Support for Susan Gonzales in EBRPD Board race
To the Editor:
I am writing to express my strong support for Susan Gonzales, who is running for the Board of Directors of the East Bay Regional Park District, Ward 4. This ward includes Crown Beach, Encinal Beach, MLK Jr. Regional Shoreline, Oyster Bay Regional Shoreline, Hayward Regional Shoreline, and Lake Chabot. These parks form a significant portion of the San Francisco Bay shoreline and directly impact Alameda, San Leandro, and Hayward.
We need a representative who listens to our concerns and considers the broader needs of the region. I believe Susan is that person. I worked with her at EBRPD, where I was an employee for 39 years, including 13 years as Park Supervisor of Crown Beach (1994-2008). Susan has dedicated 16 years to the Park District and has nearly 40 years of experience in public service. She has worked for San Leandro, South San Francisco, and had interim assignments for the City of Alameda, Contra Costa County, City of Oakland, and City of Half Moon Bay. She was appointed by Wilma Chan to the Alameda Commission on the Status of Women and was involved in the City of San Leandro Bike and Pedestrian Ad Hoc Advisory Committee, showing her commitment to community engagement and sustainable transportation.
Susan recognizes the need for action and is stepping up to make it happen. Her primary goals in seeking this office are to maintain and improve existing infrastructure, review funding, provide appropriate staffing levels as demand for parks increases, and address issues related to climate change while supporting regional planning. She is running a grassroots campaign, accepting no donations, and relying on volunteers who canvas neighborhoods and the local Farmers Market (look for me most Saturdays!).
It is time to be heard! Please join me in voting for Susan Gonzales for East Bay Regional Park District, Ward 4.
Thank you,
Anne Rockwell,
Alameda
In response to the “Who is Looking Out for Alameda?” mailer opposing Trish Herrera Spencer
To the Editor:
Recently, Alameda residents received a full-page mailer entitled, “Who Is Looking Out for Alameda?” from Coalition for Patient Access and Innovation Sponsored by California Life Science PAC (PAC). This PAC was formed specifically to oppose Councilmember Trish Herrera Spencer. It is funded by a $95,000 contribution from the California Apartment Association (CAA), a landlord organization that has consistently opposed any form of rent control in California, and $49,995 from Max Hodak, the principal officer of Science Corp., which sought a lease of an Alameda Point Building where they proposed to do animal research.
When a lease for a City-owned building at Alameda Point came before the City Council, Councilmember Herrera Spencer and Vice Mayor Tony Daysog courageously voted to keep the animal research company out of a City of Alameda-owned building.
The mailer is full of old grievances against Councilmember Herrera Spencer, which are exaggerations and misrepresentations. Don’t believe me—look up every one of the Council meetings footnoted in the flyer. You’ll see that the grievances have been taken out of context.
On the City of Alameda campaign reporting website, the PAC declares that its specific purpose is to oppose Trish Herrera Spencer in this race. So far, the PAC has raised $162,169.07, $95,000 of which was contributed by California Apartment Association Independent Expenditure Committee. Check the City of Alameda Docs eRetrieval for yourself.
The recent flyer states “She’s Looking Out for Herself,” while actually the reverse is true. It is California Life Sciences, Science Corp., John Hodak, and the California Apartment Association that are devoting $140,000 to try to prevent Councilmember Herrera Spencer from interfering with their financial interests by protecting tenants and animals. She voted against the lease on the City-owned building where the animal testing would have taken place. She voted never to have any animal testing in any City-owned building.
So it seems that the people behind the Coalition for Patient Access and Innovation PAC are the ones looking out for their own financial interests. They are willing to spend an exorbitant amount of money to defeat a Councilmember who has only worked for the benefit of Alameda. Trish Herrera Spencer is not campaigning with any political ambitions outside of Alameda. In her long service to the City, she has never accepted money from special interest groups. Check the records at the link above, and you’ll see her donations come only from people who live in the community.
The grudges on the flyer are the same old ones heard every time Trish Herrera Spencer runs for a political office in Alameda, and they’re without merit. Councilmember Herrera Spencer has done us a huge service by voting to keep animal testing off our island!
Dorothy Freeman,
Alameda
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