Does Thorne have it all wrong? Around Town, posted by Ray Morris, a resident of the Vineyard Hills neighborhood, on Jul 11, 2007 at 7:11 pm
In typical republican form, Thorne resorts to name calling with the classic “elitist” word. I guess if you oppose suburban sprawl, that makes you an elitist. I guess if you care about good urban planning and the environment, instead of simply “tax revenue for the city”, that makes you an elitist. When you consider the cost of suburban sprawl (traffic, pollution, bad health, bad quality of life, etc.) the immediate gratification of tax revenue isn’t so grand. The “tax revenue” lovers seem to completely lack a sense of what makes a good built environment and also show almost no foresight into the potential impacts such development bring about. Gee, why don’t we build 12 Walmarts in Pleasanton, they bring revenue! It is also comforting to know that sprawl loving republican Scott Haggerty is playing a role in this.
Posted by Stacey, a resident of the Amberwood/Wood Meadows neighborhood, on Jul 11, 2007 at 7:28 pm
There is a relevant article on Wikipedia that reads almost word-for-word like the arguments surrounding this Staples Ranch issue, especially the 'Points of debate' section.
No one is planning on building 12 Walmarts here. Pleasanton is/was a city of "Planned Progress". We historically have balanced residential, commercial, and recreational areas to make it such a great place to live today.
Posted by Tom H., a resident of the Del Prado neighborhood, on Jul 13, 2007 at 11:53 am
Voters and citizens of Pleasanton should be outraged at Thorne's childish rants. He previously called Dan Faustina a 'sex offender' a couple of elections ago so that speaks volumes about Thorne's character (or lack of character). He is a hypocrit, controlled by developers' money and is more interested in spewing disinformation than he is in encouraging reasonable debate.
Thorne held up the Staples Ranch Memorandum of Understanding with Alameda County for 18 months because of his own last minute private back room deal to put a 4-rink commercial ice arena on the property.
Thorne is a classic NIMBY and also protested proposed lighted sports fields in his neighborhood back at the December 6, 1994 city council meeting because he said the lights would be "adverse" for his own neighborhood if it was expanded to include lighted sports fields. Then as a Parks and Recreation Commissioner he went on to write his own referendum co-written by the then chair of the Planning Commission (but signed by her husband) to put lighted sports fields miles away from his house on the San Francisco Bernal Property. Look at his record ---- the definition of "elitist NIMBY hypocrit" IS Jerry Thorne.
Posted by Westsider, a resident of the Highland Oaks neighborhood, on Jul 13, 2007 at 12:49 pm
Wow, Tom H.
You say Jerry Thorne 'doesn't want reasonable debate,' and he 'spews disinformation.' Take a look at your message and think rationally about who's the one who sounds childish.
And oh, by the way, you might want to try 'spellcheck' before you send something in. Just a thought.
Posted by 40yr resident, a resident of the Highland Oaks neighborhood, on Jul 13, 2007 at 9:09 pm
I'd have to agree with Tom H. He's just stated facts. Jerry Thorne has sold out to developer's long ago. You can't trust in the things that he says because he shoots from the hip and the only time he makes logical statements are when he knows he will be quoted and then they are all rehearsed. It's sad what our city council has become in this town. A bunch of sell outs and hypocrits. Take a look at their stance on the new Home Depot and why they are the only ones who feel it will benefit our community. They don't care about all the additional traffic, etc, etc..... It's all about the money. Last time I checked we were doing pretty well, moneywise.
Posted by Jerry Pentin, a resident of the Oak Hill neighborhood, on Jul 14, 2007 at 9:49 am
I find it nothing short of amazing that Tom H would attack Jerry Thorne concerning the Staples Ranch issue. Jerry has put his credibility on the line with Staples Ranch...regardless of what has transpired in the past...today is what we're dealing with...and we should be grateful at least one member of the council is putting himself out there to try to protect what should be a wonderful addition to the City of Pleasanton. As for being NIMBY...oh please...Matt, Ann, Brian and Matt should be ashamed of their flimsy attempts to disguise this as an
"Open Space" issue. They don't care about Open Space...they're so totally NIMBY it's embarrassing...to themselves..and to Pleasanton. My two cents....Jerry Pentin
Posted by Sean, a resident of Livermore, on Jul 14, 2007 at 3:08 pm
Pleasanton baffles. The best letter on this that was published in the Independent and Trivalley Herald a few months ago...........even after the City of Livermore sent Pleasanton a letter asking them to reject housing under the take-off flight path near the runway, Pleasanton forges onward. You'd wonder if the City Council of Pleasanton has bothered to even go out to Staples. They want senior residents there 24 hours a day with 175,000 - 275,000 airport operations a year going on???? Go figure. It makes no sense. Money has got to be driving this because common sense surely can't be.
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In what must be one of the most stunningly dumb moves yet, Pleasanton Mayor Jennifer Hosterman is embracing the development of 800 units of senior housing on the old Staples Ranch property.
Fresh off from what became one of the most contentious public debates in years over the Livermore airport, Mayor Hosterman thinks developing high density housing directly off the end of the primary departure runway would be terrific. Huh? Current residents in homes farther away from the airport are already complaining about the noise. What on earth does the mayor think will result when a couple thousand seniors move into homes that are even closer to the airport?
If Pleasanton insists on developing the property, any number of more appropriate uses come to mind before using it for senior housing. What's next? An elementary school directly below the flight path? Oh wait. I forgot. They have already done that.
At the very least, before the City of Livermore forces pilots and aircraft owners to waste hundreds of thousands of their own dollars supporting an unnecessary noise monitoring system, the City of Livermore needs to get a commitment from Pleasanton to stop their ridiculous encroachment on the airport.
Posted by Frank, a resident of the Pleasanton Heights neighborhood, on Jul 21, 2007 at 9:54 pm
Sorry folks. You are elitest NIMBYS and Jerry Thorne has got it right. The initiative makes no sense for the good of the citizens of Pleasanton except to create an expensive cul-de-sac for the NIMBYS.
Let's be real about this and stop being disingenous. Alameda County is going to otherwise put really intensive commercial development in this spot if the initiative goes forward. Once the MOU becomes moot, it's over folks. Maybe it has already. You ranters can then go onto your next rant.
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