[Sosfbay-news] SaveBAREC No on Measures A and B campaign has started

[WSB3ATTYCA at aol.com]

SaveBAREC No on Measures A and  B Committee FPPC # 1302295 
PO  Box 1029, Santa Clara, CA 95052  _www.barec.org_ (http://www.barec.org/)  
 
Tuesday, November 27, 2007 
Contact:     Kirk Vartan   
888-227-3280 
_spokesperson at barec.org_ (mailto:spokesperson at barec.org)    

FOR IMMEDIATE  RELEASE 

SaveBAREC REFERENDA CAMPAIGN HAS  STARTED 

The  campaign to save 17 acres of open space in the City of Santa Clara 
started with  the filing of ballot arguments with the City Clerk’s office on behalf 
of  community members committed to fighting the uphill battle against 
entrenched  developer interests who want to assume the site for market rate  housing. 
As  part of the February 5, 2008 elections, City of Santa Clara voters will 
choose whether to  approve the City Council’s general plan and rezoning 
decisions to allow the  development or to reject those decisions. 
The  SaveBAREC team attends the Franklin Mall Farmers’ Market each Saturday 
morning  to recruit volunteers and distribute lawn signs.  Nearby, the 
pro-development office gives  free breakfasts to its volunteers inside a rented 
office. 
“We  know we are going to be outspent in this campaign,” says Kirk Vartan,  
spokesperson for the grassroots group. “We are here to fight for this  
community.  Together, we collected  enough signatures to take the Council’s decisions 
to the voters.  This shows strong support for our  positions.  We are going 
to get our  message out and will look to the voters to not be fooled by the 
money and  misinformation we expect to be coming from the developers who want to 
build on  this property.” 
The  former Bay Area Research and Extension Center (BAREC) site was owned by 
the  University of California before being released to the State of  
California,  which in turn, declared it surplus property.  The SaveBAREC campaign 
contends that the  property has regional open space and historical value and could 
better be used  as community gardens and as a pollution mitigation 
demonstration site.  While the issues are many, it is clear  the proposed development 
plan in front of the voters today is not the best use  for these last 17 acres of 
public open space. 
In  addition to the referenda, a CEQA action has been filed challenging the 
City of  Santa Clara Environmental Impact  Report for the housing development. 
For  additional details, visit the SaveBAREC No on Measures A and B Committee 
 website: 
_www.BAREC.org_ (http://www.barec.org/) . 
[Note:  The Green Party of Santa Clara County has  endorsed the  SaveBAREC 
campaign.]




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