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     Alameda, New York City, Oakland, Orange County and Portland — these are a few places with innovative green practices going on that freelance writer Jeff Swenerton highlights in his article “When the Revolution Is Over, the Work Begins” in this issue.
     Swenerton, who has written about the greening of Oakland and the East Bay previously, analyzes who’s doing what right in an effort to make more sense out of the ongoing green movement. The world can be a lot greener, he asserts, if cities everywhere pick up these practices and pay more attention to an overall strategy to combat global warming. Swenerton makes the case that parties should assume more responsibility regarding their environmentally deleterious acts. He suggests the best way to do so is by getting environmentalists, industrialists and unions together on the technological and economic development fronts. Ultimately the market and the commerce of that nascent green market will propel — or doom — the green economy. See who’s leading the way in Swenerton’s assessment of who’s getting this important issue right.
      After that, take a trip along the Oakland-Alameda estuary, the natural boundary between the two communities. In “And an Estuary Runs Through It,” Jeff Mitchell interviews saltwater denizens who are drawn to the body of water. They live there, recreate there and, in a few cases, make their living there. Meet the folks for whom the estuary is their way of life.
     You can also learn a lot more about Oakland in this issue, from the street art of Dave Warnke and pop rocker Bart Davenport’s favorite local hangouts to where James Syhabout of Commis likes to snag a bite to eat and the history of the area’s original garbage collectors.
     This issue includes the Best of Oakland 2010 ballot, and the ballot is online at oaklandmagazine.com. Cast your vote by March 5, 2010, and be eligible to win restaurant gift certificates. This is your chance to tell fellow Oaklanders what you love about Oaktown – where to brunch in style, the hottest arrival on the restaurant scene and who’s got the best finger-licking food. The ballot is jammed with categories for this year’s Best Of readers’ choice picks. Look for results in the July/August issue.

judy@oaklandmagazine.com