SustainLane 2006 US City Sustainability Ranking
Oakland City: Planting a Few Seeds
Mayor Jerry Brown, whose second term ends in January 2007, has overseen a plan to bring 10,000 new residents into a redeveloped city center. The plan is dramatically increasing the downtown population, reducing sprawl, and making public transit more efficient-all while giving the city's urban center a dose of energy. Farmers markets, community gardens, and green buildings further support the city's move toward sustainability.
Oakland is one of the most ethnically diverse cities in the US. While its expensive housing (#44) puts it out of reach for many Americans, it's more affordable than other Bay Area cities, including San Francisco and San Jose.
Oakland's innovations span several categories. Its plan to get 30% of the city's food from local sources, strong public transportation infrastructure, and evolving city center reflect its commitment to sustainability. As part of an alliance with San Francisco, Berkeley, and other Bay Area communities to jointly get half of their energy from renewable sources by 2017, Oakland has an opportunity to participate in a regional industry cluster that could one day serve the entire nation.
