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| Victor Spano has expertise in economic development. He is smart, reasonable, energetic, and personable. |
NO Eric Ruchames
"Eric not only supported the sneaky failed tax on our phones last year, He was a leader in fighting for it's passage. Eric signed the ballot argument in favor of the phone tax, donated $250 of his own money, and as President of the Police Union gave $1500 more. It's understandable why all the city employee labor unions are supporting him now.
NO John Keener
John's admits his only reason for running is to stop the needed safety fix of highway one. Why? He says he doesn't think it will work. Even though all the experts say we need this widening and it will greatly improve traffic & safety, Keener knows better than all of them. He has no experience and has done nothing civically for Pacifica. No volunteering, no committees, no campaigning, not even a letter to the editor.
YES On Victor Spano
I saw Victor work harder than anyone to defeat the phone tax and save you money. Thanks in part to Victor the tax failed by more than 60%. But more importantly Victor has the experience we need to get out of our economic crisis. As Pacifica Economic Development Committee Chair Victor worked on the Economic Development Strategy. Victor worked on many of the projects you see along Junipero Serra, like In N Out Burger, Hampton Inn and many restaurants. Victor wants to bring responsible, environmentally sensitive "smart growth" to Pacifica so we can finally Fix Pacifica."
| YES, Victor Spano is the right guy for city council. |
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Reference - City Council Candidate Victor Spano, 2014 website. Facebook. Linked in.
Resume from Victor Spano's Linked In summary: "Community Activities in the Scenic Coastal / Hillside City of Pacifica, near San Francisco: President - Elect of Pacifica Rotary Club; Pacific Coast Fogfest Board Member, Contests and Sponsorships; Member Pacifica Chamber of Commerce; Former chair of Pacifica Economic Development Committee and currently a candidate for Pacifica City Council. Please visit my campaign website: victorspano.com and learn about City of Pacifica at cityofpacifica.org. Endorsed by the San Mateo County Association of Realtors (SAMCAR).
University of Southern California, School of Urban and Regional Planning / Public Administration. Real Estate / Economic Development: Hands on: Retail, Office, Hotel, Multi-Family, Single Family and Mixed Use, entire development cycle from acquisition to occupancy. 20 years experience in local government. Open to new opportunities."
Note photograph of Victor Spano from Pacifica Patch. Graphic voting check mark from Smoke free Wisconsin, 9/3/10, "Find out which candidates share your values." This article is also scheduled to appear in the Pacifica Tribune letters to the editor, 10/2/14.
Posted by Kathy Meeh
96 comments:
I can't support Spano.
According to his campaign materials, he wants to sell city property to "pay for city services."
Selling the Beach Blvd spot to pay for employee salaries? NO thank you!
9:52 is Bray annon
Sometimes you have to tear down the house and start over.
Pacifica is on the verge of bankruptcy!
952 You've repeated that several times and it's still not true. City services is not payroll. They are services to you, and seniors and kids etc. Pool hours, library hours, help the Resource Center more, Park & Beach programs, etc. All have been cut.
Victor has put his sweat, blood and money where his mouth is to fight the cities effort to increase taxes to pay salaries. No other candidate did as much as he did.
Another great idea Victor has is to reform the appeal process with the seer tax. Right now it's impossible to get your fees re-evaluated.
952, and in the spirit of full disclosure, who are you supporting?
Victor Spano's background is in economic development, so there's a plan behind "selling" property. But selling city property for economic development is not a one-time cash benefit. What is developed creates resident and possibly tourist services, jobs and an ongoing stream of city revenue. City revenue pays for services within the city, such as roads, civic improvements, NGO's that we value, and city employee wages (we also value city employees).
Additionally I'll be voting for Mike O'Neill and Therese Dyer, who support economic development. But if elected, hopefully they will all do more than support economic development. Hopefully they will actively work to affect needed economic development in this city. I think they will.
Kathy
You are trying to make sense to the people who make no sense.
Oh, I forgot that robots provide all our city services.
And here I thought PEOPLE staffed all the positions and that employee salaries was the number one biggest line item for cost of city services.
I guess it's all those copy machines and staplers that are costing us a bundle, eh?
City services and city payroll go hand in hand. Anyone who tries to separate the two is telling you what you want to hear, ie, running for office or peddling someone who is. Your city services aren't delivered by UPS, they're delivered and managed by city workers who are paid for by money in the city treasury. And as we know all too well, that money is inter-mingled regardless of source. And then, it's gone.
