Policy Advisory Council
2010-2012 Policy Advisory Council Biographies
Main Policy Advisory Council page
Naomi Armenta
Representing the Disabled Community
of Alameda County
“I would like to see regional transportation decisions
made in a pragmatic way to ensure equity.”
Naomi Armenta has been an advocate for people with disabilities for over 20 years, relying totally on public transportation to navigate her electric wheelchair throughout the Bay Area since 1989. She is the paratransit coordinator for Alameda County, is chair of the San Leandro Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee, and previously served as vice chair of the BART Accessibility Task Force.
Cathleen Baker
Representing the Low-Income Community
of San Mateo County
“I’m looking forward to representing the
interests of low-income communities, which have traditionally
borne a disproportionate share of the negative impacts from
various industrial, transportation, and land-use policies – impacts
which result in lower life-expectancies and higher rates
of asthma, obesity, diabetes, and heart disease.”
Cathleen Baker’s qualifications to
represent low-income communities stem from her current work
as a community health planner, as well as previous research
and policy analysis conducted for a community redevelopment
agency to respond to a growing population of homeless families.
She frequently collaborates with communities to address public
health and environmental and social justice issues, and provides
technical assistance on health impact assessments and local
planning processes to benefit low-income and environmentally
impacted communities in San Mateo County.
Jim F. Blacksten
Representing the Disabled Community
"I have used public transportation as a blind person for about 40 years. I've traveled locally on all of the public transportation systems within the Bay Area and on other transit systems as well. I am a proficient cane user and guide dog user. Acura, my guide dog, serves in an interactive partnership with me; we travel together throughout the Bay Area and beyond."
of two chapters of the National Federation of the Blind of California – the Bay Area Chapter and the California Association of Guide Dog Users, and its national affiliate. He also serves as vice president of the advisory committee for the San Francisco Library Services for the Blind and Print-Impaired. As a volunteer, Jim is involved with and connected to the San Francisco Lighthouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired. Jim is a long-standing entrepreneur currently working on various innovative business projects, and serves as president/chairman emeritus to Equal Access Plus, Inc., which he founded in 2003. Jim is a proficient user of computers and adaptive technology and has spent 30 years in public communication, program coordination and implementation.
Richard L. Burnett
Representing the Disabled Community
of Solano County
"I am concerned about transportation decisions as
well as policies that impact mobility management for Solano
County and the Bay Area region."
Richard Burnett is a member of Solano Transportation
Authority’s Paratransit Coordinating Council and served
as vice chairman from 2008-2009. He was a member of MTC’s
Elderly and Disabled Committee, where he chaired the subcommittee
on emergency response. Mr. Burnett is a member of the
City of Vallejo Citizens Transportation Advisory Committee
and serves as a member of the City of Vallejo Housing and Redevelopment
Commission.
Joanne Busenbark
Representing the Senior Community
of Napa County
“The senior community is growing everywhere – Napa County has the seventh-largest senior population in the state of California. I would like to work to get people out of their cars.”
Joanne Busenbark has advocated for transit
and social senior services for over 30 years in Napa County.
She is currently serving as a member of the Napa Valley Board
of Trustees and is a long-time member and former chair of the
Napa County Paratransit Coordinating Council. Ms. Busenbark
is a former vice mayor for the City of Napa, where she served
for nine years as a Councilmember and nine years on the Planning
Commission, and has been a part of the Alliance on Aging and
various other groups supporting seniors.
Carlos Castellanos
Economy Representative
“My professional accomplishments include involvement in both the transportation and economic development aspects of the Fruitvale BART transit village and management and oversight of several housing, commercial and mixed-use developments.”
Carlos Castellanos has worked in the Bay
Area for the last 15 years in the fields of planning and housing.
The director of real estate development for East Bay Asian
Local Development Corporation, a community-based organization
in Oakland, he has a Master’s degree in city planning
and transportation engineering. He is experienced in working
with local jurisdictions, labor unions and businesses to promote
and achieve local and disadvantaged population hiring goals.
