You can take steps now on election issues affecting open space

Posted October 25, 2006

This November, voters in Santa Clara and San Mateo Counties will decide two important countywide issues and two statewide issues affecting open space. While the decision in November is crucial, you can take steps right now to help! Next week we’ll update you on local measures on the ballot.

The Committee for Green Foothills has carefully analyzed two county-wide measures and two statewide propositions for their effect on open space. These four measures will have significant effects on open space, so we urge voters to support open space, both at the polls and in the last few days before the election:

After careful analysis, the Committee strongly recommends the following positions:

SUPPORT Santa Clara County Measure A:

Measure A will protect our hillsides, streams, watersheds, wildlife habitats and agricultural lands from large-scale development by amending the County’s General Plan. Measure A allows continued growth, but maintains a healthy balance between urban areas and the beauty and peace of our hillsides and rural environments. This Initiative is similar to measures passed in San Mateo County in 1986 and in Alameda County in 2000.

SUPPORT San Mateo County Measure A:

San Mateo County residents will have the historic opportunity to secure dedicated funding for their parks in November. Measure A would increase San Mateo County’s sales tax by 1/8 of one cent for 25 years to provide dedicated revenue for county parks, city parks and recreation districts, raising $16 million annually for parks. The cost for the average person is $18 annually. Measure A has widespread support, but two-thirds approval by the voters is needed to pass this measure.

SUPPORT California Proposition 84:

Five of the six statewide bond initiatives do not address the ongoing need for open space acquisition and parks funding. Funding provided by Proposition 40, passed in 2002 for clean water, parks and open space, is almost running out. A citizens’ initiative, Proposition 84 would make $5.4 billion available for water quality, flood control, fish and wildlife, and parks and land acquisition programs that are critical to preserving Peninsula open space.

OPPOSE Proposition 90:

Backers of the measure tout it as “needed eminent domain reform,” but Proposition 90 is far more broad reaching and dangerous – threatening our coastline, open space, farmland, air and water quality and other natural resources. If passed, it would effectively abolish the passage and enforcement of basic laws that protect the environment and would have a significant fiscal impact to local and state governments. Under the language of Proposition 90, virtually any action taken to protect the environment could allow landowners to claim the action caused their property to lose value, and demand huge payments to compensate their claims of “loss”, however reasonable those claims were.

What you can do
The campaign season is in full swing now, with many undecided voters paying attention for the first time. While voting for open space is crucial, communicating to people who have not had much time to think about these issues will help even more. Lawn signs, leaving flyers for neighbors, and letters to the editor will all influence the outcome between now and November 7th.

Supporting Measure A in Santa Clara County — contact the Yes on Measure A Campaign to pick up lawn signs (we just received 1,000!), write letters to the editor, or leave flyers on your neighbors’ doorsteps.

Supporting Measure A in San Mateo County — to send a contribution or find out more, contact the Parks for the Future — Yes on Measure A Campaign at: info@parksforthefuture.com. To volunteer, contact the Parks for the Future campaign.

Supporting Proposition 84 — tell a California voter friend why Proposition 84 is a good idea. Take other actions in support of Prop. 84.

Oppose Proposition 90 — Read up on the “Californians Against the Taxpayer Trap” website and take action.

Other Local Measures
Three local ballot measures in San Mateo County also threaten open space areas; if you live in Menlo Park, Pacifica, or Brisbane, you can help to:

* Oppose Measure J, an advisory measure that asks voters whether the City should proceed with a major sports complex at Bayfront Park.

* Oppose Measure B in Brisbane that would authorize building housing in the Guadalupe Valley Quarry.

* Oppose Measure L in Pacifica that would authorize a zoning change to allow housing in the former Rockaway Quarry.

Thanks for speaking up for open space. Your voice does make a difference!

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