Housing California Conference To Have Bush/McCain Supporter As Speaker On Prop 98 & 99

Housing California Conference To Have Bush/McCain Supporter As Speaker On Prop 98 & Prop 99

By Lynda Carson April 20, 2008

Oakland, CA - Housing California has been scrambling to clear up some recent controversy over a pamphlet sent out recently that upset many because it stated that a workshop on Prop 98 and Prop 99 for their upcoming annual housing conference, has been cancelled.

Numerous sources have recently appeared since then to declare that Brandon Castillo, from the No on 98, Yes on 99 campaign, will indeed be appearing as a speaker at a plenary meeting of the Housing California conference called Reframing Affordable Homes, in Sacramento, April 28-April 30, which expects a turnout of around 1,200 people.

A fast background check on Brandon Castillo turned up documentation showing that Castillo is a Bush/McCain supporter, and has donated several thousand dollars to the presidential campaigns of both rabid Republicans. http://fundrace.huffingtonpost.com/neighbors.php?type=name&lname=CASTILLO&fname=BRANDON

The documentation reveals that; "$3,500 was given by people who identified their last name as "CASTILLO" and first name as "BRANDON". ($3,500 from 1 person to Republicans - $0 to Democrats).

Strange Bedfellows In Both Prop 98 and Prop 99 Campaigns

Brandon Castillo, a Bush/McCain supporter, is also a consultant with Bicker, Castillo & Fairbanks, a public affairs firm specializing in issues management, grassroots advocacy and media relations, and is closely connected with the No on 98, Yes on 99 campaign. Supporters of the Prop 99 campaign may not feel real comfortable knowing that a Bush/McCain supporter will be representing them at the upcoming Reframing Affordable Homes conference.

In another puzzler, a deeper look in search of an address for the campaign headquarters for the No on 98, and Yes on 99 campaign, reveals that the No on 98, Yes on 99 campaign actually shares the same exact address, phone number and fax number as does the location of Bicker, Castillo & Fairbanks, a public affairs firm specializing in issues management, grassroots advocacy and media relations, which includes Brandon Castillo, in Sacramento.

Supporters of Prop 99, who are working hard to defeat Prop 98, may find all of this to be just a bit strange, but in the world of politics it appears that anything may be possible.

See documentation below for more...

Lynda Carson may be reached at, tenantsrule [at] yahoo.com

>>>>>>
Bicker, Castillo & Fairbanks
1121 L Street, Suite 803
Sacramento, CA 95814

http://www.bickerandassociates.com/

Phone:  916-443-0872
Fax: 916-442-3510
mail [at] bickerassociates.com

>>>>>>>
[Headquarters for No on 98/Yes on 99 Campaign?]

Contact Us
(Address, phone, and fax number for the No on 98/Yes on 99 Campaign
is exactly the same for Bicker, Castillo & Fairbanks)

http://www.no98yes99.com/

No on 98/Yes on 99 Campaign

Address:

1121 L Street, Suite 803

Sacramento, CA 95814

E-mail:
info [at] no98yes99.com

Telephone:
916.443.0872

Fax:
916.442.3510

http://www.no98yes99.com/contact/

>>>>>>
Brandon Castillo

http://www.bickerandassociates.com/about/castillo.html

>>>>>>>
[[[ $3,500 was given by people who identified their last name as "CASTILLO" and first name as "BRANDON". $3,500 from 1 person to Republicans $0 to Democrats]]]

Brandon Castillo
CONSULTANT
BICHER, CASTILLO & FAIRBANKS
Updated
Q3/2007
John McCain
$2,300
5517 NORTHBOROUGH DRIVE
Sacramento CA 95835

******
BRANDON CASTILLO
POLITICAL CONSULTING
BICKER, CASTILLO & FAIRBANKS
Updated
Q1/2004
George W. Bush
$1,200
5517 NORTHBOROUGH DR
SACRAMENTO CA 95835

http://fundrace.huffingtonpost.com/neighbors.php?type=name&lname=CASTILLO&fname=BRANDON

*************
Brandon
CASTILLO
POLITICAL CONSULTING
BICKER, CASTILLO & FAIRBANKS
Updated
Q1/2004
George W. Bush
$1,200
5517 NORTHBOROUGH DR
SACRAMENTO, CA. 95835

http://fundrace.huffingtonpost.com/neighbors.php?type=occ&occ=POLITICAL+CONSULTING

*************
SACRAMENTO, CA Political Contributions by Individuals

Higgins, William S (League of California Cities/Attorne), ...... (BICKER CASTILLO & FAIRBANKS/POLITIC), (Zip code: 95835) $1100 to BUSH-CHENEY '04 (PRIMARY) ...

