Influence of Developers and Special Interests-SUNNYVALE City Council Election 2018-WHO TO VOTE FOR?

Courtesy Holly Lofgren

SUNNYVALE CITY COUNCIL

There is no doubt, Sunnyvale has been tremendously influenced by developers and special interests. It is VERY IMPORTANT to elect grassroots candidates who will listen and work for residents. All three recommended candidates have been long time residents of Sunnyvale and have extensive experience serving in different capacities and are supported by individuals who overwhelmingly live in Sunnyvale.

For information regarding campaign spending, please see these informative links:
Part 4 Follow The Money (10/30/18)

http://www.sunnyvalepubliclandsact.com

1. Video: Part 4: Follow The Money video plus Eric Krock’s related comments (duration: 5 min 30 sec)
2. Presentation: Part 4 – Follow The Money slides (PDF)
3. Funding Summary: 2018 Council Election Funding summary sheet (PDF)  (PNG)
4. Score Card: 2018 Council Candidate Score Card (PDF)  (PNG)

For information regarding the candidates qualifications, positions and activities, please see these websites of the Sunnyvale City Council Candidates I endorse:

• Seat 1: Henry Alexander III: https://henryforsunnyvale.com/
• Seat 2: Josh Grossman: https://www.josh4council.com/
• Seat 3: John Cordes: http://www.john4sunnyvale.org/

Additionally, the Sunnyvale Sun published an Op Ed from both myself and Andy Frazer outlining why candidate Mason Fong is unsuitable for this public office, dated October 26, 2018.

Opinion Letters to the Mercury News_Mason Fong sent out campaign fliers with false endorsements

 

Holly Lofgren
Sunnyvale resident

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What VOTERS should know about Campaign Funded Candidates in Sunnyvale

Why would Corporations and Developers, who live outside of outside of the City of  Sunnyvale, fund certain Candidates for the City Council Election 2018? Why so much Campaign Funding? Do large contributions make for a better Candidate?

This does not mean that the highest funded candidates are the best choices . . . the generous campaign donors ultimately desire a City Council and Members who will vote favorably to approve their developments and projects. This is not always in the interest in the quality of living for Sunnyvale Residents.

2018 City of Sunnyvale Council Candidate and Election Funding Sources

2018 City of Sunnyvale City Council Election Candidate Council Scorecard

Overwhelming Funding is NOT EQUAL to a BETTER CANDIDATE. Talk with the Candidates, visit their websites and remember you are the one who elects the Sunnyvale City Council.

Remember to VOTE ON Nov. 6th !!

SEAT 2 VOTE JOSH GROSSMAN for Sunnyvale City Council

PLEASE make your voice heard and VOTE for JOSH GROSSMAN on Nov. 6th.

Josh Grossman is a Technology Executive and Attorney looking for Innovative solutions for tough problems such as Sunnyvale traffic, balanced growth, reducing Airplane noise, and protecting mobile home parks. Most importantly, Josh has not accepted donations from Political Action Committee PACs or Developers. Why is this important? PACs are political committees organized for the purpose of raising and spending money to elect and defeat candidates. Most PACs represent business, labor or ideological interests. Josh promises to make independent decisions on behalf of, and for Sunnyvale Residents.

VISIT:  https://www.josh4council.com/

SEAT 1 VOTE Henry Alexander III for Sunnyvale City Council

VOTE for Henry Alexander III, SEAT 1, Sunnyvale City Council on November 6, 2018! Raynor Park Resident and Advocate, Henry has not accepted donations from Political Action Committee PACs or Developers. Why is this important? PACs are political committees organized for the purpose of raising and spending money to elect and defeat candidates. Most PACs represent business, labor or ideological interests. Henry promises to make independent decisions on behalf of, and for Sunnyvale Residents.

See why so many Sunnyvale Residents are saying “I’m with Henry!”

Henry has raised his family in Sunnyvale and cares about your quality of living. Henry’s contemplative, informed approach, based upon his foundation of experience makes him the BEST CHOICE for SEAT 1 City of Sunnyvale Council. Furthermore, he has not accepted donations from Political Action Committee PACs or Developers, which will allow him to continue making independent, wise choices for Sunnyvale issues at hand and coming soon.

