Bucks for Presidio visitors center in latest federal spending bill

I believe that the Presidio is best understood in the out of doors. Still, a high-quality visitors center would be justified, especially if it can be built into the Officers Club in a way that respects and brings forth the history of the building.

From the Chronicle, news about funding that Nancy Pelosi shook loose:

Billions in earmarks inflate defense bill's cost: "'The Heritage Center at the Officers' Club will introduce visitors to a series of exhibits, digital media, classrooms and programs about the Presidio and its role in the development of the American West,' said Pelosi spokesman Brendan Daly.

The Presidio expenditure presents an unusual irony. After the Presidio was included in a round of military base closures, Pelosi helped craft a public-private agreement to keep its valuable real estate from being carved up by developers. The congressional requirement promised that the park would be free of federal subsidies by 2013.

The $5 million earmark will fund close to 25 percent of the center's estimated renovation and help leverage other donations from corporations and foundations, said Tia Lombardi, director of public affairs at the Presidio Trust."

Gavin just bought us an island!

irene. on Flickr

Our Mayor's paying the Navy $105M for a big pile of rocks in the middle of the bay. Someone in the Navy thinks they're pretty smart to get that agreement for a percentage of "potential profits."

San Francisco's Mayor Gavin Newsom's Blog: Mayor Newsom and U.S. Secretary of Navy Announce Agreement to Transfer Treasure Island to San Francisco: "Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus and San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom announced today that they had reached a broad outline of terms for the conveyance of former Naval Station Treasure Island from the Navy to the City’s Treasure Island Development Authority. The terms of the agreement include a guaranteed payment to the Navy of $55M followed by an interim payment of another $50M, plus an additional share of potential further profits."

el mundo quiere un acuerdo real

San Luis Potosi, Mexico
Originally uploaded by The World Wants a Real Deal

Big goings on this week.

Climate advocates should build ties with the public-health community | Grist

Climate advocates should build ties with the public-health community | Grist: "The Lancet‘s recent study found that climate policy written without bearing health costs in mind was far more expensive, far less beneficial to communities, and left potential savings of tens of billions of dollars on the table. It found that “the measures needed to make the necessary reductions in greenhouse-gas emissions are those needed to protect and improve global health. Overall, what is good for tackling climate change is good for health.”"

I've also been reading about this in my alumni magazine from UC Berkeley School of Public Health. Prof. Kirk Smith is, I believe, one of the authors of the piece in the Lancet and is articulating the "co-benefits" (to health and to climate) of social changes.