EAST BAY REPORT

[Lenny Siegel <lsiegel@igc.org>]

From: Lenny Siegel <lsiegel@igc.org>

EAST BAY COMMISSION RELEASES REPORT
Earlier this month (June), the East Bay Conversion and Reinvestment 
Commission (EBCRC) released its report: "Defense Conversion: A Road Map 
for Communities." Convened by Congressman Ronal Dellums, the Commission 
was established as one of four national pilot projects mandated by the 
Defense Authorization Act of 1993. The project addresses the closure of 
military bases - primarily Navy - in Alameda County, California, and 
the downsizing of three Department of Energy National Laboratories 
there as well.
The report addresses a full range of conversion issues, from 
environmental cleanup to housing services to utilities planning. The 
diverse body, working with a regional committee structure, developed 
six key goals:
EFFECTIVE COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT
Goal: To create a public involvement process that promotes successful 
defense conversion by fostering timely, informed, inclusive, and 
publicly accountable decision-making.
NEW JOBS FOR DISLOCATED WORKERS
Goal: To help dislocated workers prepare for and find new long-term 
employment.
NEW REGIONAL ECONOMIC ACTIVITY
Goal: To foster job creating, revenue generating, and economically 
sustainable activities to replace those lost due to defense program 
cutbacks, and provide the foundation for economically and 
environmentally healthy communications.
HUMAN SERVICES
Goal: To respond to the transitional needs for physical and emotional 
support of people affected by defense downsizing.
ENVIRONMENTAL CLEANUP AND PROTECTION
Goal: To clean up defense facilities as quickly as possible, to a 
standard and in a manner that protects human health and the environment 
and returns defense assets to communities to meet economic, 
environmental, recreational, and cultural needs.
EQUAL ACCESS TO CONVERSION OPPORTUNITIES
Goal: To ensure representative community participation in the 
opportunities offered by conversion.
The 250-page report is available from EBCRC, 1333 Broadway, Suite 1020, 
Oakland, CA 94612, for $36.00 plus $2.50 shipping, each. Phone: 
510/834-6928. Fax: 510/834-8913