As a lifelong Democrat, I have struggled with whom to vote for in the upcoming Supervisorial Campaign for 5th District. Even though he is a Democrat, I cannot vote for Eric Hammer.
A vote for Eric Hammer is a vote for someone who brags about being affiliated with the Valley Women's Club. The same group which organized the effort to impose the high-density, low-income housing project on the Felton meadow, despite thousands of signatures of people opposed to the project and the fact that it was an environmental disaster waiting to happen.
Hammer is also the person who is behind trying to build a 20,000-square-foot Recreation Center in Boulder Creek, which I oppose for multiple reasons. Hammer has publically declared he is for the taking of homeowners’ land (i.e., their yards) through eminent domain for a bike trail in the San Lorenzo Valley, which I am not.
Hammer seems to have his own agenda, and I do not feel that it benefits the residents of the San Lorenzo Valley, our rural way of life, or the environment. I agree with Bill Smallman on several issues, but feel that I want someone with more experience. Even though I have never voted for a Republican in my life, Bruce McPherson has become my choice. I feel that McPherson is actually very moderate and a champion for the environment. I want someone with experience, who has a record of getting things done. McPherson has a proven environmental record, as evidenced by the recent Coast Dairies deal, which will preserve and protect 6,800 acres forever, and which McPherson helped facilitate. I also feel that McPherson supports our law enforcement and other public safety organizations, as I do. I believe Bruce McPherson is the best candidate choice for 5th District Supervisor in June.
Robin Samuels, Felton, director of SLV Core
But back to your point. Why might someone not like the Hammers' behavior? Hmmm. Food for thought.
Throwing your weight around without making certain you have the authority to do so? tsk tsk...
Smallman can't even file his election paperwork correctly to the point the county is about to force him to do so with fines. pretty poor choice for supe if you ask me...
Low income housing is something the SLV needs, but apparently you've missed the boat on that one as well. Do you know how many homeless are sleeping in the bushes at night around the SLV that could use that low income housing? Out of sight out of mind... I guess that's not as important as saving a meadow from development in a place that is central to transportation and made sense. Same thing goes for the BC rec center- and remember there is a BOARD that runs the BCRPD... so to place all of the "blame" on Hammer for that project is misguided. At least the BCRPD and VWC have the courage to take on the tough jobs that help our community... don't see you doing ANY of that...
Have you ever been to one of those BCRPD.... rec board meetings??? It is more than clear that Hammer obviously runs that board (even if he is not supposed to he does).....
So sad.
Kinda slays the environmental/social justice arguments all at the same time doesn't it.
Out of sight out of mind, eh? To believe VCUM is taking care of the problem is BALONEY. The only help with maybe one month's rent for someone in a house and what again do they do for those already homeless? You need to do your homework, you ain't got the facts! There are more than you think!
http://www.santacruzsentinel.com/opinion/ci_20747931/you-see-it-election-2012-may-31-2012
Running as the Valley Women’s Club candidate with a platform of build, build, build combined with an ignorance of the concerns of working families in rural San Lorenzo Valley will likely be his political downfall.
Step 1 mend all those broken relationships. All the people he’s yelled at, intimidated or marginalized all these years. They are stakeholders. They talk and they vote. Nobody wants a loose cannon representing the 5th District. We’re constantly battling our reputation, the least we will do is elect someone with a modicum of self-control.
Step 2 distance himself from the Valley Women’s Club. Nobody is buying that Hammer saved the watershed because he’s Mary Hammer’s son. Heck. Nobody believes the VWC saved any steelhead either. They’ve exhibited too many hypocritical steps - support of the idiotic Felton high density housing project, attempted boycotts of small valley businesses, and their general smear campaign tactic anytime any opposition to their candidate, initiative or tax measure pops up. Besides he should be looking like he can stand on his own 2 feet. Rather than propped up by a passel of people with their hands caught in the county coffer cookie jar.
Step 3 get some real work done. Simply sitting in on some meetings for events like Beautify SLV, Bike Paths to School, or Save the Band Winged Fruitfly, and then taking credit, without really furthering those concepts is shallow. That all looks like it was done just to prop up a vapid resume. Please. People aren’t stupid. If you’re the environmental candidate, then you’re not going to advocate for 20,000 square foot “community centers” in each of the towns of the SLV. And if you’re an intelligent candidate you are not ever going to advocate for eminent domain for a path for kids project that is really more about People Power cyclists in corporate logo spandex with than it is for valley kids.
Finally, back up all that fancy jargon with some real substance. Like I’ve said before, I’d rather vote for a candidate who knew what renewable resources were before his campaign committee taught him that phrase.