Pro-Development Citizens Group Touts Cargill in Redwood City

A new Redwood City-based group has emerged calling for the development of the Cargill Industrial Saltworks site now the subject of a signature gathering effort to halt such a development by local and regional environmental organizations.

In a recent op-ed in the Daily News, Redwood City resident and public relations hack Lou Covey announced the formation of Sustainable Redwood City, a new organization dedicated to “…promoting the long-term viability of our community, economy, environment and overall quality of life benefiting all residents,” according to its posted mission statement.

Covey’s group has formed apparently as a foil to the Friends of Redwood City organization that has long fought against developments the organization identifies as environmentally flawed. In February, the Friends of Redwood City in concert with Save the Bay and the Committee for Green Foothills announced a signature gathering effort to place a measure on the Redwood City ballot to preserve existing open spaces and parks by requiring that any development of such pristine sites, under the new ordinance established by the ballot measure, would require a vote of the people.

The ballot effort, flying under the banner of Open Space Redwood City, is thought to have been formed in direct response to the proposed development of 1,433 acre site of Bay-side land now owned by the salt manufacturing conglomerate Cargill. The Bay-side property and associated salt ponds are targeted for a massive development that will change the face of Redwood City and the Redwood Shores area and forever pave over rare Bay lands that many believe should be returned to the San Francisco Bay itself.

The ballot effort has touched off what will likely be an intense battle between the elected leadership of Redwood City working with Cargill and its development firm DMB Associates of Arizona against many environmental organizations including Friends of Redwood City; Save the Bay; the Committee for Green Foothills; Sequoia Audubon Society; Citizens Committee to Complete the Refuge; Clean Water Action; the Sierra Club; and Acterra: Action for a Sustainable Earth.

Covey, like others throughout San Mateo County, supports so-called smart-growth developments, although the proposed bayside development of the Cargill site is considered by environmentalists to be a poor example of ex-urban development as it is far from public transit would strain existing infrastructure and would fill-in what could be new tidal wet lands, a rare commodity around the Bay. Such tidelands act as a mechanism for cleaning Bay water and serve as host for a variety of wildlife. That is why environmentalists are pushing hard for their restoration rather than a massive commercial and residential development.

Sustainable Redwood City joins other pro-development organizations that have sprung up in San Mateo County such as the Peninsula Coalition, which is supported primarily by developers and utility companies, and San Mateo Together, an organization formed to push for the redevelopment of the Bay Meadows Racetrack.

The Cargill development has also played into the State Assembly race in the 19th District as environmentalists have attacked San Mateo County Supervisor Jerry Hill - one of the three candidates vying to replace Gene Mullin - for being the pro-development candidate, according to an op-ed in the Daily News.

Yee Dithers with Violent Video Games…Again

State Senator Leland Yee issued a press release yesterday warning parents to avoid purchasing the newest installment of the ultra-violent video game Grand Theft Auto produced by Rockstar Games.

Yee is the author of a 2005 law that would prohibit the sale of extremely violent video games to minors in California. The law was struck down in federal court and is currently being litigated in the US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. A bill authored by Yee in 2004, which has gone into effect, requires video game retailers to post signs informing consumers of the video game rating system.

The controversy over the so-called ultra-violent video games has been a flash point for both the ultra liberal and the ultra conservative, both of which attack the games for a variety of reasons. The overall underpinning is that such video games will so poison the minds of our youth that the next generation will be entirely mass murderers.

Yee, a child psychologist, has authored some useful legislation but his record is tainted by this ill-conceived and hyperbolic saber rattling over video game content in the same way that past political leaders have blamed television, comic books, movies, popular music and every other new medium.

In response, the gamer bologosphere has exploded with indignation over Yee’s comments in an absolutely expected response. By creating media interest and controversy over this next gratuitously violent video game Yee has likely succeeded in getting some free advertising for Rockstar Games. Perhaps is Yee has stock in Rockstar his posturing may actually pay off.

Hill Attacks Papan over Sheriff Debacle

In a blast e-mail to supporters, San Mateo County Supervisor and Assembly candidate Jerry Hill has attacked opponent Millbrae Mayor Gina Papan over an exchange between the two candidates during a candidate forum last Saturday hosted by the Pacifica Democratic Club.

