November 9: Digital Books and words of the future

Listen

Next on cityvisions, we will look into the evolution of books from turning pages to looking at computer screens. Technology initiatives have sought to increase the access to and the searchability of the printed word. Books can now be viewed on a number of devices and in a number of ways, and delivered with growing ease coupled with streamlined payment processes. Like so many information evolutions, this ease of access will also expand the reach of literacy and knowledge around the world, lessening the digital divide in the process as more people have access to written information in all its forms.

But what impact does digitization have for content creators and publishers? How will the privacy of reading and gaining knowledge be secured in an age of interconnectideness? Will book digitization expand the challenges between literacy and access for groups like the blind and computerless? What benefits will there be to having searchable access to the world's aggregated knowledge?

• Chris Hoofnagle, Director - Information Privacy Programs, UC Berkeley Law,Technology and Public Policy
• Brice Gosnell, Regional Publisher, Lonely Planet Publishing
• Mike Masnick, Founder, TechDirt

October 12: Taxing the Sweet: Will a Soda fee in San Francisco make us healthier

Listen

Next on City Visions, we'll discuss an initiative by the Mayor's office to add a fee to the sale of soda in The City. The surcharge will go toward the funding of the physical activity agency, ShapeUP SF, but will it succeed in using higher consumer prices on soda to help people make different choices. Is this tax fair to everybody and what is some of the recent dietary research supporting this approach? Do the economic choices people make in regards to their health respond to modest tax increases? What successes and concerns have other cities had in using taxation to change behavior?

• Dr. Harold Goldstein, Exectutive Director, California Center for Public Health Advocacy
• J. John Wilson, Communication Director, Center for Consumer Freedom

September 14: Peddle Power and the future of San Francisco Streets

Listen
Next week on Cityvisions, we will be looking into San Francisco's evolving bike and pedestrian plan, and how this ties into a long term vision for San Francisco's streets. Despite the June 2009 bike plan approval by The City's Transit agency, the plan is still facing a court injunction after concerns about the environmental review process. The City's Better streets plan was supposed to benefit pedestrians, but hasn't been enacted due to money issues.What does the plan have in store to improve and expand San Francisco's bike network, as well as make the streets safer for bicyclists? How will this be balanced with pedestrian safety and improvements to the city's walkability?

• Gabriel Metcalf, Executive Director, San Francisco Planning and Urban Research
• Leah Shahum, Executive Director, SF Bike Coalition
• Manish Champsee, President, WalkSF

August 10: The Evolution of Drug Policy

Listen

Next on Cityvisions, we will look at the evolving debate on the legalization and taxation of marijuana. Alameda county voters recently approved "Measure Z" to effectively decriminalize it in Alameda county, but leave it in conflict with state and federal law. Will incremental moves towards legalization make the future of drug policy less effective? In the context of other treatment and law enforcement initiatives Prop 36 Drug Courts, can legalization and public safety be balanced?

Join Joseph Pace and guests for the discussion

• Paul Armentano, Deputy Director, NORML Foundation
• Stephen Kaplan, Director, County of San Mateo, Behavioral Health and Recovery Services

July 13: Labor, Unions and Business in the Bay Area

Listen

Next on City Visions, we will look into the evolving role of labor relationships in the Bay Area and beyond. With an evolving social and economic landscape, we'll talk about how labor organizations and businesses work together to come to agreements. What effects of the strikes and labor insurrections of the 1930s are resurfacing in industries and work places around the Bay Area? How will national priorities like climate change and global trade effect local jobs, unions, and businesses? What are some of the legacies of San Francisco's labor movement and its history of unionization?

Join the discussion with host Joseph Pace and guests.

• Dick Meister, Author and Journalist, http://www.dickmeister.com
• Paul Roose, Manager of Mediation Services, California Department of Industrial Relations
• Katie Quan, Associate Chair, UC Berkeley Labor Center

June 8, 2009: Closing Nature: How the State Budget Cuts Will Affect State Parks

Listen

We will look at one of the less talked about targets of California budget cuts - the state park system. Recent revisions to the budget call for the shuttering of California State Parks including 90% of those in the Bay Area. The elimination of state park budgets will affect the ability of park users to enter parks, as well as make it more difficult for scientists and rangers to effectively manage and protect forest and other natural resources. What are the consequences of the loss of business and tax revenue in communities around state parks? How will the closures affect how you use your local state park?

Join Joseph Pace and guests as we discuss the proposal to "close nature."

• Ruth Coleman, director, California State Parks
  
• Elizabeth Goldstein, executive director, State Park Foundation
  
• David Lytle, Editorial Director, Frommer.com

May 4, 2009: May Special Elections: Budget Bandaids or Fiscal Fixes?

Listen

Next on City Visions we will look into the issues behind the May special election propositions and the changes they will effect in California's State fiscal management. In difficult financial times, we all become very aware of the political challenges of delivering the California budget on time and in a way that is going to serve long term goals, not just short-term budget-balancing priorities. Putting these propositions in front of voters allows citizens to decide some of the financial priorities, and it opens the process of making the country's largest budget. The propositions' ideas of borrowing against future lottery revenue and changing the way general fund money is allocated will affect not only budgets in the future, but may open up debate on California's constitution itself.

Join host Joseph Pace and guests to explore election issues and their fiscal policy implications:

• Patrick Murphy, professor of politcal science, University of San Francisco
• John Wildermuth, reporter, San Francisco Chronicle
• Tim Gage, fiscal adviser, California Forward

April 13, 2009: Bay Area Waste water: Once we use the water, what do we do with it?

Listen

We will continue our series on Bay Area water issues with a focus on waste water management. In years of drought, we all become very aware of where our water comes from, but an ongoing challenge is treating sewage and maintaining the infrastructure that gets our water to where it needs to go. There are sporadic stories of sewage leaks, but systematic choices are made about where water gets pumped and "disposed of" that raise issues beyond the headlines. Ideas like greywater recycling and water purification programs have brought new approaches to dealing with a crucial element of Bay Area water management.

• Rod Fujita, ocean programs scientist, Environmental Defense Fund
  
• Bruce Wolfe, executive director, San Francisco Bay Regional Water Board
• Amy Chastain, staff attorney, San Francisco Baykeeper
  

March 2, 2009: Water Worries: Balancing the Water We Need with the Water We Have

Listen

A dearth of a fresh snow pack and years of drought conditions have left our reservoirs dangerously low and the demands on water resources ever increasing. We'll take a look at water shortage challenges in the Bay Area, California, and other parts of the world. Bay Area water districts have warned of water rationing in the coming months, but in other parts of California there are severe threats to people's livelihoods, and threats to various communities' existence in arid parts of the world. How are our current aquatic woes a parable for water challenges facing the world at large?

Guests:

• Matthew Heberger, research associate, Pacific Institute
• Chris Plante, director of environmental programs, Asia Foundation
• David Zetland, economist, UC Berkeley

February 2, 2009: Assessing the Obama Technology Agenda

Listen

The Obama administration has challenged the US to "be the generation that reshapes our economy to compete in the digital age." We'll be taking a look at the incoming president's ambitious technology agenda and where his administration will focus its efforts in either reforming or promoting the role technology plays in public life.

His agenda includes initiatives like enhancing digital privacy, opening government using 21st century technologies, and guaranteeing the implementation of network neutrality.

How will this agenda play out in terms of policy making? What challenges will it face from the economy, interest groups, and the legal system?

Guests:

• Richard Esguerra, manager, Electronic Frontiers Foundation
• Declan McCullagh, senior technical editor, CNET
• Tom Spengler, chief executive officer, Granicus