He was a member of MTC’s Minority Citizens Advisory Committee,
where he chaired the Regional Transportation Plan 2035 Equity
Analysis subcommittee and served on the subsequent Equity Analysis
subcommittee that supported inclusion of a snapshot analysis
of data gathered on regular intervals between regional transportation
plans.
Bena Chang
Economy Representative
“MTC’s policies have a tremendous impact on the transportation infrastructure that employers depend on for moving goods and services and retaining and recruiting a world-class workforce to this region.”
Bena Chang is the senior associate for transportation and housing at the Silicon Valley Leadership Group, which represents more than 300 of Silicon Valley’s employers on issues and programs such as transportation, education, economic vitality and the environment. She has worked on projects such as BART to San Jose, high-speed rail, high-occupancy toll lanes, Bike to Work Day and commute-alternative benefits programs. Ms. Chang is a member of the Joint Lifeline Transportation Commission, Santa Clara County and the Mountain View Coalition for Sustainable Planning and is a board member of Neighborhood Housing Services of Silicon Valley, an organization that helps moderate and low-income families purchase homes.
Elizabeth Clary
Low-Income Representative of Sonoma County
“A large majority of people I've worked with live below the poverty level, many in subsidized housing. I want to be an effective voice for people with disabilities, seniors and underserved populations. I understand how government works and am committed to demystifying the sometimes foreboding processes .”
Elizabeth Clary is the executive director of a nonprofit organization that provides over 200 daily service contacts to people with intellectual, developmental and physical disabilities and daily door-to-door transportation to nearly 70 people. She is one of 12 members on the Vendor Advisory Committee to the Board of Directors of North Bay Regional Center, which represents over 1,000 Sonoma County service providers. She was recently appointed to the Board of Directors of the North Bay Housing Coalition and served on the Sonoma County ADA Advisory Group from 2007-2010.
Wilbert Din
Representing the Minority Community of
San Francisco
“I have worked to address affordability and service affecting the most transit-dependent segment of our community. We must find ways to make public transportation viable for low-income families/individuals that depend on it for jobs, school, etc. and to allow for upward mobility – to be able to live without a car.”
Wilbert Din is a daily rider on the bus, subway and surface transportation. He is currently the co-chair of the Chinatown TRIP (Transportation Research Improvement Project), where he has been active for 27 years, addressing transit and related concerns of all communities of color coming into and out of San Francisco’s Chinatown core area. He also served on the board of the San Francisco Municipal Transit Agency (SFMTA) for five years, the San Francisco County Transportation Authority (SFCTA) for two terms, Third Street Light Rail Community Advisory Group (CAG), is currently a member of the SFMTA Central Subway Executive Committee and worked as a staff representative-engineering for 38 years with United Airlines. Mr. Din is also a former member of MTC’s Minority Citizens Advisory Committee.
Sandi
E. Galvez
Environment Representative
“Where we live, what we breathe, the goods and services we have access to, the jobs we can secure, and the amount of time we spend commuting for our daily existence all impact our quality of life. I deeply care about improving the life chances for people in the Bay Area.”
Sandi E. Galvez is a Senior Policy Associate with the Public Health Institute. With a focus on built environment issues, she has lead responsibility for creating organizational development strategies and procedures for the Bay Area Regional Health Inequities Initiative (BARHII), a collaborative of the 11 public health departments in the region. As part of Oakland’s seven-member Planning Commission since 2007, she guides land use and development, makes policy and zoning recommendations to the City Council and reviews major development proposals and redevelopment plans.
Richard Hedges
Economy
Representative
“I
want to continue my efforts with MTC to create an efficient,
sustainable and stable transportation network. I would like
to be part of the stated goal of combining transit districts
to create efficiency and improve service.”