I think Spano will put Pacifica in a fix - that it can't get out of. I can't support Spano.
Wow, the NIMBY's are over here in force. I thought you had orders not to come to this evil hateful blog?
I don't blame Kathy or Steve if they spam some of your untrue mean statements, especially when you don't put your names on them. Talking to you.
Spano made it clear in the SAMCAR forum he was asked to run by local developers and he intends to be the voice of developers. In other words, he would represent an interest group as opposed to the electorate or citizens as a whole. This is old school politics of the worst kind that has no place in today's democratic society.
Defeating Spano and his ilk over rides the temporary issues facing Pacifica. Those who read this blog and are not agenda driven will give this due consideration.
Saying that city services are delivered by people is a NIMBY thing? Keep calling anything that says something you don't like as NIMBY. You dig your hole deeper each time.
I don't think Spano can do a damn thing about city-owned property. He's just one vote. His ability to push for anything specific would be legally very limited on council. Beyond that, his endorsement by SAMCAR could indicate a weakness for housing which compared to hotels produces an extremely low return. Do the math and it's obvious hotels need to go on those city properties. It isn't going to happen, probably absolutely nothing will happen, but 2 or 3 new hotels could give us a slim chance for survival as a functioning city.
1215, its clear enough to me that that little dust-up on the Vreeland died article (later championed by Ian Butler) was about paving the way for your kind of twisted, ridiculous, goofy anonymous political comments. Ditto the 1234, 1118, 952 comments.
This city is long overdue for progress, held back for decades by the NIMBIES of this city, and their appeasers. The city cannot afford more purposed and default mistakes caused by NIMBIES who don't even care if we have a city. We must move on without NIMBIES to fix, heal, and improve this city. Vote for Victor Spano, Mike O'Neill, and Therese Dyer!
And NIMBIES, every time you post twisted comments you'll be hearing from me or other fixers with similar sentiments. Want more consensus, try Riptide. Of course John will clean-up your comments, but Rip will love you there.
Spano wants to build new firehouses, but we're going to be $3 million in the red next year. Where will this money magically appear from?
Spano's plan must be to sell city land like beach blvd to pay for new firehouses.
Why is this a priority?
HOW IS THIS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT?!
That's ridiculous 12:15 that Victor was asked to run by developers. Which developers would that be?
If you're going to make an accusation at least put your name on it.
You guys seem desperate all of a sudden. What did you have a meeting and conclude Greener is behind?
Double down! Spano loses and Fix Pacifica dies. How could either go on alone?
Eulogies for Fix will be censored and higher standards of decency applied.
149, after an 8.0 earthquake those new firehouses will save your ass and this town. The old ones could fail. That's how it's a priority, genius.
As far as paying there are grants available to pay 100% of the cost.
Hey Hutch, ask Victor. He's the one who made the statement in the forum. He didn't tell you?
One month to go and all I've seen from Keener was a really lame mailer saying he's against the highway. Sure hope he didn't spend too much money on that because it makes it for sure I won't vote for him. Oh and the Sierra Club endorsement was icing on the cake. How did that work for Campbell?
ya can I see a list of developers. If anyone in Pacifica calls themselves a developer they don't know what the word means.
Ahhh yes fire houses. Let's build new firehouses. Everybody loves firemen. What's a campaign without them? Has Spano embraced dogs? Dogs are big in Pacifica. How about a plover? Oh wrong constituency. Pardon me.
If an 8.0 quake hits here, it'll be every man for himself. You can forget the firemen getting to you. It'll be you, your family and neighbors that save your ass.
I hope the gang of no has 2 weeks food stocked up at home. You know if the so called (princess crews) can not come help them in a big El Nino winter or a big earthquake.
228 Grants, grants and more grants. Remember when one of the criticisms on here of the "old council" was their reliance on grants? I do. Grants for trails, firehouses, whatever your heart desires. How about a grant for an economic development director? Council can retire if they nail that one. BTW, not to say you don't know what of you speak, but if 100% grants for firehouses are available, why do cities always go to the public to fund them?
206 I think it's hilarious that you believe your feeble attempts would result in either this sites destruction or Spano losing.
