Letter from Terri Williamson to Dan Borenstein, Contra Costa Times

By Terri Williamson

After talking to you yesterday, I'm afraid you are turning the Pleasant Hill election into a one issue campaign.

I agree with you that we have to get concessions from our employees next year about PERS retirement payments and health care costs. It will be difficult, but I am committed to doing so. I hope our neighboring cities will do the same to create a level playing field. Measure T will also help defray the two million dollars of lost revenues this year. Both are necessary.

Is that the only thing that matters in Pleasant Hill? Really? You told me you enjoy living here and that Pleasant Hill has greatly improved over the past 25 years.

Why do you think that is? If it hadn't been for me and a wonderful group of residents (the people who founded Pleasant Hill Citizens for Responsible Growth -- not to be confused with the current group which only uses the name but doesn't hold the ideals), our neighborhoods and the Downtown would be grossly overdeveloped with high rise office and apartments.

Many high density plans were in place by the then city manager and council members. The Contra Costa Times wouldn't endorse me for years because they supported those very urban changes.

You like Downtown? City Hall? Your neighborhood? Should I just go away now?

Didn't I finally get residential and commercial Design Guidelines passed last year after pressing for them for years? Hasn't the Crossroads turned into a nice shopping area? I worked hard with that developer. I continue to do so.

At least two Council challengers have said they will vote for any development which increases sales tax. I won't. Development has to enhance Pleasant Hill -- not just provide sales tax. Revenue isn't the most important thing-- the quality of our lives is.

Every thing I've done for the past 25 years has made Pleasant Hill a finer place to live. Can anyone else say the same?

Can you?

Respectfully,

Terri Williamson