Richard Hedges has been involved in economic
bargaining as an international representative and a local president
of the United Food & Commercial Workers Union. He chaired
San Mateo Together, a group that included the Building Trades
Council, Chamber of Commerce, Sierra Club and the San Mateo
Central Labor Council. Mr. Hedges is a former field representative
in the office of U.S. Congressman Tom Lantos, performing outreach
to community groups and labor in San Mateo and San Francisco
counties, and is a former member of MTC’s Elderly and
Disabled Advisory Committee and the MTC Advisory Council.
Dolores Jaquez
Representing the Senior Community
of Sonoma
“Having lived in Alameda County, I assumed that
having public transportation meant access to regional transportation. That
is not true. I would like to contribute to my county
and the region to gain equity in transportation for all persons.”
Dolores Jaquez is retired from her work in
the areas of post-secondary education in low-income regions,
staff development, and teacher support at the University of
California. She is a former board member of the Alameda County
Congestion Management Agency and AC Transit as well as
a former member of the Oakland Planning Commission and the
California Student Aid Commission. Ms. Jaquez is interested
in improving inter-regional travel and access to public transit
for Sonoma County residents, especially those who are unable
to drive. She is a former member of MTC’s Elderly and
Disabled Advisory Committee.
Randi Kinman
Representing the Low-Income Community
of Santa Clara County
“We have prioritized grass-roots organizational projects that, through self-help, will allow residents better access to resources while working with various agencies to prioritize funding of capital projects that reduce crime and blight while developing services for the community.”
Randi Kinman, a former planning commissioner
for the City of San Jose, has been working as a volunteer in
the City of San Jose’s Strong Neighborhoods Initiative
program for ten years. She represents and works with communities
of color and low income, developing residents’ leadership
skills while providing training and education. Ms. Kinman is
a former member of MTC’s Minority Citizens Advisory Committee,
where she chaired the Equity Analysis subcommittee that supported
inclusion of a snapshot analysis of data gathered on regular
intervals between regional transportation plans.
Federico Lopez
Representing the Disabled Community
of Contra Costa County
“I am a public transit consumer – with lack of vision, I take transit or paratransit actively in the Bay Area and around the country.”
Federico Lopez is a retired federal government
attorney who worked as senior counsel for the Bureau of Alcohol,
Tobacco & Firearms and served as attorney for the Office
for Civil Rights, Health & Human Services. He retired from
federal law enforcement due to loss of vision sustained in
the line of duty. A member of the National Association of Blind
Lawyers, Mr. Lopez also served on the board of Lions Center
for the Blind and is a former member of the Contra Costa Transportation
Authority Citizens Advisory Committee. He regularly performs
Pro Bono advocacy for adults with developmental disabilities,
people who are blind and seniors with visual impairments.
Marshall Loring
Representing the Senior Community
of San Mateo County
“Four
years as an EDAC member have added significantly to my understanding
of the needs and concerns of elderly and disabled citizens.
At the same time, I have gained considerable knowledge about
the legal tools and support organizations that are available
to assist in meeting the needs of the elderly and disabled.”
Marshall Loring is a multi-generation Bay Area native and a retired electrical engineer. He has used transit all his life. He was chairman of the Phase 1 City of San Mateo Transit Corridor Plan Citizens Advisory Committee. Mr. Loring is active in his church and his neighborhood residents association and regularly attends local Paratransit Coordinating Council and Commission on Aging meetings. He is a former member of MTC’s Elderly and Disabled Advisory Committee.
Yokia
J. Mason
Representing the Low-Income Community
of Alameda County
“I can personally identify with the day-to-day struggles
attached to being low-income. I have lived and worked in the
areas I serve in Alameda County. I have committed my life to
uplift and mobilize the citizens in these areas.”
Yokia Mason is a Community Health Outreach Worker for the Alameda County Public Health Department’s Improving Pregnancy Outcomes Program. She assists low-income, pregnant and parenting women with one-on-one case management services and advocacy. She also facilitates health education and life skills workshops; works diligently to provide her clients with resources and referrals; and promotes improved access to health care, mental health services, affordable transportation and housing. She is also involved in studying how social injustice affects the health outcomes of low-income families over the life-span. She advocates at the state and national levels for continued funding of programs that address the needs of low-income men, women and children.