This is an extremely popular site. That's why all you Riptide Urchins love hanging out here. Go ahead, maybe you can take Facebook down too.
248 What's a Sierra Club endorsement worth? I dunno and neither do you, but Campbell and Spano finished about 30 votes apart. Neither one had strong resumes and no history of elected ifficem but probably about the same name recognition. Big Mike stomped them both by more than 1300 votes.
Please tell us where to find more info about the grants that will pay 100% of the cost of firehouses. Does the City Council know about this?
the Riptide crew is getting really desperate. This is hysterical.
Yeah, no fire support isn't critical after a major earthquake. Sure neighbors can amputate and extract and suppress fires. No promblemo.
@248 Keener? That ole nimby magic can't be ruled out. You need to be sure. Just embrace him on here and he's toast.
Yes, I as a loyal Fix Pacifica contributor would like to endorse John Keener and Eric Ruchames. Thank you for your support.
If these grants for firestations just fall from the skies like manna from heaven, then why don't we have new firestations already?
BECAUSE THE GRANTS DON'T EXIST!!!
Stop the fear FixPacifica. Our city continues in similar position to other cities that have had difficult times. We do however have a new city manager who has immediately addressed key issues, and will continue to find solutions.
The city put to a vote of citizens the idea of a tax to support city services -- there was nothing sneaky about it.
It's great to have ideas, but if there isn't revenue to support any of it (new fire station, two libraries, etc.) then it's just talk. That's what I see so far from the "Fix Pacifica" campaign, just talk, nonspecific development ideas trying to turn Pacifica into any other cookie cutter town, nothing of substance.
320 After the 8.0 mentioned by 228 (you?), you better hope people can fend for themselves. The load on emergency services will make battlefield triage look easy. It will be every man for himself until services are restored. Spano is appealing to people's fears with ignorant, sensational campaign rhetoric.
Really anon 408, well this site was critical in bringing down your sneaky tax, so it's a lot more than talk. Were you part of the campaign? Afraid to use your name?
Oh why was it sneaky you ask? Hmmm, how about not calling it a tax for one? In fact hiding it was a tax increase and how much it would cost. Modernization, that was the term. Going along with a rigged phone poll that had loaded questions? Using tax payer money to try and fool us? Lying about where the money would really go? How about keeping it a secret for months? Want more?
Our previous city manager didn't know about stimulus money and shovel ready projects and Obama bucks being handed out.
Me a Terra Nova grad had to bring this to his attention.
Real story, I was blown away!!
4:08 I think 60% of voters disagree with you.
This is what worries me. Present council an people like Eric Ruchames who led the yes on v campaign see nothing wrong with what they did. In fact they would do it again so they learned no lessons.
335, 408 Hallelujah! Posts from apparently two people whose IQs are higher than their chronological age. Please, if you haven't done so already, reproduce.
Really, Hutch 443. You think the voters needed Fix Pacifica to figure out what Measure V was? Pacificans remember all too well the fire parcel tax. Local government will not regain the voter's trust until that generation of voters is gone. V was headed for defeat before it became the banner for you and the CofC and anybody else ready to pile aboard for a victory lap. You certainly may not have known it, but I guarantee you the CofC did. Waited and watched and then with a burst of public service they leapt aboard. Inspiring.
Pacifica has 99 problems and a ****** isn't one
Jay Z can you ask Queen Bey if you can put that in an add in the Trib and spell out the missing word? I'm 99% sure I don't know what it was.
6:13
Why don't you!
^^^ 839 last paragraph, that is 1% industrial, rather than retail. Should read, "A city with 52%+ open space, 4% retail, 1% industrial, what's that?"
HERE'S where Victor says he wants to sell Pacifica's properties just to pay off our deficit. No development. No investement. Nada. Ayup... sell those properties and have zero to show for it. Great idea!
NO THANK YOU!!!
If the city doesn't have any use for the properties, it makes sense to sell them.
(Aw, friggin' A's.)
934, when you sell a property to a developer, what do you expect to happen? Clue, development. And with development comes city revenue. One component of that one block long project (or more) was planned by city concept as multi-unit housing.
