League of Women Voters of California Education Fund
	Alameda County, CA February 2, 2010 Election
	Measure B Alameda Point Development Initiative City of Alameda Initiative Measure - Majority Approval Required Official Final Results Fail: 2,361 / 14.6% Yes votes ...... 13,797 / 85.4% No votes See Also: Index of all Measures

Arguments For Measure B

Arguments Against Measure B

ARGUMENT IN FAVOR OF MEASURE B The Naval Air Station at the western end of Alameda permanently closed more than 12 years ago. Since then, many plans have been developed, but little progress has been made to transform the base into a safe and productive part of our city. Costs to maintain the crumbling infrastructure and decaying buildings at Alameda Point continue to grow, making it a burden on the City of Alameda and Alameda taxpayers. After decades of military use, the Navy is cleaning up the contaminated soil and groundwater; however, the site's aging buildings are contaminated, and the roads, sewers and utilities need to be replaced. Now, there is a unique opportunity to further clean up Alameda Point and make it a vibrant part of our community, without cost to current Alameda taxpayers. World-renowned planners, with input from citizens of Alameda over many years and through dozens of public workshops and community meetings, have developed a plan to create a green, sustainable, transit-oriented development at Alameda Point. If approved, the plan will: Remove decayed buildings and further clean up the toxic waste Improve public access to water and create bayside walking and biking trails Provide 145 acres of parks and open space Preserve historic structures Build a new ferry terminal Bring new businesses and jobs to Alameda Build recreational and sports facilities Build a new library, fire station and school This plan will NOT cost existing taxpayers. In fact, the City requires that the plan must pay for itself. The plan to revitalize Alameda Point is supported by community and business leaders, environmentalists, seniors and residents. Please visit http://www.alamedapointcommunity.com for more information. Now it's up to you to help make this plan a reality and decide Alameda's future. Vote YES on B. s/Doug Siden President, East Bay Regional Park District s/Helen Sause President, HOMES Housing Opportunities Make Economic Sense s/Christopher Seiwald Local Business Owner s/Ron Matthews President, Alameda Little League & Babe Ruth and Alameda High School Athletic Boosters s/Honora Murphy Alameda Library Supporter; 45 year Alameda resident Rebuttal to Arguments For REBUTTAL TO ARGUMENT IN FAVOR OF MEASURE B Promises and pretty pictures will not develop Alameda Point. SunCal has more than 27 bankruptcies throughout the Southwest, plus numerous projects that remain undeveloped. Oakland residents sued because Oak Knoll became a public safety hazard. We cannot let this happen to Alameda. Measure B was written by SunCal and benefits the developer. Once passed, it's LAW! Measure B creates traffic from a potential 11,000 new residents without sufficient funding for managing traffic. This is NOT our last chance to redevelop Alameda Point. Defeat Measure B and our community will move forward to develop Alameda Point in a manner that includes funded infrastructure, sports facilities, open space, schools, libraries and a full range of housing opportunities for every segment of our community. We can do this without giving millions of public dollars in a deal which only benefits the developer, not our community. Ignore the false promises of SunCal: There's no guarantee that any additional agreements will be legally enforceable, or protect our city should this Initiative pass. This is a one-sided Initiative that gives the developer 100% control of the project development with NO requirement to fulfill their financial commitments. The Initiative doesn't guarantee funding for or construction of a single public school at Alameda Point. Developer's shortfall of nearly $500 million in funding for public benefits will result in a failure to deliver promised benefits. Don't let this slick million-dollar campaign buy your vote. Please join with theAlameda community and us by voting NO on Measure B. For more FACTS visit http://www.alamedapointinfo.com s/Frank Matarrese City of Alameda Councilmember s/Kevin R. Kearney City of Alameda Auditor s/Tracy Jensen Alameda Unified School District Board Member s/Trish Spencer Alameda Unified School District Board Member s/Ashley Jones Past Teacher/Coach

ARGUMENT AGAINST MEASURE B VOTE NO ON MEASURE B - A BAD DEAL FOR OUR CITY Like many fellow Alamedans, we want to see Alameda Point developed so this historic area can be revitalized to benefit the entire city again. Therefore, we do support a smart, economic development. However, the SunCal proposed development is wrong for the future of Alameda and for all taxpayers. Here's why: Measure B is a developer-sponsored measure, by SunCal, that is one-sided. It circumvents City planning processes and gives the developer complete control of Alameda Point. If passed, Measure B guarantees the developer the following rights: Loses $51 million in fees for our City that would ordinarily be collected from the Developer for basic infrastructure. Diverts nearly $12 million in yearly lease revenue from our City to the Developer. Locks in a short fall for public improvements and benefits by $175 million. Guarantees SunCal can sell Alameda Point to any developer - immediately with no say from voters or the City. Leaves the door open for neglect and blight with no actual development required. Freezes the Developer's already insufficient funding at today's dollar value for the next twenty-five years. Approves this development without crucial information on environmental mitigation, design or costs until after this election. Risks raising other taxes and fee when Alameda Point's costs exceed the 2% cap. Exposes the City of Alameda to potential costly lawsuits. WE CANNOT AFFORD A PLAN that will leave our City and its taxpayers responsible for millions of dollars if Alameda Point development fails. WE CANNOT AFFORD TO GIVE total control and complete oversight of Alameda Point to any developer. WE CANNOT AFFORD TO FUND any portion of the critical infrastructure and promised public benefits with your tax dollars. WE CANNOT AFFORD UNATTAINABLE PROMISES from the developer. WE CANNOT AFFORD MEASURE B. PLEASE VOTE NO ON MEASURE B! s/Beverly Johnson Mayor, City of Alameda s/Doug deHaan Vice Mayor, City of Alameda s/Kevin Kennedy Treasurer, City of Alameda s/Blake A. Brydon President, Alameda Chamber of Commerce s/Dennis G. Pagones Real Estate Broker/Alameda Business Owner Rebuttal to Arguments Against REBUTTAL TO ARGUMENT AGAINST MEASURE B The simple fact is the decaying former Naval Air Station at Alameda Point could cost every Alameda taxpayer hundreds of dollars per year, every year. Each year, the City of Alameda wastes millions of dollars that could be used for police and fire, but is instead spent to maintain crumbling roads, deteriorating sewer lines and decaying buildings. This creates a drain on our City budget and wastes taxpayer money. Measure B is a plan to revitalizeAlameda Point created by residents of Alameda to rehabilitate the Naval Air Station and to prevent the waste of taxpayer dollars. Here are the facts: Alameda Point is contaminated with toxics, lead and asbestos. Measure B will continue the cleanup process to ensure it is safe for residents and businesses. Measure B guarantees that any developer will have to pay $200 million for public amenities, such as recreation facilities, parks, open space protection, a fire station and a library. Under the existing agreement, this plan must pay for itself. That means that the project will generate enough revenue to cover the cost of maintaining it. Your taxes will NOT be increased. Measure B will protect existing businesses, create local jobs and provide needed housing that is consistent with the character of our community. We can vote NO and continue being taxed to pay for a decaying Naval Air Station OR We can vote YES to make the developer pay to Revitalize Alameda Point. s/Douglas Biggs Executive Director of Alameda Point Collaborative s/Barbara Kahn Alameda point resident s/Michael J. Krueger Alameda Transportation Commissioner s/Joshua Cohen Principal Qibits Associates/Alameda Resident s/Rev. Roger Bauer Chair of Alameda Pt. Collaborative

Full Text of Measure B

Full Text of the Initiative, Measure B