VOTE Henry Alexander III for Sunnyvale City Council SEAT 1 Nov. 6th !!

ADVOCATING for Sunnyvale, VOTE for Henry Alexander III, SEAT 1, Sunnyvale City Council on November 6, 2018!

Watch Henry’s presentation provided to the Sunnyvale City Council to see how he researches, explores, reviews, and then carefully delivers a beneficial solution. This is the type of Candidate who is well-suited to being an excellent Council Member.

FOR MORE INFO About Henry Alexander III

VISIT:

https://henryforsunnyvale.com/about-me/

https://henryforsunnyvale.com/blog/

Henry’s Qualifications

• Three-time former Chair Sunnyvale Parks & Recreation Commission, Commissioner since 2012
• Two-time President of the Ray-Nor Park Neighborhood Association 2012-2014, 2016-2018
• Worked at major tech companies such as Facebook, Google, Western Digital, and Seagate which gives me a current view of today’s technology and “Move Fast” culture.
• Adjunct professor at Cogswell College in both the Business Arts and English/Humanities degree programs.
• Has taken the role of spokesperson and leader in the neighborhood he lives in and surrounding communities in Sunnyvale. He has helped plan several outreach events to help strengthen the bonds within the community and to promote connection.
• Henry has emerged as the City’s point of contact to communicate with the community at large. He has hosted extremely well-attended forums which have included Mayor Glenn Hendricks, Sunnyvale DPS, and City Traffic staff.
• Led initiatives such as “Save Raynor Park” as well as “Adopt a Park” which mobilized over 1,000 residents in less than about a week to obtain petition signatures to save open space.
• Served as the mentor for numerous high school students as leader of the Generation Xample music program.

Make your VOICE Heard and Vote for HENRY on Nov. 6th !!

REMINDER_COUNCIL MEETING TONIGHT and SIGN Butcher’s Corner PETITION

Dear Sunnyvale Residents, this is a reminder that the City of Sunnyvale Council Final Hearing for Butcher’s Corner is tonight, Dec. 13, 2016 at 7:00pm. You are encouraged to attend and speak. Be sure to get your “Don’t Butcher the Corner” sticker as you enter.

• Date: Tuesday, December 13th, City Council hearing – Final EIR and project plan for Butcher’s Corner
• Where: Council Chambers, 456 W Olive Ave between S Mathilda and S. Pastoria Ave.
• When: 7 PM, 5th item on agenda
• Parking: Lot at City Hall (across from library) OR on street OR in lot at corner of Mathilda and Olive

Please SIGN the PETITION here: SUNNYVALE BUTCHER’S CORNER PETITION

The proposed Butcher’s Corner Project includes 99 apartments (6 and 7 story) as well as 39 3-story townhomes, significant and unavoidable traffic impacts at Kingfisher and Fremont, and includes deviations for EL Camino bldg front set-back, Fremont Ave front set-back, and reduced distance between buildings.

The Sunnyvale Planning Commission recommends a new traffic study, the Heritage Preservation Commission recommends that 6 trees be named Heritage Resources, the Stocklmeir school is grossly overcrowded and many, many people object to this project for a host of other reasons.

Topics to speak on – the inadequacy of EIR, or the many issues relating to the project as a whole.  There will be only one hearing and one opportunity to speak. Speakers have 3 minutes. Visual aids are allowed, such as PowerPoint or PDF files. We are expecting the developer to bring lobbyists and high density development enthusiasts, so it is very important that the residents stand up for their community and reasonable development.

Butcher’s Corner HEARINGS Message from Holly Lofgren

Courtesy Holly Lofgren

Neighbors,

The hearings for Butcher’s Corner are now scheduled!  Helpful links are below. Please plan to attend these pivotal meetings!

