Friends,
While it is extremely likely that the fix is already in on the California
financing of this out-of-state developer's project, that will destroy Ron
Mandella Garden in its creation, it is very important that the people who show
up in
opposition find out:
1) When, if any time during the hearings neighborhood people are to be heard.
2) If people have to sign up in advance to get their time at the mike,
prepare copies for all of the members of the committee and the record keeper,
3) If the press usually covers these hearings or not. It is most likely that
the larger mainstream press doesn't, because this is business as usual.
However, it might be a good thing to prepare a professional press release on
the
hearing from the most mainstream of your umbrella organizing groups and get it
to your local electronic and print media outlets. Then, of course, notify the
Sacramento Bee, the Pacifica radio affiliate in your area, and plan to get as
many people as you can to the hearing.
4) This may sound cynical, but in media real-politik, it will be a good thing
to get seniors and mothers with children, hopefully those who can cry on the
drop of a hat, to the hearing and make sure that they have two or three one
sentence statements on hand that will make good sound bites
5) It will be extraorinarily helpful if those of you who can "clean up" and
own business attire, show up and express the views of the pro-garden coalition
in clear, budgetary and mainstream terms. The people on the committee tend to
listen best to people who look and sound like themselves - I don't like this,
but that's reality. Put as many of these arguments in budgetary terms, in
the light of the value that the volunteer work of the Ron Mandela Garden has
done over time and use the phrase - "using our tax dollars to support an
out-of-state developer who shows such disregard for years of valuable community
volunteer work."
6. If you have a politician who owes you or your coalition a favor in your
area (if, for example, you have done political work for them, or can deliver
votes to them) , it might be a very good thing to write up the main arguing
points for them, hand it to an aide, and persuade them to testify at the
meeting on
your behalf.
7. Fill the room, have signs, get "cleaned up" and/or professionally dressed
and make sure your representatives can speak at the hearing. It is very
important that your speakers understand the way CDLAC works and don't get
tripped
up in the process.
Best wishes, from a long time governmental testifier,
Adam Honigman
<< Subj: [cg] Urgent Garden update!!!
Date: 7/3/03 2:01:27 PM Eastern Daylight Time
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] (Maria Kochis)
Sender: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
CC: [EMAIL PROTECTED] ('Bill Maynard')
Hey folks,
Please distribute this to any list you have access to or people you think
might be interested. If we are successful at this I think it will stop CADA
and the developers dead in their tracks.
Evan
On July 9th CADA picked portland developer HGW will go before the California
Debt Limit Allocation Committee (CDLAC) to request tax-exempt bonds for the
Fremont Mews project. The current design of the Fremont Mews project calls
for the destruction of the Ron Mandella Community Garden and should not be
sudsidized. A wealthy out of state developer, who has not paid taxes in
California, will be building Fremont Mews. No more state subsidies should go
to companies that haven't payed into the system. If the tax-exempt bonds are
awarded to the Fremont Mews project the developers will exploit a loophole
in the law so they don't have to pay construction workers the prevailing
wage. Don't let CADA and the developers destroy the Mandella Garden, rip
off workers and rip off taxpayers. If the developers are prevented from
getting this bond financing it is highly unlikely that they will be able to
finance their project and destroy the garden.
We need as many people as possible to come out to the CDLAC hearing and
voice their opposition to tax-exempt bonds being awarded to the Fremont Mews
project. The hearing is Wednesday July 9th at 1:00 pm in the auditorium of
the Secretary of State building at 1500 11th Street.
Write CDLAC and let them know you oppose tax-exempt bonds being awarded to
Fremont Mews.
California Debt Limit Allocation Committee
Laurie Weir, Executive Director
915 Capitol Mall Room 311
Sacramento, CA 95814
For more info about the Mandella Garden visit www.savethegarden.org >>
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