Home > Resource Center > In the News Home > Greenbelt Alliance in the News

Greenbelt Alliance In the News

August 2, 2005

Builder paying big for election

Campaign for Livermore Trails already has spent more than $1 million to sway public opinion

With more than three months left until voters decide Livermore Trails, the planned 2,450-home project north of Interstate 580 and west of Springtown, the main group supporting the project reported about $500,200 in monetary contributions from April 1 to June 30, for a total of $1,150,000. The latest campaign statements were filed Monday.

Citizens for Livermore Trails, which has received the bulk of its funding from project sponsor Pardee Homes, reported $20,045 in cash on hand and debts of $40,835.

The builder has far outspent its opposition. Friends of Livermore, the grassroots group that is the main opponent of the project, reported $18,760 in monetary donations for the latest filing period, for a total of $32,880. Most of the contributions were less than $100 from private individuals. Pardee representatives said the company's spending was necessary to counter "misinformation" being broadcast by the other side.

"Citizens for Livermore Trails is continuing to use all available tools to get facts and information out to the voters," said Carlene Matchniff, Pardee vice president of community development.

Project foes were suspicious of Pardee's motivations.

"If it were such a good project, why would they have to spend more than $1 million telling people about it?" asked David Reid, spokesman for Greenbelt Alliance, the Bay Area environmental group.

The alliance expects to enter the fray in support of Friends of Livermore but did not have any expenditures for the last filing period, Reid said. The group will probably reporting expenditures for the filing period that began July 1, he said.

Meanwhile, Citizens for Livermore Trails, the Pardee-backed group, reported that its largest expenditure was to was to Barnes, Mosher, Whitehurst, Lauter & Partners, a San Francisco-based consulting firm. The company was paid more than $250,000 to manage the direct mail campaign, which includes costs for mailing, postage, printing and graphic artist design.

During the reporting period, the firm prepared direct mail pieces that were sent to registered voters in Livermore, Pardee reported.

Other major expenditures during the reporting period included approximately $98,000 to Southwest Strategies of San Diego and more than $48,000 to Public Affairs Associates of San Francisco for consulting services. Fairbank, Maslin, Maullin & Associates of Santa Monica received $10,000 for voter research services. Pardee also reported buying advertisements at the Vine Cinema in Livermore.

Livermore Tomorrow, a group of Livermore residents supporting the project, listed monetary contributions of more than $900, mostly in $100 installments from various individuals.

While spending on Livermore Trails has passed the $1 million mark, it has yet to threaten the records set previously in Livermore.

Five years ago, supporters and opponents of a previous North Livermore housing measure raised about $3 million. Alameda County voters passed Measure D, which created an urban-growth boundary around Livermore, thwarting a city-county plan to develop 12,500 homes.

In that election in 2000, supporters of Measure D raised slightly more money than developers - $1.4 million compared to $1.3 million.

###