• November 28, 2016 (Planning Commission recommendation) 7:00PM, Council Chambers
• December 13, 2016 (City Council final decision)  7:00PM, Council Chambers

The EIR is found HERE

You may also wish to email the City Council at: council@sunnyvale.ca.gov or contact currently elected representatives to let them know how you feel about this proposed project.  The candidate promises made in regards to Butcher’s Corner are here:

• 2013 election: CLICK HERE 
• 2016 election: CLICK HERE 

Please pass this notice on to all your neighborhood associations, nextdoor groups and other groups.  Getting the word out is essential to our neighbors knowing about the hearings so that they are able to attend and participate. Please send it out today!

Thank you!
Holly

Message from Councilmember-elect Michael Goldman BUTCHER’S CORNER

Courtesy Sunnyvale Councilmember-elect Michael Goldman

There is a huge development planned for “Butcher’s Corner” (see Blog for “now” vs “planned” photos) – the piece of land at the corner of Wolfe, El Camino, and Fremont. That is already the 2nd worst intersection in Sunnyvale (after 101 & 237) and this will make it just a nightmare.

Butcher’s Corner Wolfe and El Camino After Development

PLEASE write the Sunnyvale city council at council@sunnyvale.ca.gov to tell them the plans should *not* be approved – at the very least ask them to wait until the new City Council takes office in January. The city council has seen how close measure M came to passing, and how every incumbent lost. They will be responsive if they get enough emails indicating their own re-election might be in danger if they approve it.

CLICK HERE for my blog post for more details.

Sunnyvale should buy it from De Anza Properties for a park. There is $18M unspent in the park dedication fund and Vidovich only spent $14M to buy it.

They are trying to get this through in the last minute while everyone is pre-occupied with holiday events by combining the final EIR report AND final plan approval (which I have never seen done) on the same Dec. 13 session – the last council session before the new council takes over.

Thanks,
Michael Goldman
Sunnyvale City Councilmember-elect for Seat 7

“Butcher’s Corner” Hearings Nov. 28 and Dec. 13, 2016

City of Sunnyvale
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

The purpose of the Butcher’s Corner Final EIR is to provide written responses to comments received on the Draft EIR. An electronic copy of the Final EIR, appendices and revised project plans are available on the project webpage at ButchersCorner.InSunnyvale.com. Hard copies of the Final EIR also available for review at City Hall, the Sunnyvale Public Library and the Sunnyvale Community Center.

Upcoming public hearings to consider the certification of the Final EIR and the development application are scheduled for November 28, 2016 (Planning Commission recommendation) and December 13, 2016 (City Council final decision). Notices for the hearings will be sent out early next week (at least 10 days before the hearing date).

• November 28, 2016 at 7:00 p.m. – Planning Commission (recommendation to City Council on the EIR and project)
• December 7, 2016 at 7:00 p.m. – Heritage Preservation Commission (recommendation to City Council on the heritage tree study)
• December 13, 2016 at 7:00 p.m. – City Council (final decision on the EIR, project and heritage tree study)

CLICK HERE for INFO Butcher Corner Heritage Preservation Commission Hearing and City Council Hearing

CLICK HERE for INFO Butcher Corner Special Planning Commission Hearing and City Council HearinG

CLICK HERE for the BUTCHER’S CORNER Final EIR

Advice from Councilmember Pat Meyering regarding YES on Measure M Sunnyvale

Courtesy Sunnyvale Councilmember Pat Meyering

Voters in Sunnyvale were sent a Sample Ballot & Voter Information Pamphlet by the County Registrar.

On Page 44, there is a half-page Impartial Analysis of Measure M.  It says the Proposed Changes of Measure M affect “Leases in excess of 55 years . . .”

None of the leases at the Sunnyvale Office Center have a duration of more than a few years.

Jim Griffith voted several times over public opposition to sell a portion of Raynor Park.   Jim voted over public opposition to allow the new owner to exclude Sunnyvale residents from use of the remaining “public park” space when the new owner wanted to conduct activities on the “public” park land.

Measure M, the Public Land for Public Use Act, requires such city council decisions to be approved by a simple majority of voters.   Santa Clara + Milpitas are seeking approval by two-thirds of voters.