What Victor Spano was talking about is the dragging-on attempt by the city to entitle the property (through various studies, and regulatory agencies). Another issue, at one time there was a discussion about the Beach Blvd property becoming a private-public partnership to generate steady revenue for the city. I think that idea was dropped, because of the usual: no money to do the project. However, there have been at least two environmental studies in the area of the existing City Council Chambers, and city conversations with the Coastal Commission. I'm pretty sure Victor Spano's view of all this foot-dragging is let's get on with it. Remember his 2012 campaign slogan was "Let's go Pacifica."
Who you vote for is your business. But if you want this city to move forward with economic development, Victor Spano is your guy.
9:34...it seems to me if the city sold off the properties, it would immediately get property taxes. As public properties Pacifica gets none. A buyer would put on the lands "highest and best use" under the current zoning / general plan designations, and that could be anything from homes to hotels...it would further add property taxes, and possibly sales and hotel taxes, should those uses work for the buyer. I think that Spano presumes that you, the viewer/listener would realize as much, and connecting the dots, gets one to "Economic Development" and "Investment". You are immune to his presumptions, and/or just a dumbass throwing pot-shots. I say this from the vantage point of being an MBA working in high tech / start-ups / angel capital. Last week I got a glossy card on my doorstep from Spano, that said he was advocating "New Hotel Rooms, Bed and Breakfasts, and Restaurants to Create New Revenues for Pacifica, that we can all enjoy." So I guess the poster @ 1:07 got that idea to do new hotel rooms from Spano. I'm voting for him.
1015 It's an old idea, but the revenue to the city for hotels dwarfs any other kind of development, housing for example. Put up 100 condos @ $800K each and you have an impressive assessed value of $80,000,000, but Pacifica's share of property taxes is an unimpressive $130K/yearly, less the cost of city services, of course. Put up a 3 star hotel of 150 rooms, 70% occupancy, and the city receives a million dollars a year in TOT, plus permanent jobs, visitor interest, and minimal use of city services. SAMCAR would prefer the condos and the commissions and my concern with Spano would be that despite his "glossy cards" their endorsement of him has strings.
1209, following solicited written questionnaire and forum interviews, rather than an endorsement from SAMCAR, you'd prefer Victor Spano's endorsement came from the the Sierra Club, or possibly SM County Labor Council? According to your reasoning any of these organizations would have "strings" (which rather may fit into the category of predisposition).
So ask yourself, which or these endorsements would you prefer, or no endorsements? And if no endorsements, why: independent, or not good enough? Read the article reference for Victor Spano's background, expertise and employment history. Surprise, its urban and regional planning, economic development, real estate, 20 years experience in local government.
Victor Spano is no NIMBY. And guess he's not that attached to labor either. And you, Libertarian?
Go Pirates
9:34 THATS ALL YOU GOT? So Victor never said (as you stated) that he wants to sell city land to pay for SERVICES? Did he?
What a loser.
But thanks for that clip showing Victor actually has good ideas. Can he implement them all? Probably not. But at least he has them unlike Keener and Ruchames.
I agree if Kathy & Steve want to delete false accusation if the accuser toesn't put their name to it.
Eric Ruchames and Mike O'Neill were also endorsed by SAMCAR. Mike O'Neill is a realtor as well, and was endorsed by SAMCAR in 2012, along with Mary Ann Nihart and Karen Ervin. During the past two years, I have not seen them beholden to the realtors on any issue. The realtors have wanted to jettison point of sale issues, but have gotten nowhere with Pacifica's council. Thus, Your "strings attached" remark regarding SAMCAR endorsement is ridiculous.
"So Victor never said (as you stated) that he wants to sell city land to pay for SERVICES? Did he?"
LOL @ 7:21
That's EXACTLY what Victor Spano says in his campaign literature. Try reading it sometime before your next freak out.
You should probably check with your candidate and nail down exactly what he wants to do with those properties -- it sounds like he hasn't given it much thought if his story has changed this much already. Maybe he'll have a new plan for the next forum?
Mr. Hutchie: Spano helped defeat Measure V you say? that works for me. Measure V was an Utter Failure!
730 SAMCAR is always looking for elected friends and endorses just about anyone who isn't a blatant hippie. During the recession, their endorsements were purely symbolic and very optimistic. Times have changed, Building starts are up. SAMCAR has found a true friend in Victor Spano. Developers, too, according to Mr. Spano. I don't want to see these prime city-owned parcels wasted on low-return housing. We need hotel TOT from them not the pittance of property tax we'd get from housing. His "glossy cards" aside, I don't think Spano would disappoint his friends and hold out for hotels. I won't vote for him, but I do hope he continues as a realtor to bring potential development to Pacifica. That's the role he's cut out for. Better for everyone.
