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Rebecca Saltzman

@rebeccaforec.bsky.social

720 followers 270 following 630 posts

Mom, El Cerrito City Councilmember, Bike East Bay Co-Executive Director of Development and Engagement, and former BART Director

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Rebecca Saltzman @rebeccaforec.bsky.social · 29d

BIG personal / @bikeeastbay.bsky.social:

I'm stepping up into the role of Bike East Bay Co-Executive Director of Development and Engagement.

I'm thrilled to join Co-EDs Jill Holloway & Justin Hu-Nguyen in leading our efforts to make the East Bay a place where people come first, not cars!

Photo of me

Rebecca Saltzman promoted to Co-Executive Director of Development and Engagement

Bike East Bay Staff Announcement:

Rebecca's significant experience has prepared her well for this new role. She has been reporting to both Justin and Jill since they began as Co-EDs and has served as a key thought partner on development, engagement, and organizational strategy. While Jill was on parental leave for four months in 2024, Rebecca stepped in as interim Co-ED, leading the organization with Justin, heading the operations team, and delivering our biggest fundraising year to date. Rebecca has worked in leadership roles at non-profits for two decades, including as Interim Executive Director of California League of Conservation Voters (now California Environmental Voters) and Deputy Director of Breast Cancer Action.

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Rebecca Saltzman @rebeccaforec.bsky.social · 4h

Seal Beach wanted to increase rates at their beach parking lot.

They submitted the proposal to CA Coastal Commission in October 2023…and it wasn’t approved until May 2025!

Increasing parking fees based on demand INCREASES coastal access.

The approval process is clearly broken & needs to be fixed.

Reposted by Rebecca Saltzman

Californians for Electric Rail @calelectricrail.org · 1d

This one highway is projected to cost 85% of what CA has spent on high-speed rail over 15 years and hundreds of miles. If we can afford this, we can afford high-speed rail.

Alfred Twu @alfredtwu.com · 2d

The entire proposed Highway 37 Solano-Marin super bridge is estimated to cost $11 billion, all to replace an existing road between a couple of suburbs. And it's proposed at 114 feet wide.

For comparison, the Golden Gate Bridge is 90 feet wide.

Warren Wells, AICP @warrenjwells.bsky.social · 2d

Caltrans has released a cross section for the ultimate (raised viaduct) version of SR-37.

Now maybe I'm just being paranoid, but if you were building a road that you planned to keep at 4 lanes wide, I don't think it would look like this.

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Rebecca Saltzman @rebeccaforec.bsky.social · 1d

Obama Administration FTA put out draft rules to make regional planning boards (MPOs) more representative, including mandating transit agency reps.

MPOs, including Bay Area Metropolitan Transportation Commission, fought the rule change and it was super watered down.

Clearly, change is still needed:

Saad Asad @realsaadasad.bsky.social · 1d

America’s regional planning boards are stacked against transit riders.

New research from Urban Institute. And here is
@cayimby.bsky.social's summary:

cayimby.org/blog/how-ame...

Rebecca Saltzman @rebeccaforec.bsky.social · 1d

Ugh, thanks.

Rebecca Saltzman @rebeccaforec.bsky.social · 1d

Where? Bike East Bay has been reaching out to cities that are doing this, trying to get them to take a different approach.

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Rebecca Saltzman @rebeccaforec.bsky.social · 1d

Advocating for safe access to medical cannabis was my first experience with NIMBYs and how I learned about the power of land use and zoning.

Rebecca Saltzman @rebeccaforec.bsky.social · 1d

Nearly 20 years ago I attended my first @calcities.bsky.social conference as an advocate with Americans for Safe Access, trying to stop flood of CA bans/moratoriums on medical cannabis dispensaries.

Today I returned as a councilmember of El Cerrito, where we have 2 licensed adult use dispensaries.

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Rebecca Saltzman @rebeccaforec.bsky.social · 1d

This is what we hope to do in El Cerrito - build a new library at Plaza BART, along with 743 homes.

This is our best opportunity for a new library, as there’s not space to rebuild on current site and the lease for the BART site will be $1.

A citizens measure is circulating now to fund the library.

Yonah Freemark @yonahfreemark.com · 1d

Cities are developing a new approach to developing housing: Integrating it into mixed-use library projects. These investments improve neighborhood vitality, add housing & improve services.

In new research @urbaninstitute.bsky.social, I create a database of such projects & point to success stories ⏬

Aging Libraries Could Offer Cities a Unique Opportunity to Build New Housing While Improving Public Services

Since 2000, more than 1,800 apartment units have been built in combined library-housing developments. These projects not only address local housing needs but…

www.urban.org

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Rebecca Saltzman @rebeccaforec.bsky.social · 2d

Days like this are exhausting but absolutely worth it to have the opportunity to improve our city and beyond.

Also, these days would be impossible without my wife, who picked up our daughter from school and is making dinner for all of us.

Rebecca Saltzman @rebeccaforec.bsky.social · 2d

A surprising number of people I meet think councilmembers are paid full time.

Reality: we get a small stipend.

So today I worked a full day at Bike East Bay, BARTed home and took my daughter to her swim lesson, will quickly scarf down dinner after this, and then will go to a City Council meeting.

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Rebecca Saltzman @rebeccaforec.bsky.social · 2d

Thanks @davebikes.bsky.social for writing about @bikeeastbay.bsky.social's co-leadership model.

"BEB’s decision to have 3 co-EDs is...a glimpse of the democracy we’ll build next: instead of powerful single rulers, shared power rooted in community."
themovementnewsletter.substack.com/p/sharing-po...

