SB 375: CREATING GREAT COMMUNITIES IN CALIFORNIA

The Opportunity  California has an unprecedented opportunity  Reform transportation and land use policies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions AND  Advance public health, social equity, environmental sustainability, and economic growth

Senate Bill 375 (SB 375) of 2008

SB 375 Goal: To align regional transportation, land use and affordable housing plans to reduce greenhouse gas emissions

Step 1: Set Targets

Step 2: Create Sustainable Communities Strategies

Sustainable Communities Strategy (SCS) Transportation investments + Land use patterns  Where will homes, job centers, open space, retail be located?  More opportunities to drive less through increased public transit and biking and walking options.

SCS + RTP = ↓ VMT, OMG! MPO = Metropolitan Planning Organization COG = Council of Governments RTP = Regional Transportation Plan SCS = Sustainable Communities Strategy VMT = Vehicle Miles Traveled GHG = Greenhouse Gases

San Joaquin Valley is Key

Source: Paving Paradise, AFT, 2007 Source: California Regional Progress Report, CalTrans, 2010

Source: H+T Affordability Index, Center for Neighborhood Technology; 2008 gas prices Data for Fresno region; other regions' data available at Transportation is a big part of household budgets: often even bigger than housing Percent of Monthly Income in the Fresno Metro Region

Building and Demonstrating Broad Support for Good Growth

Our work in the SJV  SB 375 Community Equity Coalition  Capacity Building  Community Education and Organizing  Health Impact Assessment (Fresno and Kern)  Developing relationships with MPO staff and decision makers

Rural Communities At a Glance  California Unincorporated: Mapping Disadvantaged Communities in the San Joaquin Valley  3.6 million identified by Census Bureau  Additional 2.8 million residents not previously captured  525 communities in the SJV  64% of households are low income  65% people of color PolicyLink, 2013

Challenges to Overcome

Risks for Rural Communities  Strong Urban Bias and Competing Interests  Where will investments go?  Counties have encouraged disinvestment and growth around and away from historic low income neighborhoods and communities  Systematically underserved in the overall allocation of public resources  Left out of local decision making processes

Opportunities  Improved Health Outcomes  Affordable Housing  Improved Public Transit  Access to Services  Funding for our Region  Farmland protection and conservation

What’s it going to take to win  Strong, unified, and organized voice  Educate our decision makers to build political will and leadership  Create welcoming environments for public engagement  Sustained Civic Engagement