The realtors control San Bruno and South San Francisco. The Pacifica realtors are a weak bunch.
909AM Thanks. Every time you use your "Utter Failure" line, I see cows.
Really Bored on Brighton? Really? An MBA/tech start ups/angel capital vantage point? Bet they could of used you on the old Financing City Services Task Force.
Bored on Brighton,
Well, didn't know you had an MBA. That changes EVERYTHING!
Throwing a couple bucks towards someone's Kickstarter project doesn't make you a Sand Hill Road PE captain of industry. Next you'll be name dropping your connections to Greylock or Khosla. thanks for the laffs.
906, 1159, just how confused are you? Addressing your comment issues:
1) 906. Sell some city properties for development--> cash + development = cash flow for the city.
2) 1159. Pacifica Hotel Tax is 12%, see Measure R, 11/2/10. The SAMCAR Forum 9/23/14 question was about ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, not about Affordable Housing.
906, 1159, these issues when presented in their proper context, not twisted with NIMBY lies, are quite easily understood. Also see Smart Voter., and the Victor Spano website.
Kathy
It is an 80 degree + Pacifica day. Go out and enjoy the nice weather.
Fighting with the trolls and Bray troll is a waste of time
Mad hops Kathy, mad hops. Don't know a thing about 906 but 1159 makes the case for hotels on the city-owned parcels being much more lucrative than housing and questions whether Spano who seems perfectly aligned with SAMCAR and developers (to a much greater degree than any one now on council) would choose hotels over housing on those parcels. Building slump is finally over and the question of what is the best use for city-owned property will come up. That's all. Not sure what tangent you were on, but do the math. Some one did it on here this week. Stunning comparison. In the example, one hotel made over a million dollars/yearly in TOT for the city compared to $130K/yearly property tax share from 100 condos. Why this city hasn't hired someone to make hotels happen is a true mystery. Probably just lack of vision on council, but that vacuum can be filled by others with their own vision of housing and their own pockets. Another missed opportunity for Pacifica.
Who doesn't see the difference between Spano and the rest of council? He means development and his resume and rhetoric show it. SAMCAR hands out endorsements like candy. Didn't Vreeland get one, once? They rarely ignore top vote-getters or established powerhouses. It's not smart. Every so often they get a true soulmate like Spano. Time will tell.
"So Victor never said (as you stated) that he wants to sell city land to pay for SERVICES? Did he?"
Take a look at page 10 of today's Tribune and get back to me. I'll hang up now and take my apology off the air.
11:59 Where do you get your info about Victor wanting housing over hotels? Did you see the endorsement from Holiday Inn Express on his website? Of course he supports adding rooms/hotels. Again, he walks the walk.
"there are a handful of individuals who have taken extra steps to support us almost every step of the way....I know that you have been one of those people;" -R. Patel, Owner, Holiday Inn Express
Hutch
Remember your blood pressure.
I am sure 80% of the posts that are annon are Bray trying to be clever and sneaky.
220, Jim Vreeland got a SAMCAR endorsement because he lied, and his track record proves it. What else are NIMBIES good for? Vreeland's background was Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), guess that should have been a clue.
Victor Spano's background is all about Economic Development, that's what he knows; that will be his gift and the benefit to help save this city. And this city does need saving! (There are some links to Victor Spano's campaign on my prior 1:09 pm comment).
240, interesting how I see #5 "hire economic development manager" on that Pacifica Tribune page 10, Victor Spano ad. Brilliant, long delayed idea, which addresses the core economic development need in this city!
Oh, but you're still obsessed with #3 "sell unused city properties to pay for needed city services". That's not a new idea or a new city policy, although the city may be running out properties to gut from their unused property list.
Hutch, Victor is lucky to have you. Oh look a letter. I still question what he would do if faced with a choice between housing on those city-owned sites or holding out for hotels. From everything I know, his resume, his rhetoric, his endorsements, I think he'd jump at housing. That would make a lot of money for developers and realtors and chump change for Pacifica. Chump change. That is not the best use for Pacifica of those sites. I'm speculating and so are you. Unfortunately, that's all we can do before we decide who to vote for. No Spano for me.