Tanya
Narath
Environment Representative
“I believe that an integrated, multi-modal transportation
system is essential to the health of the Bay Area’s economy
and quality of life. Since transportation contributes such
a high percentage of our greenhouse gas emissions, it’s
essential that we work together to find practical solutions
to reducing vehicle miles traveled in the Bay Area.”
Tanya Narath has been the Executive Director of the Leadership Institute for Ecology and the Economy since 2005. The Institute’s mission is to educate leaders to create public policy that is environmentally friendly and socially equitable for a healthy economy and sustainable community. She is active in Sonoma County’s local climate protection initiatives. In her role at the Leadership Institute, she works with local policymakers, environmental organizations and business groups on transportation-related issues and projects. A former Chair and Vice Chair of Friends of SMART, she holds a Master of Business Administration degree and an Executive Certificate in Sustainable Enterprise through Dominican University’s GreenMBA program.
Tina
King Neuhausel
Environment Representative
“I have spent the last 11 years of my professional
and volunteer life promoting sustainable infrastructure, technologies
and communities in the Bay Area. I am deeply committed to doing
everything I can to make sure we build and support a clean,
efficient transportation system.”
Tina King Neuhausel has extensive experience in educating community groups and government officials on key issues that affect the Bay Area’s sustainability and quality of life, such as public transportation, modality and land-use planning and policies. She is the co-founder of Sustainable Contra Costa, currently serving as Board President & CEO, and former Education and Outreach Director of Sustainable San Mateo County. She is also a member of Citizens for a Sustainable Walnut Creek and formerly served as Citizen Institute Coordinator for SPUR (San Francisco Planning and Urban Research Association). In addition, working in conjunction with the California Air Resources Board, she was a co-author and team leader for the California Hydrogen Highway Blueprint Plan.
Kendal
Oku
Representing the Minority Community of Marin County
“As a labor representative dealing with many disadvantaged communities in Marin, San Francisco and San Mateo counties, I can work with and represent their interests at MTC.”
Kendal Oku is a representative for Operating
Engineers Local Union #3, where he has worked closely with
both public agencies and community-based organizations to ensure
that local disadvantaged residents are able to secure work
in their communities, where they are able to utilize public
transportation and/or carpool. He is a member of the Bay Area
Air Quality Management District Advisory Council, serves as
a trustee for the local union and belongs to various labor
and building and construction trade councils.
Lori Reese-Brown
Representing the Minority Community
of Solano County
“Some ways of ensuring needs are met include amending
outdated policy and working with low-income residents in
the community to hear and address their concerns in an efficient,
effective and timely manner that produces results.”
Lori Reese-Brown is a city planner of 20
years with experience in the public and private sectors. She
has worked to bring citizens together, authoring policy for
recommendation for initiatives pertaining to local economic
development. She has also worked with nonprofit Environmental
Justice groups to engage citizens and to hear and mitigate
local community concerns. She regularly engages communities
of color in a broad range of projects and community initiatives.
Serving as a City Planning Commissioner in Solano County, her
goal is to ensure existing and proposed policy and goals present
a framework for governing local and regional decisions around
transportation and land use.
Gerald Rico
Representing the Minority Community of
Napa County
“I have concerns as we continue to experience gridlock
associated with traffic and our government and hope that
we can continue to improve and implement good traffic management.”
Gerald Rico, a retired California Highway
Patrol peace officer, has worked closely with the minority
communities of the Bay Area throughout his career. He is a
board member and former president of the Napa County Peace
Officers Association and is currently serving as region president
of the International Peace Officers Association. Mr. Rico is
also a member of the Napa County Land Trust and is a former
member of MTC’s Minority Citizens Advisory Committee.