Hill’s e-mail states:

This past Saturday while attending a Democratic candidate debate I was attacked by Gina Papan regarding San Mateo County Sheriff Greg Munks embarrassing actions while on a trip to Las Vegas last year. She tried to connect my responsibilities as Supervisor with Sheriff Munks poor judgment.

If you need further detail about the incident and how I handled it last year please visit my web site, www.votejerryhill.com/blog and under Blog you can see my response. You can also read today’s story in the San Mateo Daily News, http://www.sanmateodailynews.com/article/2008-4-22-munks-hill-cash

Additionally, to avoid any hint of impropriety, I have returned Sheriff Munks financial contribution to my campaign.

Hill’s rapid and nearly complete u-turn from a staunch defense of the Sheriff to a position of condemnation is an attempt at political damage control.

Hill has been badly damaged in the local press in a series of articles published in the Daily News and the San Mateo County times criticizing the board of supervisors for inaction in response to the Sheriff’s brothel visit last year in Las Vegas.

Hill in particular has been called out among the supervisors as he has taken thousands of dollars in campaign contributions from Munks and Munks’ family for Hill’s Assembly bid.

In response, according to an article in the Daily News, Hill has given back a portion of the money he received from Munks and has asked the county counsel’s office to examine the possibility of amending the county charter in order to provide the board of supervisors with the authority to discipline independently elected county office holders in the future.

The Daily News scolded Hill and company for their lack of action stating that ”…because our county officials have betrayed the public's trust by stonewalling and hiding behind bureaucratic caveats, whatever investigation is conducted must be independent…”

Hill has yet to suggest any such independent investigation but, judging by a recent column in the San Mateo County Times, he is aware that his financial relationship and past support of Sheriff Munks may damage his candidacy in his current Assembly race and he is now hedging his bets.

Hill’s attack of Gina Papan is yet another attempt to divert attention away from his bungling of this scandal.

Speier and Eshoo Fire Shot Heard Round the County

Hill in the Line of Fire of Congressmembers

San Mateo County’s two members of Congress stunned political insiders last Friday by publicly calling for a full investigation of the incident last year in which San Mateo County Sheriff Greg Munks and Undersheriff Carlos Bolanos were detained in a Las Vegas brothel in a law enforcement sting.

Newly minted Congresswoman Jackie Speier, quoted in the Daily News expose, stated: "This cries out for a comprehensive external investigation, because the highest law enforcement officer in the county should not be under any suspicion of illegal activity at any time, ever.”

It has been a year since San Mateo County Sheriff Greg Munks and Undersheriff Carlos Bolanos were detained by law enforcement officials in a sweep of brothels in Las Vegas, Nevada under a two year investigation named “Operation Dollhouse”.

Both lawmen were in Las Vegas for a relay race for law enforcement agencies throughout the Western United States. At the time, Munks and company were the subject of a fierce media storm and weathered editorial calls for their resignations issued by, among many, the Daily Journal and the Half Moon Bay Review. But weather the storm they did, with the help of compliant political allies on the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors who did nothing in response. And that has been the modis operandi for a year. That is, until now.

On Friday, April 18, 2008, the San Mateo Daily News published a stunning expose and reexamination of the Sheriff’s visit to a house of ill-repute and subsequent silence on the issue. Of greatest significance in the expose is the new call for an investigation of Munks and Bolanos by the county’s two top political leaders, Congresswomen Jackie Speier and Anna Eshoo.

Speier’s electrifying comments have sparked a wave of renewed interest in the Munks case while simultaneously shining a bright light on the closed circle of political relationships that comprise the county’s leadership.

Members of the board of supervisors washed their hands of the incident by saying they hold no sway over the sheriff, an elected official. County prosecutors said it's not their business what the sheriff and Undersheriff did because Las Vegas is outside their jurisdiction. And County Manager John Maltbie restricted his investigation to whether county funds were spent on the trip -and they were.

