Yes on A, F, and G in Berkeley; no on I

Support schools and fields, and cut greenhouse gases

The Sierra Club urges yes votes on Berkeley's Measures A, F, and G; and a no vote on Measure I.

Yes on Measure A

Measure A is a tax measure for funding local schools.

Good schools are one of the best ways to keep families living in the cities - and thus to counter suburban sprawl. California's funding for public schools is very inadequate - about 45th in the nation - and so more and more school districts are supplementing that funding by local taxes. Keeping Berkeley as a desirable place to live has been greatly helped since 1987 by local supplemental school funding.

Measure A is a renewal of the school funding now in place, which would expire next June if not continued by a 2/3 vote of the people. Measure A will continue funding for school libraries, music, art, smaller class sizes, and richer offerings at all schools.

Yes on Measure F

Berkeley Measure F will amend the Waterfront Master Plan to approve the Gilman Street Ball Field Development. It is a win for both active recreation and habitat.

The concept was created by the Sierra Club to solve a set of interrelated problems. Under the General Plan for the Eastshore State Park, ball fields were to be built on the Albany Plateau. The Sierra Club, Golden Gate Audubon Society, and Citizens for East Shore Parks wanted to protect the Plateau for wildlife, but understandably sports advocates strongly wanted the fields. If an alternative site could be found for the fields, both sets of needs could be met. The Plateau could be planned as an informal recreation/conservation area within the park.

We noted that the Golden Gate Fields race track owned land south of Gilman Street along I-80, but used it just for parking hay and cars. The Club proposed for the East Bay Regional Park District to buy the land. Because the site is flat and less windy, it would be a cheaper and better site for the ball fields. We would also be protecting it from more intensive development. This proposal proved a win-win for everyone.

Under Berkeley's Waterfront Plan ordinance ("The Sierra Club Plan") voters need to approve such changes at the waterfront. The Sierra Club urges a yes vote on Berkeley Measure F.

For more information on Measure F, contact Norman La Force, chair of the Bay Chapter's East Bay Public Lands Committee, at (510) 526-4262 or email n.laforce -at- comcast.net

Yes on Measure G

Measure G would advance one of the Sierra Club's highest priorities - reduction of greenhouse-gas emissions.

The measure advises the mayor to work with the community to prepare a plan with a goal of reducing greenhouse-gas emissions by 80% by 2050. The plan, to be developed in 2007, would set a 10-year target and identify actions by the city and its residents to achieve both the 10-year target and the ultimate goal of an 80% reduction.

No on Measure I

Measure I, sponsored by landlords and developers, was studied by the Northern Alameda County Group and opposed for the following reasons.

• It would greatly weaken Berkeley's stringent requirements for the conversion of rental apartments to condominiums.
• It contains a very fast and expensive timeline for the renter of an apartment to have a right to buy that apartment. For the past 25 years, rent control prevented landlords from raising rent more than a low, pre-determined percentage.
• Berkeley is an employment center, and if workforce housing gets any more expensive, more workers will commute.

The Sierra Club urges Berkeley voters to support Measures A, F, and G, and to oppose Measure I.