Frank Robertson
Representing the Minority Community
of Contra Costa County
“I have made public service my calling. It brings me satisfaction when the end-users of various programs receive what they’re entitled to.”
Frank Robertson is executive vice president
of MMM Development Homes Corp., which develops communities
with numerous amenities, including close proximity to public
transportation. He worked for the Alameda County Social Services
Agency for over 20 years, developing policy programs to help
provide services to low-income communities and people with
disabilities. Mr. Robertson is president of the Coalition for
African Immigrants and Refugees and a board member of the International
Institute of the East Bay and Contra Costa County’s Economic
Opportunity Council and Merit Board.
Linda Jeffery Sailors
Economy Representative
“I served on Dublin’s first city council
and participated in development of its first general plan.
ABAG and MTC can work together so that land-use planning
and transportation planning work together. I have experience
in both.”
Linda Jeffery Sailors was a founder of the
Livermore Amador Valley Transportation Authority and served
as its board president. She has worked for the Economic Development
Alliance for Business doing economic development outreach and
served as president of the Arroyo Vista Housing Authority.
A former chairperson of the League of California Cities Revenue
and Taxation Committee, she represented the Bay Area on the
National League of Cities FAIR Committee, which dealt with
revenue and taxation policies. Ms. Jeffery Sailors served as
a Dublin city councilmember for ten years, including a stint
as mayor.
Dolly Sandoval
Representing the Senior Community
of Santa Clara County
“When VTA bus cuts were imminent (in 2007), I worked feverishly on behalf of our senior citizen communities to maintain adequate services for those seniors no longer able to drive…While not every line utilized by our senior residents could be saved, I helped to coordinate the changes with our local paratransit operator.”
Dolly Sandoval served on the Cupertino City
Council from 2001-2009, including a term as mayor, and the
Foothill DeAnza Community College Board from 1991-2001. During
her four years on the Valley Transportation Authority’s
board of directors, she served as chair and vice chair and
also chaired the agency’s Transportation Planning & Operations
committee, seeking public input from the senior community to
improve services for riders and to learn directly the needs
of Santa Clara County’s older population and people with
disabilities. Ms. Sandoval has been a teacher for more than
20 years and attended the Senior Executives in State and Local
Government program through the Kennedy School of Government
at Harvard in 2008.
Alan R. Talansky
Economy Representative
“I bring a unique economic viewpoint as honed by years of considering development opportunities and addressing big-picture long-term issues.”
Alan Talansky is a senior vice president at EBL&S Development, where he leads the mixed-use, transit-oriented development practice and mixed-use development. He was responsible for the development and planning activities of Station Park Green, a transit-oriented development in San Mateo that was one of the first projects to receive a LEED ND Gold certification. Mr. Talansky is an active member of the Urban Land Institute (ULI) and is a council member of ULI’s Responsible Property Investment Council. He is on the Technical Analysis panels of Santa Rosa and San Carlos as well as serving as chair for San Jose’s Diridon Station transit-oriented development plan. He is currently co-chair of the ULI San Francisco Technical Analysis Committee and chair of the Bond Oversight Committee for the San Mateo County Community College District.
Egon Terplan
Environment Representative
"In an era of climate change and limited public
revenues, it is increasingly evident that the patterns of
driving, stretched infrastructure and sprawling green-field
developments are too costly. For many years I have been working
to change these patterns – as an economic development
consultant promoting more concentrated and competitive regional
economies and as a policy director for a regional organization
analyzing and advocating for smart economic development and
planning policies, good transit and effective government.”
Egon Terplan is the regional planning director
for SPUR (San Francisco Planning and Urban Research Association),
whose mission is to promote policy decisions and governance
framework to achieve a better-planned region. He has 12 years
of experience in economic development, industry analysis and
strategy and labor and political organizing. He is the mayoral
appointee to the Workforce Investment Board of the City and
County of San Francisco and is inherently involved in regional
planning and efforts to link transportation investments and
land-use decisions.
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