UPDATE: Outcome of the Feb 9th FORA Board Meeting - Please Take Action on the Eastside Parkway decision
Catherine Crockett
Ignoring a considerable amount of public input that overwhelmingly opposed adopting the proposed Eastside Parkway Goals and Objectives, the FORA Board voted 8 to 5 at the February 9th FORA Board Meeting to approve them. The board’s approval clears the way for the goals and objectives to be used in preparation of an Environmental Impact Report - a costly and lengthy process that will divert limited FORA funds away from projects that foster healthy development – development that is consistent with current rather than outdated economic and environmental factors.
LandWatch is requesting that the current FORA Board reject proposed goals and objectives for an Eastside Parkway. Sustainable Seaside supports that request. Our goal, and that of LandWatch, is to focus on identifying future regional transportation needs and improving existing roads on Fort Ord lands in order to address those needs. Therefore, LandWatch and Sustainable Seaside oppose building the wasteful Eastside Parkway through valuable oak woodlands.
Please email a “Thank You” to those who voted NO. Then send one to those who voted YES, asking them to change their vote at the March 9th FORA meeting. Click on each of the email links below to automatically generate a pre-populated letter that will be sent to the proper recipients. You may add, edit, or delete content to personalize it. In the closing, add your first name, last name and complete mailing address.
To these who Voted AGAINST the Eastside Parkway, send a "Thank You" email: https://tinyurl.com/thank-you-for-voting-NO
• Marina – Councilmember Gail Morton
• Marina – Councilmember Frank O'Connell
• Monterey – Councilmember Alan Haffa
• Monterey County – Supervisor Jane Parker
• Monterey County – Supervisor Mary Adams
To these who voted FOR the Eastside Parkway, send an email asking them change their vote at the March 9th FORA Meeting.
https://tinyurl.com/change-your-vote-March-9th
• Carmel – Mayor Steve Dallas
• Del Rey Oaks – Mayor Jerry Edelen
• Monterey County – Supervisor John Phillips
• Pacific Grove – Councilmember Cynthia Garfield
• Salinas – Mayor Joe Gunter
• Sand City – Mayor Mary Ann Carbone
• Seaside – Mayor Ralph Rubio
• Seaside - Councilmember Dennis Alexander
If you use Outlook, and the above link above does not create the email addresses properly:
=> use this Outlook-only link for “thank you” email https://tinyurl.com/outlook-thanks-for-voting-NO
=> use this Outlook-only link for “change your vote” email: https://tinyurl.com/outlook-change-your-vote-Mar-9
Also, please let Senator Monning, Senator Caballero, and Assemblymember Stone know it’s time to sunset FORA in 2020 – 26 years after it was established and 8 years longer than originally legislated to end. Clicking on the link above automatically pre-populates a letter that is sent to these legislators asking them to sunset FORA. You have the ability to add, edit and delete content within the email to personalize it. Be sure to add your first and last name and city of residence for the record. Additionally, the email is also shared with us at LandWatch.
These auto-links are provided courtesy of Michael DeLapa, Executive Director of LandWatch Monterey, a nonprofit that advocates for sound land use policies that better our community, its long-term economic vitality, high agricultural productivity, environmental health, and social equity. More info: http://www.landwatch.org/
Videotaping of the Feb 9th FORA Board meeting: https://tinyurl.com/FORA-Board-meeting-2-09-18.
position 0:56:05 – Discussion on Eastside Parkway Goals and Objectives starts
position 3:13:30 – Del Rey Oaks Mayor Edelen makes a motion to approve the goals and objectives “…as vague as they can possibly be.”
position 3:23:32 – Supervisor Parker makes a substitute motion, seconded by Marina Councilperson Morton, to take no action to adopt the goals and objectives at the meeting and instead, direct staff to return to the March 9th meeting with a discussion and possible action by the board to revise and reorder the CIP project list, prioritizing projects that have more immediate development requirements, taking into consideration the limited FORA money available.
Thanks for staying informed and engaged in this important issue.
Catherine Crockett