Blog: Time to Move On

The counts are in and looks like, barring a miracle during the provisional count Monday, that Measure A lost by a narrow margin. There is no clear mandate. Continuing to argue Measure A's merits and the reopening the wounds of the campaigns serve the community no purpose. In fact, it is counterproductive. The voters have spoken. It is time to move on. 

I call on all Measure A supporters to stand down from continuing a debate that has been settled by an election. We should respect the results of this process that is the basis of our democracy. I would ask the leaders of the No on Measure A group to reciprocate with your group. And if there is some radical outlier out there that continues to try to stir the pot, regardless of which side this radical comes from, it is in the best interest of our community to ignore him or her. Responding just gives them credibility and feeds their fire. Silence is like cutting off the oxygen to a fire. Without rebuttal, their comments smoulder and die.

During the debate and after the vote, a number of those against Measure A stated they are against a new power plant, but for a variety of reasons could not support Measure A. Others want a new plant. Some want no change, unfortuantely that is not one of the options.

Without the zoning conflict that Measure A would have created, the chances of stopping a new plant drop substantially. But that does not mean we should not try. To those who voted No on A but do not want a new power plant, it is time to join forces and do what we can to stop the new plant. 

And regardless of whether you are for or against a power plant, it is time to return to civility. I think the vast majority want what is best for our town. There is just a difference of opinion how to achieve it. We are all neighbors in the greatest town in the South Bay. It's time to heal the wounds and act as a single community again.