Upcoming Gill Tract Action

Last year on Earth Day, April 20, a large group of people entered the Gill Tract and set up an occupation that lasted 3 weeks. I visited the event on the first day and was so impressed with what folks were talking about I joined them immediately. What remains of the original 100+ acres of the Gill Tract purchased by UC is approximately 20 acres of open space with the rest either sold off for development (inlcuding Ocean View School) or turned into University Village housing. Of the 20 acres of open space, aproximately 10 acres has never been developed. These 10 acres have always been used as farmland. This is the best soil in the entire bay area for farming. 

I have lived in Albany since 1964 and have fond memories of what the Gill Tract farmland used to be before UC modified its stance to promote big argibusiness. UC used to have a world renowned research center on this land and the farm was open to the public. The community used to have access to the farm through lectures and even free classes.

We have so starved our educational system that now UC wants to use this land to generate substantial income instead of offering it as an educational resource. Rather than fulfill their mandate to educate the California population, UC came to City Council last year and asked for permission to create a large corporate development. The folks who occupied the land took a three pronged approach to stopping this development.

1) Two people would run for City Council. Both candidates lost (I was one).

2) Hold a referendum on overturning the vote by City Council. The referendum was successful and City Council nullified their vote.

3) An Albany resident sued City Council for not following the EIR correctly. This lawsuit is ongoing and has a clear change of winning. UC knows this and is trying to alter the outcome by amending their development plan substantially. This speaks to the heart of the legitimacy of the lawsuit.

If you would like to know more about this issue, Occupy The Farm is holding another event at Albany City Hall this Saturday at noon.

----

Occupy the Farm!  Liberate the Land!


THIS SATURDAY, MAY 11!
Meet at 12 Noon. Sharp.
Albany City Hall, 1000 San Pablo Ave
Come prepared to farm and occupy!

Despite 15 years of fierce resistance from community groups the University still plans to pave over some of the best farmland in the urban East Bay. Our call to action is spurred by the recent unveiling of UC's renewed development plan for the Gill Tract Farm.  You may recall that Whole Foods pulled out after our actions last year, but the UC has made new plans with a smaller corporate grocery store called Sprouts.  The new development will have the same footprint as the original one, with a large parking lot that will cover most of the south side of the farm.

Occupy the Farm envisions a future in which East Bay communities make use of all available land - occupying it when necessary - to create sustainable alternatives and meet local needs in the face of economic and environmental crisis.  For the past year we have been fighting hard for the Gill Tract, which is one of the last large plots of fertile agricultural soil left in the East Bay. the Gill Tract holds great potential for helping shift our communities towards self-sufficiency through urban agriculture.  


Support this action: 
Loan tools, help water plants, help transport: Email us!
Donate food, drinking water, money: Email us!
Spread the word: Forward this email, post flyers, invite folks to facebook event
Donate to us through wepay


More information:
Occupy the Farm Movie Trailer
Most recent news bulletin
Occupy The Farm website