Dear Berkeley Mayor and City Council:

I am writing in support of budget solutions to help us achieve a livable and green city by easing use of electric vehicles to replace the 60% of Berkeley’s greenhouse gases generated by gas-powered cars and enabling more mass transit, bicycling, and good old walking as alternatives to driving.

Voters like myself have shown overwhelming support for innovative solutions but there is much more we need to do to meet Berkeley’s goal of phasing out the sale of gas-powered vehicles by 2030, five years ahead of the California goal of 2035.

I join with my neighbors in urging you to fund the following budget initiatives coming before you this April:

• Installing 90 electric vehicle (EV) fast-charging spots in the City through a groundbreaking partnership with our local/publicly owned clean energy provider, East Bay Community Energy (EBCE). These ”gas stations of the future” will help us overcome the biggest barrier to wider EV adoption with publicly accessible and reliable charging infrastructure for residents without garages or driveways. For a small upfront City investment, within ten years the City will recoup revenues from the charging stations, revenues that can be reinvested into other climate and infrastructure upgrades. This is a triple win for our residents, the climate and City finances.

• Creating a free AC Transit pilot program to increase bus ridership through an investment in reliable zero-emissions public transportation;

• Allocating the $2 million in Uber and Lyft tax revenues to prioritize bike lane, pedestrian, and transit upgrades (like efficient bus lanes and better bus shelters). You did your part earlier by voting for the tax. Deciding how to spend the money will be taken up by the Council this budget process.

Together we can achieve an equitable, safe and green Berkeley.

Sincerely