I am begging you to please let Jim Vreeland rest in peace.
356, again who are the candidates you favor? You're twisting and spinning again, so its easy to assess you favor the "nothing" candidates.
The current city Beach Blvd concept includes both a hotel, and multi-unit housing. Mixed-use is a popular city concept almost "everywhere" (USA and worldwide) to keep the business component alive for the benefit of 1) tourism, and 2) the neighborhood.
Similar consideration was part of the analysis for the proposed quarry 2006, 2002 mixed-use developments. Pacifica hotel tax is 12%, the revenue is an attractive advantage for this poor city, provided the hotel rooms can be filled. But, is Pacifica, as is, a tourist destination? That idea probably needs some work.
429, do we really have to lie about the three (3) decades of NIMBY lies told to the population of this city? And do NIMBIES have some kind of rewrite history code, which includes glorifying their past heroes? Whereas for the rest of us facts and legacy are what they are, and there is no factoid migration between life and death.
Unfortunately when an Anonymous dies, its more like, "Oh well, another one bites the dust".
This might be a good opportunity to remind everyone that Kathy Meeh has every intention of casting an unironic vote for Therese Dyer.
That should put eeeeeeeverything in context.
Anon 429, If you don't like hearing the truth then go back to Riptide where you came from
637, funny thing, Therese Dyer supports clean government, and economic development. You mean you don't? Well now. Be happy, maybe follow that trail 648 suggested.
Footnote: Therese Dyer supports actual economic development, not what has been passing as window dressing in this city. She supports city progress. She supports highway 1 modernization (1.3 mile widening, a 10 year studied plan, complete with FEIR). She's sensitive to the less advantage (maybe not you, however). She's tenacious, does research, and attends city and county meetings. She's lived in this city a very long time. She understands the issues, she's no phony, and she's qualified.
At least Therese gets out there and does something. She's gone to practically every council meeting there's ever been. She uncovered the fact that the City spent millions on consultants. She is fighting to get sewer laterals paid for equally, not just for some. And she fought hard to defeat measure v among many other things.
What has Keener EVER done for the city? EVER?
An though Ruchames has done quite a bit he is also for more taxes and building that 35M library. Has he tried to save taxpayers money? I don't think so.
Good, good. I've got you on the record supporting this gadfly. My work here is done.
Is Roger Medler on her campaign team?
Kathy
Ian loves to stir up the pot then run like heck.
Has he ever asked anyone to be on his tv show who has a different opinion as his and his gang of no.
He and Boner the attorney for Peter Loeb on the moronic highway 1 lawsuit were giggling like a couple grade school girls.
Victor Spano has brought many businesses into Daly City. These businesses bring revenue into the city. A city needs revenue to pay the bills.
I know Pacifica isn't going to get any big box retail but I don't see many retail chains lining up to come to Pacifica.
BJ's Brewhouse and In & Out Passed recently on Pacifica.
848 Who needs 'em? We've got our 10 millionaires up on the hill.
Victor Spano is a LIAR. There I said it. At the fogfest I asked him who was endorsing him and he said - and this is a quote - "The Sierra Club likes me". Note he didn't say "endorse" but maybe it was my Yosemite tee-shirt that he saw an opening to try and find common ground with me. Today I see that the Sierra Club endorsed other people.
Anyone dealing with Victor Spano, either for politics or business should be on their guard.
1295, oh too bad, the LIAR may be you. Pacifica Riptide posted the Loma Prieta Sierra Club endorsements, 10/1/14, (at least 3-4 days following Fog Fest).
But, isn't the Loma Prieta Sierra club working against against significant economic development and highway widening improvement in this city? Oh yes they are, and one old example is here.
Victor Spano is all about improving this city through economic development. Not your guy. For the trail to city bankruptcy, your Loma Prieta Sierra Club endorsements are: Sue Digre, John Keener.
Sierra Club endorsements have been known and used by the endorsed candidates for weeks. Here's an interesting quote from Victor Spano made on his Facebook page on 9/23 @ 918pm in response to someone who didn't like his highway stance. "The Sierra Club even likes me, with some caveats." Look for it under a photo of Victor with a SF Golf Alliance guy. I'd say he knew even then that he didn't have their endorsement and he's cutting corners. People who cut corners, cut corners. Caveat may be the perfect word.
