that will allow citizens to sue (and recover attorneys’ fees) if all else fails. It should designate which individuals will be named who will be responsible for handling any residents’ written requests, so we know who to hold accountable if the requests are not honored, and there needs to be an administrative appeals option.
14. Endorsements -- Who has endorsed you so far? Who do you expect to endorse you? I expect to obtain endorsements from Daniel and Patricia Ellsberg, Lawrence Ferlinghetti, Ann Fagan Ginger, David Cobb, Joanna Macy, Keith Carson, and the more progressive Democratic Clubs. Current endorsers include: Kriss Worthington - Berkeley City Councilmember Max Anderson - Berkeley City Councilmember Carole Kennerly - Former Berkeley City Councilmember Ying Lee - Former Berkeley City Councilmember Victoria Ashley – Alameda County G.P. Counselor Rev. Sandra Decker – Contra Costa County G.P. Counselor Jesse Townley - Vice Chair & Former Chair Disaster & Fire Safety Commission Patricia (“Patti”) Marsh - Life long Berkeley resident Elliot Cohen - Berkeley Peace and Justice Commissioner Margot Smith - advocate for elders David Blake - Arts Commissioner, former Chair Zoning Board Nancy K. D. Lemon - Lecturer and Consultant, Berkeley Law School, UCB Zach Sorgen - BHS Grad, Vassar Student, former Energy Commissioner Jonathan Francis M.D. - Physician, long-term District 6 resident Sally Frances PhD - Psychotherapist, long-term District 6 resident Clare Ulman – Jeweler, long-term District 6 resident Dana Ulman - homeopathic spokesperson/author, long-term District 6 resident Michael Sorgen - attorney, long-term District 6 resident Diana Bohn - Campaign for Labor Rights, Potters for Peace, Haiti Action John Lavine - Editor Woodwork Magazine, former Peace/Justice Commissioner Matthew Taylor - UC Berkeley student, freelance writer Donald Goldmacher, M.D. - Delegate of the CA Democratic Party Steven Baigel - Documentary filmmaker, activist Anna Graves - Photographer, Obama campaigner Fred Jackson - Neighborhood House, Richmond David S. Lingenfelter, PhD - CQA Anne Wardell – Pharmacist (Elephant)
15. Anything Else? -- Is there anything else you would like us to know about you? Survival of the species being the most basic of instincts, what matters most to me is to help our intelligent and loving species gone awry get back on track for what should be our natural destiny: to establish just and sustainable lifestyles so that we will thrive in good health with other species until our star expires in 6 billion years. Let’s have fun turning this train around!
