Details

Published: 04 January 2017

The past year was tumultuous, marked by the passing of many iconic figures that have shaped our times. As 2017 begins, we want to take a moment to remember six inspirational lives and share some of their most poignant messages for our future. 
Change is in the air, and we must all choose how we will respond to these disruptive times. As Gwen Ifill demonstrated so eloquently, our democracy depends on how well we engage and learn from one another. Despite the constant rhetoric that surrounds us, we must be even more committed to listen, learn and engage in caring conversations with people from all walks of life and perspectives, as only together can we move forward in a positive way. 
 

Change comes from listening, learning, caring and conversation. Gwen Ifill

David Bowie really did seem to be a “man who fell to earth” rather than being born here. His extra-terrestrial inspiration, pioneering music and eccentric persona propelled our thinking in new directions. He revealed the power that comes from embracing both our masculine and feminine sides, and his outsize personality demonstrated why being different is a gift not a burden. May we all have the freedom to be our eccentric selves like David Bowie!

I find only freedom in the realms of eccentricity. David Bowie

Elie Wiesel vowed never to forget the first night at Auschwitz that turned his life in the labor camp into one long night of horrors. He dedicated his life to fighting injustice and promoting world peace through his writing, teaching and Foundation for Humanity. As the Nobel citation honoring him stated: “His message is one of peace, atonement and human dignity. His belief that the forces fighting evil in the world can be victorious is a hard-won belief.” His message that we have the power to transform darkness into light is a spiritual call to us all. 

Even in darkness it is possible to create light. Elie Wiesel

Growing up in the segregated south, Cassius Clay Jr. (Muhammad Ali) wasn’t afraid to fight. He used his talents not only in the boxing ring to become a world champion but to fight for social change, exemplified by his refusal to be drafted in to the Vietnam War. He devoted his life to helping those in need, traveling around the world as a UN messenger of peace, and to promoting special causes near to his heart, like the Special Olympics. His wife Lonnie says that Ali wants us to remember him as a person who never became embittered enough to quit or to engage in violence despite the many injustices he experienced. Let’s all remember him by keeping the good fight going and always making our days count. 

Don't count the days, make the days count. Muhammad Ali

Cannot remember Leonard Cohen without thinking about how Judy Collins resonated his poems to life. As the song goes, Leonard Cohen truly was a bird on the wire, who tried in his way to be free. By the freedom and power of his words, he will continue to sing on in our hearts and minds, reminding us that we can always transform and evolve by acting out who we want to become. 

Act the way you’d like to be, and soon you’ll be the way you act. Leonard Cohen

In her recent interview with Terry Gross on Fresh Air, Carrie Fisher reminisced on filming Star Wars and told Terry that she had melded with Princess Leia over time. “I like how she handles things. I like how she treats people….[S]he tells the truth…and gets what she wants done.” As we move into this new era of change, may we be inspired to explore our internal and external worlds, get things done by treating people well, and always find our calm within the storm. 
Writing is a very calming thing for me. Carrie Fisher

As we move forward into 2017, let’s commit ourselves to:

• Embrace change
• Engage in thoughtful conversations
• Celebrate our differences
• Create light out of darkness
• Make the days count
• Act the way we want to be
• Get great things done by treating people well
• Commit to doing what feeds our souls and calms our minds

Thanks to all of you for collaborating with us over the years, and look forward to working with you to catalyze positive change in 2017.

In the words of the Dalai Lama: 

Let us all redouble our commitment to making the world a better place for everyone’s children. 

During 2016, we at Seifel increased our professional and personal contributions to organizations that feed the hungry, provide affordable housing, support women around the globe, deliver in-depth news coverage, feature inspirational stories and music, and promote good government, visionary planning and sustainable development.

Change is in the air. 

The future is in our hands. 

 

Be sure to download a copy of our 2017 Seifel Calendar (click here).

Details

Published: 16 May 2016

The American Planning Association (APA) recently awarded Alameda County the Northern Section Award for Excellence in Economic Planning and Development for the Ashland and Cherryland Business District Specific Plan and Code (ACBDSP). Adopted by the Alameda County Board of Supervisors in December 2015 by a unanimous vote, ACBDSP builds on and empowers the original Specific Plan by encouraging sustainable economic growth while outlining priorities for implementation. 

Seifel served on the multidisciplinary team (led by Lisa Wise Consulting) responsible for developing a community-driven vision and implementation plan for the Plan Area and updating the 1995 Specific Plan. The team's work emphasized economic revitalization through place-making, innovative implementation strategies, creative marketing, branding, public improvement programs, multimodal transportation plan, robust community outreach and form-based code.

The consultant team of experts also included Opticos Design, Fehr & Peers, Rincon Consultants, Local Government Commission, Seifel Consulting, MJB Consulting and JWC Urban Design.

A copy of the adopted plan and code document is available here.

And be sure to check out NorCal APA's awards page, here.

Details

Published: 18 November 2015

As part of a project funded by the California Endowment, the Local Government Commission (LGC) is holding a series of meetings throughout California to discuss innovative funding strategies and local community revitalization strategies.

With access to capital a frequent barrier to realizing a community’s vision, this Friday’s LGC session ”New Funding Strategies to Fuel Smart Growth Successes" will explore innovative strategies for getting projects going. This Friday morning's session features Darin Dinsmore (Founder and CEO at Crowdbrite), Jim Becker (CEO and President at Richmond Community Foundation), Joshua Genser (Board Chair at Richmond Community Foundation) and Libby Seifel. 

UPDATE! LGC’S guidebook “Smart-Growth Money: New Funding Strategies for Community Improvements” is available at this link.

“Smart-Growth Money: New Funding Strategies for Community Improvements” explores funding tools and strategies to help local leaders identify funding sources and manage limited dollars to achieve community goals. The report includes case studies featuring innovative ways to successfully navigate financial hurdles. For more information, visit http://www.lgc.org/new-funding-strategies-guidebook

LGC works to build livable communities and local leadership by connecting leaders via innovative programs and network opportunities. More on LGC's is available here.

Details

Published: 03 November 2015

While macro demographic, economic and societal trends continue to improve the prospects for California cities, not all will benefit to the same degree. This Thursday’s "Urban Economic Revival in California" session, held at the California Society of Municipal Analysts (CSMA) conference in Napa, will explore the underlying conditions and local government and private sector actions associated with cities like San Diego and San Francisco, whose economic outlooks continue to improve. The session will posit and address questions such as “Given the dissolution of redevelopment, how do cities attract private investment and employers to help revitalize older cities?” “Would a continuing drought affect the mix of urban versus suburban/exurban development?”

Joining Libby on "Urban Economic Revival in California" are Karen Ribble (Fitch Ratings) and John Shirey (City of Sacramento). Established in 1986, the California Society of Municipal Analysts (CSMA) is a non-profit organization that fosters professional development through discussions, meetings and presentations of issues relevant to municipal credit analysis.

Click here for the final agenda for this Thursday, November 5 conference.