RunningWolf for Mayor of Berkeley '08

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News

Platform

Continuing Support for the Longest Urban Tree-sit in History- As a decision of the courts nears, I will make it a priority to support and make sure that not one tree of the memorial oak grove is cut. This land is an Indian burial ground, and we expect it to be treated as such.
Stop British Petroleum- The largest corporate and public university has taken effect at UC berkeley. This deal allows BP to use public building and public land for corporate research for so-called “green” energy. It also allows BP to plant GE crops in the berkeley hills allowing for pollen to contaminate people’s personal gardens. We will work to prevent BP from operating in our neighborhood and encourage the university to find more productive alternatives.
Opposing UC Animal Testing and The New Li Ka-Shing Center for Biomedical and Health Sciences- Currently 40,000 animals are murdered at UC berkeley every year for useless causes. As Mayor i will put forth plans to stop the building of new animal testing and seek to sue the university for going back on the deal it made with the city that it would not expand testing facilities.
Working to Stop the 11 Cell Phone Towers Planned in South Berkeley- Berkeley Neighborhood Antenna-Free Union has filed a lawsuit to prevent the building of cell phone towers at UC Storage at 2721 Shattuck Ave. I will be working with this community to prevent the building of these towers.
Creating and Implementing Plans for a Car-Free Berkeley- Global warming is already getting hotter, as car ownership is increasing and more people fail to realise the impact of driving. Current promises are to have emissions cut by 2050, which is far too late. I seek to implement car-free areas on our busiest streets such as telegraph and shattuck. Restricting traffic in this area will allow businesses and street vendors to extend into the sidewalks and street, providing a street fair style environment for patrons. Car-free plans also include expansion of the bicycle plan for berkeley and bicycle lending libraries at all BART stations in berkeley.
Implement and Follow The “Sunshine Act”- In the 6 years Bates has lead our city, we have had less openness of government and no progress of bates to change that. As Mayor i will implement a very strong “sunshine act” which will open the door of government in our city and have every meeting open to the citizens.
No Military Recruiting In Berkeley!- We have a war over oil and profits, and some feel they can still coerce college graduates in to giving their lives for this senseless war. I will continue the path that the current city council has stopped dead in its tracks on, the removal of military recruiters from berkeley.
Opposing the Berkeley Rapid Transit Plan- The BRT plan as a 420 million dollar scam to the tax payers of Berkeley and a slap in the face of local business owners. I will resist the BRT and come up with alternatives that take into account everybody, just real estate developers.
No to High Density Housing- As open spaces become less so, high density housing seeks to further congest our streets and our city with soulless buildings. Berkeley does not want to be a town of over priced condominiums. With this, the development of open spaces will be ceased allowing for neighborhoods to decide what happens to vacant lots.
Suing the University of California at Berkeley back to the negotiation table concerning the downtown plan - The current Mayor (Tom Bates) gave our downtown away for a song behind closed doors. I will use any means necessary to get UCB back to the table, such as the hunger strike struggle for Ethnic Studies in 1999 which ended in a victory for the students.
Opposing the West Ashby Bart Transit Village - I strongly support the flea market in its current location. Tom Bates and Max Anderson have attempted to push through development plans without public participation from south Berkeley residents
Getting Berkeley’s diesel fleet back to B100 Bio-diesel - Eventually convert part or all of the fleet to Straight Vegetable Oil (SVO).
Recognizing and honoring three important groups of our society - When RunningWolf wins the seat of Mayor of Berkeley, he will donate the entire mayors salary evenly to these important areas of our society: First, to our elders with their wisdom and experience who help us throughout our lives by steering us away from danger; Second, to our children, who are our future generations and who must be cultivated and trusted with their own decisions; Third, to our homeless or less fortunate, who do not take more than they need but must be given the resources to help them get where they want to go. Society has failed them both economically and spirituality.
Supporting Section 8 - Maintain existing and expand low income housing
City Council Public Comment - I have already helped to expand public comment in city council meetings from 10 to 15 people, and I have the intention to give that opportunity to all those who wish to speak
Maintaining Landmarks Ordinance - Keep the landmarks ordinance at its current level of protection
Strengthening Ethnic and Gender Studies in the schools of Berkeley - This is not just for our youth of color and women, but also for our dominant culture to learn about the important contributions from the groups to our country.
Banning Genetically Altered Foods in the city of Berkeley, mirroring the already existing nuclear ban - The Berkeley Nuclear Free Act will also be tightened up.

Experience

Zachary RunningWolf is probably best known for his 4400 mile historical run across the country for Mumia Abu Jamal, shattering the racial lines that keep us apart. He has consistently defended and served the Native American community for over 10 years. From rescuing the Inter-Tribal Friendship House from over 385,000 dollars in debt, to helping to start schools like the American Indian Public Charter School, RunningWolf has served America’s second largest Native Population (here in the Bay Area). He has also stepped up in defense of Native Sovereign rights to gaming (such as casinos) here in California.

RunningWolf ran 1500 miles back to his birthplace, the Blackfeet reservation in Montana, to defend the American Indian Child Welfare Act of 1978, which keeps native children in native families. He donated 3000 dollars to the International Traditional Games: the inaugural event of which was hosted by his own reservation in Montana. He helped bridge the gap between the National Parks and the Blackfeet Nation Tribe. He has been honored by his community as being an elder at the young age of 42.

RunningWolf’s vast experience in the Native community is coupled with an impressive record with the dominant community: he was appointed by Terry Doran to serve with the Berkeley Peace and Justice Commission; he spearheaded the name change of Berkeley’s Columbus School to the current name of Rosa Parks School; and finally he helped save Ethnic Studies at UCB in 1999. He also stood in the way of the University’s attempt to dissolve Ethnic Studies into American Studies, thus proving he is the right man to stand up to the University in the future. Finally, RunningWolf has spearheaded the movement to change the AC Transit buses to run on bio-diesel. RunningWolf has proven to be a strong leader in the East Bay.

Why RunningWolf?

The current Mayor Tom Bates has shown that he is not a leader but a deceptive manipulator by selling the City of Berkeley’s downtown to UCB, and by his recent Transit Village fiasco where he tried to roll over the South Berkeley residents without their participation. He proved that he is selfish and immature and does not think about the well-being of the citizens of Berkeley by stealing and discarding Daily California newspapers (which endorsed his rival) in the early morning hours of the election he ended up winning.

At this point of history we need a strong leader who will give of themselves for the community/tribe, and not the same old prostitution politician providing the same old results. Within this outdated model, the winner is the one with the most revenue (UCB) at the cost of the citizens of Berkeley.