Supervisor Jerry Hill has been a vociferous defender of Munks, stating in the Examiner Newspaper at the time that Munks “…has the highest integrity and I have the highest confidence in Sheriff Munks, and the Undersheriff as well,” said Hill, who considers Munks a social friend.

In the most recent article, in the face of Speier and Eshoo’s demand for an investigation Hill responded by stating: "Certainly, we can't control what someone does after hours — nor should we — and if it's not using county resources, that is fine.''

But the pressure for the county leaders to respond is mounting. The following day, Board President Adrienne Tissier announced in the Daily News that she would be speaking with both members of Congress and would be open to revisiting the brothel bust. Tissier stated: "Obviously, Congresswoman Eshoo and Congresswoman Speier believe there are still unanswered questions from a year ago, and there are. I will spend the weekend speaking with both of them to get a better understanding of their thoughts.”

For Hill, this event could not have at a worse time. Hill is now engaged in a pitched battle to replace Assemblyman Gene Mullin who is being termed out of office.

Hill’s defense of Munks has been linked in the local press to the tremendous financial support he has received from Munks and Munks’ family – the Sheriff's father-in-law Bill Lane owns Sunset Magazine and is a big political donor. Hill has received over $11,000 in direct donations from Munks’ family for his Assembly race and Munks held a political fundraiser for Hill on November 11, 2007 at his Portola Valley home just months after the brothel bust scandal.

According to the San Mateo County Times, the Vegas bust and the subsequent cover up championed by Hill may just cost him the election and benefit either Millbrae Mayor Gina Papan or Community College Trustee Richard Holober.

Assembly Debate Offers Glimpse of Candidates

The three candidates running to succeed terming out Assemblyman Gene Mullin participated in another of a series of forums to speak about their candidacies and answer questions posed by members of the community.

This most recent of candidate forums was sponsored by the Beresford-Hillsdale Neighborhood Association in San Mateo.

Several local newspapers covered the forum including the Daily News and the Daily Journal, providing some of the highlights.

The candidates largely articulates similar views during the forum but San Mateo County Supervisor Jerry Hill was on the defensive as both of his candidates pointed out some of Hill’s foibles.

San Mateo County Community College District Trustee Richard Holober backhanded Hill by stating that he (Holober) was not the candidate who had taken thousands of dollars from real estate developers, specifically Cargill Saltworks in Redwood City which is attempting to develop its property in Redwood City as it moves its processing operations to Mexico.

The comment, while damaging to Hill, also belies the fact that Holober’s wife Nadia Holober, a former Millbrae City Councilmember, is in fact a land use attorney who represents developers. According to her Web site, Nadia Holober “…practices land use and government law throughout San Mateo County, Santa Clara County and the San Francisco Bay Area. Her areas of expertise include entitlement and permit processing, environmental review under the California Environmental Quality Act ("CEQA") and local code compliance. A City Councilmember, former Mayor, and former San Mateo County Planning Commissioner and Chair herself, Ms. Holober possesses particular insight and skill in working with City and County governments in resolving issues and securing successful results for her clients' projects.” Although the family connection to the real estate development business was not made at the debate it is likely that Holober may pay a price for his rap on Hill. The pot can only call the kettle black for so long.

In turn, Millbrae Mayor Gina Papan slapped Hill over his role in the BART to SFO boondoggle, saying that the ailing project “set us back years” with money flowing out of the county, scarce revenue that could have been used for housing and other needs.

Hill snapped back at Papan In his closing remarks by suggesting that Papan “get her facts right.” Hill stated that he did not back the extension but instead signed the deal divorcing SamTrans from the BART district.

Hill should be careful of trying to rewrite history, however, as Hill served on the SamTrans board when the final deal with BART was consummated and when SamTrans agreed to give a $72 million interest-free loan to BART for the construction of the SFO extension in 1999. Following that vote, Hill was quoted as saying "This is the best deal in town. Where can you get $1.5 billion in benefits for $400 million [of SamTrans expense]?"

Three weeks later, SamTrans cut 15 percent of its bus service and struggled with service reductions ever since. In addition, the $72 million “loan” to BART ended up being a gift as part of the divorce Hill touted, in addition to the millions the BART to SFO extension cost to SamTrans otherwise. The extension, while slwly gaining ridership, has been an unqualified disaster.

