Report to the Commission and the ABAG Executive Board: April 24, 2019
WTS and COMTO Reception
April 3, 2019
The San Francisco Bay Area Chapter of the Women’s Transportation Seminar (WTS), and NorCal Chapter of Conference of Minority Transportation Officials (COMTO) welcomed me back to the region at a reception on April 3, 2019 in San Francisco. As a decades’ long member of WTS, I was extremely honored by the tremendous turnout of friends and colleagues from across the Bay region, and several former associates from Southern California. I spoke to the great opportunities and deep challenges ahead in grappling with the intersecting issues of transportation and housing, and the overarching commitment to equity as we seek to lift all members of our community in addressing them.
Commonwealth Club of San Francisco/USF Symposium: “Innovation for Good”
April 4, 2019
I was invited to speak as part of a cross section of public service thought leaders during a day long event hosted by the Commonwealth Club and University of San Francisco. Here too, equity was a centerpiece of the various panels that spot lighted the necessity of placing the public interest front and center of the push for innovation in services, projects and programs.
TransForm “All A Board” Celebration
April 11, 2019
I and several representatives from MTC attended a reception acknowledging TransForm’s 22 years of community coalition building and advocacy on behalf of the region’s many transportation users and stakeholders. TransForm has been a leading voice for change, and has worked collaboratively with MTC while holding true to its mission of challenging government to do better. Congratulations especially to founder Stuart Cohen, who recently retired from TransForm’s leadership helm, and we look forward to working with the organization’s new leaders going forward.
National American Planning Association (APA) Conference
April 11-16, 2019
San Francisco hosted the National APA Planning Conference at the Yerba Buena Center. On April 11, MTC hosted a day long “Livable Communities Regional Planning” session for Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) planning directors and staff from around the country on Friday; many thanks to Ken Kirkey and his team for organizing that well received event. As well, on April 13 I was invited to speak on a panel of outstanding women titled “Women of Color — Piercing the Ceiling.” Social Equity was a major track throughout the conference, and this session allowed myself and three other colleagues to share our experiences, lessons learned, and advice to a next generation of leaders. It was a standing room only crowd on Sunday- reflecting the resonance of inclusion across public and private sector planning professionals.
Visits to State Delegation Members
April (various) 2019
This month was the launch of a suite of introductory meetings with various members of the State Legislative Delegation. I visited with Assemblyman David Chiu (San Francisco), Assemblyman Marc Levine (Marin County) and Senator Jim Beall (South Bay) this month, and will go to Sacramento for a number of member visits on May 15. With the legislative session in full swing, each visit has presented a valuable chance to introduce myself as the new Executive Director, and to talk about the issues facing the region, and each member’s constituents in particular.
Bike to Work Day
Bike to Work Day is celebrating its 25th Anniversary this year on Thursday, May 9. The event is shaping up to be a great one once again, with over a 100,000 bikers anticipated. As in the past, staff has been reaching out to Commissioners to participate in various festivities in their locales. We look forward to advancing bicycling as an increasing option for mobility in the Bay Area.