Hi there,
The Sierra club said they liked me. That is not to say they endorsed me, which I clearly did not say. I felt they liked me, and furthermore, I liked them....Here is the letter Ken King sent me, cut and pasted:
ken king
Sep 7
to me, Mary, John, Pamela, Ann
Dear Mr. Spano,
I want to thank you again for participating in the Sierra Club's political endorsement process. We enjoyed meeting you and learning more about your views for changing the direction of Pacifica's City Council to make it more in touch with what its average citizens desire. We found ourselves in accord with a number of your ideas, and think that you might make a dynamic leader in a council sorely in need of one.
Unfortunately, because Sierra Club focuses primarily on helping elect environmental stewards to political office, we could not draw the conclusion that you were in our camp on important issues that we care about. We commend you for being willing to sponsor meetings to vet citizen opinions regarding the Caltrans Highway 1 expansion, but we also note that your stated position backs that project "with caveats." Your smart growth ideas for the northeastern portion of Pacifica make a lot of sense, and your idea of increasing the City's transient occupancy tax through permitting citizens to rent rooms for B & B purposes is a creative idea for expanding revenue and tourism at the same time. We like that you "think outside of the box."
Despite the fact we won't endorse you for this election, we recognize that you are electable, so want to conclude by wishing you the best in your effort to gain voter attention, and we hope that if you should be elected, that we will be able to continue dialoging with you about our mutual interests.
Sincerely,
Ken King, Chair
Sierra Club Loma Prieta Chapter
Endorsement Committee for Pacifica City Council Election 2014
1:12...you are throwing mud and it does not stick. Someone endorsed by the Sierra Club would "gloat" "yippee, I've been endorsed by the Sierra Club", as Spano did in his facebook about the Realtors endorsement. He said they liked him, and he likes them too. What is so bad about that? Cutting corners? Really? Desperation on your part? Absolutely.
Thanks Kathy. Yet another lie from the nimby's debunked. They are really getting desperate. This should get even more interesting.
Perhaps the facebooker is envious? Facebook friend totals as of 10/1/2014
Keener 45
Ruchames 127
O'neill 78
Dougherty 95 yes, 18 maybe
Spano: 281
Dyer: No Facebook
Victor, you back Widening Highway One with caveats? Who knew? This letter is pretty boiler-plate Sierra Club turndown for a candidate who they may very well see elected and want to lobby in the future on issues. They don't burn bridges. But, to the ethical point, all this could have been avoided if Mr. Spano would have prefaced his remarks to whomever asked with, "I didn't get their endorsement, but blah blah blah".
You can't afford to leave a questionable impression. Ardent fans will tell you otherwise, but they're ardent fans. For someone trying to decide between you and the true blue, community workhorse Ruchames, you should be above reproach. You aren't on this one.
241 Blinders firmly in place? IMHO your guy could have been much more upfront. He left a false impression, whether by choice or by accident, and he doesn't deny it--he just says he didn't say the SC endorsed him. We already know that. Counsel him on the need for scrupulous care in what he says or posts and doesn't say or post. It's good advice for any candidate.
The Sierra Club are a bunch of Prius driving hippies.
You know the ones that drive 50 on the highway in the 65 mph zone.
Oh, Victor.
You seem like such a nice guy. Why are you self-destructing your campaign by tying yourself to Fix Pacifica?
Well, I agree. I don't look for their stamp of approval. So, why doesn't he just start his response with "They didn't endorse me"? The question is not a time for salesmanship. That applies to all of the candidates. People don't like that 'you have to ask exactly the right question' shit.
324 Go faster. They're just a blur at 85.
Such a horrible organization and yet he just can't say 'they didn't endorse me'. I dunno.
245 Couldn't care less. After seeing how my kids rack up friends on Facebook, it's a lame joke. But people are looking at Victor Spano. That's the whole idea, right?
The Sierra Club's interests have nothing to do with Pacifica's interests. This is a functioning city, not a park.
"The Sierra Club never said that they hate me, therefore I'm going to claim they love me!"
Why are you saying ANYTHING about the Sierra Club, Vic?
"This is a functioning city..."
AHAHAHAHAJAJAHAJAJAJAJAJAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!
This is still going on? That's obviously Todd at 332. Oh I forgot he doesn't post anonymously. And he never lies. Sorry to say your mudslinging campaign is not working too well. Swing and a miss.
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