Facts >> We the People

We are the people who have had to endure hundreds of wasted hours in traffic. We are the people who have to repair our cars when they hit one of Fremont’s famous potholes created by underfunded roads. We are the people who watch our children’s classes expand every year from underfunded schools. We are the people who have to suffer if our children are not responded on time in an emergency situation due to undermanned fire and police services. 

We are the people...

All of these problems are prevalent here in Fremont and are, in part, attributable to city officials allowing large developments to be cemented in place without making the developers adequately fund all requirements to support these developments into the future. And this trend is continuing...

The one question that voters should ask themselves this election: Are the candidates listening to “we the people” or to those who donate large sums of money?

If you look at the financial records of current council members and those currently running for office, many have taken money, lots of money, from either developers or the families who want to develop in Fremont. 

Take the development planned for the Patterson Ranch. From 2004-2006, these five council members—Bob Wasserman, Steve Cho, Bob Wieckowski, Bill Harrison, and Anu Natarajan--have received $53,250 from developers (including the Patterson family and their developer, Richard Frisbie), $27,750 from real estate agents, and $12,500 from home improvement companies. In 2008, the maximum individual campaign contribution was raised to $500. So far in 2008, incumbent Bob Wieckowski, running for city council, has received $9,100 from the Patterson family, 22% his 2008 campaign contributions This information is available at City Hall—ask to see candidates’ Form 460s.

Candidate Gus Morrison has made over $200,000 in fees directly from the developer of the Patterson Ranch.  None of these Patterson family members live anywhere near Fremont nor have to endure any of the impact that we have to. Their addresses include Atherton, Woodside, Palo Alto, and Portola Valley.

We need strong, objective leadership for such proposals—the impacts on us are just too great. Housing developments are a quick fix—they give Fremont money up front. But over time, Fremont will lose money on these developments—long after the developers have driven back to the Peninsula.

The Patterson Ranch proposed development is simply too large. It will create over 10,000 car trips a day, create additional stress on our already overcrowded schools and essential services, and puts development and parking lots directly in front of Coyote Hills Regional Park.

There is only one candidate – Vinnie Bacon – who is shining a light on this conflict of interest and has said that he will not receive donations from developers. He is not only concerned with the impact of developing in front of this very special park. He is also concerned with the development’s huge impact on our children, our traffic, our police and fire services, and our quality of life.

He has our vote this November.

But we also need to go further: we need to insist, if these council people are going to accept money from developers and those who benefit from development, that they should excuse themselves from voting on crucial issues such as the Patterson Ranch.

Fremont residents’ opinions about the city posted on discussion forum.