Sharing Power, Building Power

Bike East Bay’s Co-Executive Model as a Blueprint for a New Democracy

themovementnewsletter.substack.com

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Reposted by Rebecca Saltzman

Senator Scott Wiener @scottwiener.bsky.social · 2d

Conversion therapy of LGBTQ kids is psychological torture. Generations of LGBTQ people know this firsthand.

It’s why we banned it in California & why others states also have. Therapists don’t have a right to torture kids.

The Supreme Court will harm so my if it overturns these laws.

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Rebecca Saltzman @rebeccaforec.bsky.social · 2d

Amazing! Let me know if you have any questions.

Rebecca Saltzman @rebeccaforec.bsky.social · 2d

bikeeastbay.org/board_applic...

Bike East Bay Board Application - Bike East Bay

Join our board APPLY TO JOIN THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS Bike East Bay seeks energetic board members committed to forwarding our mission of mobilizing by bike to build thriving communities […]

bikeeastbay.org

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Reposted by Rebecca Saltzman

jamelle @jamellebouie.net · 4d

wrote this line yesterday:

"If President Trump were, in other words, trying to instigate some kind of national divorce, it is hard to imagine what he would be doing differently than this."

Yashar Ali 🐘 @yasharali.bsky.social · 4d

Statement from Illinois Governor JB Pritzker

This evening, President Trump is ordering 400 members of the Texas National Guard for deployments to Illinois, Oregon, and other locations within the United States. No officials from the federal government called me directly to discuss or coordinate.
We must now start calling this what it is: Trump's Invasion. It started with federal agents, it will soon include deploying federalized members of the Illinois National Guard against our wishes, and it will now involve sending in another state's military troops.
I call on Governor Abbott to immediately withdraw any support for this decision and refuse to coordinate. There is no reason a President should send military troops into a sovereign state without their knowledge, consent, or cooperation.
The brave men and women who serve in our national guards must not be used as political props. This is a moment where every American must speak up and help stop this madness.

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Rebecca Saltzman @rebeccaforec.bsky.social · 3d

Thank you Attorney General Bonta for continuing to stand up for California and our nation!

AG Rob Bonta @agrobbonta.oag.ca.gov · 3d

Breaking: we’ve secured a court order BLOCKING Trump’s unlawful deployment of the California National Guard in Portland.

This fight isn’t over, but today’s rebuke of the President’s illegal actions is a step in the right direction.

The National Guard is not President Trump’s personal police force.

Rebecca Saltzman @rebeccaforec.bsky.social · 4d

I’m so sorry that happened to you. If you’re willing to, I recommend sharing your story with the Board. Hopefully they will work on this so it doesn’t happen again.

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Rebecca Saltzman @rebeccaforec.bsky.social · 4d

I saw the @rideact.bsky.social 65th anniversary old school bus on line 18 today!

AC Transit is running it every day on different lines through November, so look out for it.

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Rebecca Saltzman @rebeccaforec.bsky.social · 5d

You can check out all of this wonderful art and more, this Saturday and Sunday from 11 am - 4 pm at the El Cerrito Community Center.

El Cerrito Art Association Art Show flyer

Rebecca Saltzman @rebeccaforec.bsky.social · 5d

The art piece that won the Mayor’s Award was this lovely mosaic portrait of Councilmember and Mayor Janet Abelson.

She was a big transit and accessibility advocate, and she was a driving force in making El Cerrito so pro-housing.

Rebecca Saltzman @rebeccaforec.bsky.social · 5d

There was a beautiful painting of a BART station platform.

Any guesses which one?

Rebecca Saltzman @rebeccaforec.bsky.social · 5d

Had an incredible evening with my family at the opening reception for the El Cerrito Art Association Art Show!

My daughter especially loved all of the animal art, and as we walked home told everyone we saw that there were 5 cute kitty art pieces in the show. ❤️🐈🖼️

My daughter looking and pointing at a bird painting

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Reposted by Rebecca Saltzman

Congresswoman Lateefah Simon @replsimon.bsky.social · 6d

The ICE raid in Chicago in the middle of the night was an assault on humanity. Agents stormed into a high rise apartment, tore children from their parents, and left an entire community traumatized. This was not law enforcement, and I stand with my colleagues in Chicago in condemning it.

37 people arrested and American kids separated from parents after ICE raid at Chicago apartments | CNN

Adults and children alike were pulled from their Chicago apartments, crying and screaming, during a large overnight raid that has left tenants and neighbors shaken.

www.cnn.com

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Reposted by Rebecca Saltzman

Rebecca Saltzman @rebeccaforec.bsky.social · 7d

Bike East Bay is hiring a Community Engagement Director.

This is a really fun position working with our amazing community and for a very impactful organization.

I’m leading the hiring and will work closely with the person we hire. Please apply or spread the word!

Bike East Bay @bikeeastbay.bsky.social · 8d

Know anybody who loves bikes and loves building community? We're hiring! This role is responsible for bringing Bike to Wherever Day and Biketopia to life, and also oversees our bile valet and volunteer programs.

Apply today, or share with a friend BikeEastBay.org/jobs

A groovy hiring graphic, with the job title "Community Engagement Director" above a group photo of the Bike East Bay staff (a friendly and cool crew) smiling in front of their office.

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Rebecca Saltzman @rebeccaforec.bsky.social · 7d

12 or 13 minutes is the regular schedule. And since it so often slips in the afternoon, it’s usually several minutes longer.