CSUS Concerns

I am very concerned that the Belmont General Plan and
rezoning can be bought by any outside special interest group that comes up with
the right influencing number. My wife and I targeted Belmont as a city we
wanted to buy property and raise our family in 15 years ago because we thought
Belmont, of all small cities on the Peninsula would not go down a slippery
slope as other municipalities have, and start to change zoning and the General
Plan, influenced by outside special interests. If this CSUS proposal is
allowed, against the advisement of our city planners, it clearly sets a precedent
that any large developer can come into Belmont and flash dollars to certain
city council members and they will be "influenced". 

My family’s belief is that our General Plan should not be diverted,
at any cost, by outside influence peddlers. This is not Washington DC. This is
Belmont. I strongly believe that if the General Plan is allowed to be
influenced by this outside interest group, five years from now, our city
council and all citizens of Belmont will regret it. What will be next?

This same group tried and failed to get rezoning approved in
their own city of origin and Hillsborough would not allow them to expand in
their own backyard.  You have to ask
yourself why. CSUS knew flashing money in Hillsborough would not have an
effect, but in Belmont, that’s another matter. So CSUS comes to Belmont and gives it a go, thinking that certain members of the City Council can be influenced by the right number.  

This is presented as a win/win for everyone. It is not. That
is why CSUS has hired professional campaign agents, sent flyers, hired callers
and used Chicago–like, strong-arm politics, influence peddling tactics on our
city council and our community.

The negatives and impact to traffic, sewage infrastructure,
noise, natural habitat, long term vitality to Belmont and General Plan are too numerous and any positives will be mitigated in a very few years with zero long term guarantees, including fields usage. This $1M will be carved up into small
pieces among two-three school districts, and other public needs, and then the
citizens of Belmont will be left with all this negative impact. The $250k in
tax revenue per year is a wash at best and possibly a negative, based on the
potential of this incredible site to draw commercial entities in the future.

I say, thank you CSUS!.. for pointing out the weaknesses we
have within our Belmont City Council so we can let our votes be heard at the
next election, and thank you again for peeling back the onion within our
Belmont city government process, that they can be influenced so easily by
outside interests.

And thank you CSUS!... for exposing weaknesses in protecting
the Belmont General Plan even when a unanimous vote by our planners recommended not to rezone and potentially open the door to other, bigger outside influence peddlers.

A big thank you CSUS!... for demonstrating to Belmont residents
our lack of any plan by the Belmont City Council to attract new businesses into
the existing commercially zoned areas. Instead, these same city council members
sit back and wait for influencers to come to them waving wads of cash. Way to
do the job you were elected to do (certain) Belmont City Council members!

A bigger thank you CSUS!... for demonstrating in real terms
Belmont’s lack of funding and attention to our athletic fields, which keeps our
kids safe, healthy, involved ......and off the streets!

And again, thank you CSUS!.... for drawing attention to Belmont’s
lack of attention to the enormous traffic issue from Ralston Ave. and feeder
streets, and Belmont City Council’s lack of attention to the grossly
"severe" sewage infrastructure problem we have in Belmont, (EPA violations
and effluent flowing into the Bay).

And lastly, thank you CSUS!.... for showing Belmont
residents that certain members of our Belmont City Council can be so easily be influencedmand sidetracked by a measly few dollars as to ignore recommendations from professional city planners that our tax dollars pay for, and to even consider for a moment giving away the city’s general plan to an outside influence for a short-term, minor revenue contribution.

Ron Tussy
Small Business Owner
Belmont