But just as in the ongoing Democratic Presidential Primary Election, voters can expect some mudslinging.

Environmentalists Spar Over Assembly Candidate’s Green Credentials

Local environmentalists have been sparring in a war of words in the local press over the environmental credentials of San Mateo County Supervisor Jerry Hill.

What has sparked the war of words is a recent endorsement of the Sierra Club of two of the three candidates running in the 19th Assembly District Democratic Primary in the hopes of replacing termed-out Assemblyman Gene Mullin.

Just about two weeks ago the Sierra Club announced its dual endorsement of both Hill and San Mateo County Community College Trustee Richard Holober. Shortly after the endorsement was made public, however, several local environmental leaders of both yesterday and today responded by condemning the endorsement of Hill.

Redwood City activist Adrian Brandt touched off the debate by authoring an opinion piece that appeared in the San Mateo Daily News challenging Hill’s credentials and blasting Hill for his historic and contemporary ties to large real estate development interests.

Brandt states: “I was deeply troubled by this endorsement as Supervisor Hill is the preferred candidate of the real estate venture of Cargill and developers DMB Associates, which are trying to push a massive new development on the Redwood City baylands. Cargill and DMB have donated thousands of dollars to Supervisor Hill yet he somehow has hoodwinked the Sierra Club into believing that he is an environmentalist.”

Hill’s ties to the Cargill/DMB venture have put environmental groups at odds as several environmental organizations including the Friends of Redwood City, the Committee for Green Foothills and Save the Bay are pushing a ballot measure in Redwood City to stop the development on the Cargill site in the hopes of creating new parks and protected open space.

In fact, the Sierra Club is supporting the measure.

In his defense, veteran Sierra Club activist Irwin David authored a letter to the editor of the Daily News in Hill’s defense stating: “To date, Hill has been one of the strongest votes for the toughest air quality and global warming regulations [in his capacity as a member of the California Air Resources Board (CARB)] on the 10-person board.

But in the same edition of the Daily News, former Belmont Mayor and environmental activist Pam Rianda, lanced Hill for his role in decimating the 20-year old program governed by the CARB requiring big automakers to manufacture and sell thousands of electric, zero-emission vehicles in California in favor of auto-industry backed alternatives.

In her letter, Rianda stated: “Hill's vote to kill the electric car is yet another indicator of what he may do if he is successful in his current bid for state Assembly. Hill's cave-in to automakers should be cause for alarm for any voter who cares for the environment.”

It appears that Hill has made some enemies along the way during his tenure in local government.

Teachers Back Holober in 19th AD Race

San Mateo County Community College Trustee and candidate for the 19th Assembly District Richard Holober announced today that he has received the endorsement of the California Teachers Association (CTA).

The endorsement is one among many important endorsements for candidates running in the June 3, 2008 Democratic Primary. Holober has garnered both the CTA and its sister union in that of the California Federation of Teachers (CFT), meaning Holober now has an exclusive claim as the education candidate. It also means that the many teachers living within the 19th Assembly District may also cast their ballots for Holober.

The CTA endorsement is a particular victory for Holober as one of his rivals, San Mateo County Supervisor Jerry Hill, recently received the endorsement of Assemblyman Gene Mullin, the current officeholder, who is the Chair of the Assembly Committee on Education and a former teacher who has enjoyed a long relationship with CTA. Despite Mullin’s backing, however, Hill was bypassed by CTA.

In turn, Millbrae Mayor Gina Papan has also been unable to garner support from either unions but has been able to split support with Holober among the California School Employee Association (CSEA) which represents non-teachings staff in public schools.

As the 19th Assembly District race has unfolded the sands have been consistently shifting. Hill started the race early obtaining numerous local endorsements but has since been able to prevent his opponents from gaining ground. Beyond the endorsements, local political chatter is increasing regarding the candidacy of Gina Papan who more and more is being regarded as extremely competitive if not the front-runner in the race.

With less than 60 days to go until Election Day, local political watchers are looking for signs for any one of the candidates to break from the pack. A surprising circumstance for what was supposed to be a walk for Hill.