http://www.city-data.com/elec/elec-SACRAMENTO-CA.html

>>>>>>
Bicker, Castillo & Fairbanks

Bicker, Castillo & Fairbanks is a public affairs firm specializing in issues management, grassroots advocacy and media relations.  The firm’s principles, Gwyn Bicker, Brandon Castillo and Kathy Fairbanks, have collectively managed more than a dozen successful local and statewide ballot initiative campaigns, and have been involved in numerous issues management, crisis communications and legislative grassroots and media support projects in the past decade. Issues addressed by the firm include: the environment, taxation, bonds, transportation, growth and development, government regulation and reform, local government finance, education, gaming, health care, energy and insurance, to name a few.

http://www.bickerandassociates.com/about/index.html

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Subject: FW: Breaking Story: Prop98-Non Profits May
Sell Out The Poor

Date: Tue, 15 Apr 2008 21:01:56 -0700

From: "Meghan Callahan"
  Add Mobile Alert

To: tenantsrule [at] yahoo.com

Hi Lynda,

I'm with the No on 98/Yes on 99 campaign and your
e-mail was forwarded to me. I wanted to let you know
that Housing California is actually making a big deal
of Prop. 98 at their conference. Brandon Castillo,
one of the lead consultants on the No on 98 campaign,
is giving a presentation at their general session.
That session has 1200 attendees - I think the workshop
would have had less than 100. I think what probably
happened is that they cancelled the smaller workshop
after they decided to reach more people by doing it at
the larger session. We also will have a booth there.

I hope this clears up any misunderstandings. I know
that Housing CA is very much supportive of our
campaign and wants to get the word out to as many
people as they can at their conference.

Thanks,
Meghan Callahan

>>>>>>
About Meghan Callan...

http://www.bickerandassociates.com/about/callahan.html

Meghan Callahan has been with Bicker, Castillo & Fairbanks since 2003.  In her tenure at BCF, Ms. Callahan has worked extensively on communications strategy and message development; grassroots advocacy, mobilization and communications; third-party ally recruitment; media support; and organization of press events for a wide range of issues including housing, land use, local government finance, education, telecommunications and healthcare.

Ms. Callahan recently served as the day-to-day grassroots coordinator for the successful No on 90 Campaign (eminent domain/regulatory takings, November 2006), No on Prop. 82 Campaign (universal preschool, June 2006),  the Yes on 1A Campaign (local government finance initiative, November 2004) and the Yes on 55 Campaign (statewide school bond, March 2004).  In this capacity, Ms. Callahan was responsible for keeping the coalitions informed through frequent communications, organizing speakers bureaus, coordinating GOTV efforts and responding to general requests for information and materials.

Prior to joining Bicker, Castillo and Fairbanks, Ms. Callahan was associate director of government and public affairs for the Building Industry Association of Superior California.  Working with elected officials, local government staff, chambers, low-income housing advocates and environmentalists, Ms. Callahan represented the association’s interest on a variety of public policy issues including habitat conservation, affordable housing, water delivery, air quality and growth.

Ms. Callahan also worked for the California Building Industry Association as their legislative policy manager.  In that role she researched industry issues; developed communications surrounding association legislation and policy objectives; and managed the association’s involvement in the Job-Center Housing Coalition (a diverse coalition of business leaders, housing and community activists who work to increase housing availability and affordability in California).

Ms. Callahan graduated from the University of California, Davis with a degree in Rhetoric and Communications and a minor in English.

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Policy & Legislation

Home » Policy & Legislation » Prop 98/99 Campaign Expert to Speak at Housing California's Annual Conference

Prop 98/99 Campaign Expert to Speak at Housing California's Annual Conference
April 02, 2008

Defeating Proposition 98 and passing Proposition 99 on the June ballot are high priorities for Housing California this year. To help our community understand how we can participate in the campaign, public affairs expert Brandon Castillo, a partner in the firm leading this effort, will appear as a General Session speaker at Housing California's Annual Conference 2008: Reframing Affordable Homes.

Prop 98 is the Hidden Agendas Scheme, which will wipe out rent control, mixed-income zoning, and key tenant protections. Prop. 99, the Homeowners Protection Act, will create reasonable limits on the use of eminent domain by public agencies.

Contact: Julie Spezia, (916) 447-0503 x 104 or jspezia [at] housingca.org

http://www.housingca.org/policy_leg/policynews/prop98prop99speaker/

>>>>>>
Kathy Fairbanks

http://www.bickerandassociates.com/about/fairbanks.html

>>>>>>
Coalition Opposed to Proposition 98 Files Lawsuit

Feb 25, 2008
Kathy Fairbanks, (916) 443-0872

Lawsuit Contends Rent Control is Most Significant Provision in Prop. 98 and Should Be in Title. Prop. 98's Provisions Interfering with Land-Use & Environmental Protections Also Significant and Should Be In Title & Summary.

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STATEMENT FROM EMINENT DOMAIN REFORM NOW COALITION

"The Eminent Domain Reform Now Coalition is in full swing collecting signatures to place real eminent domain reform on the June ballot. The ‘Homeowners Protection Act' would prohibit the taking of a home to transfer to a private developer.

"Our coalition has secured funding to qualify the measure and internal polling shows extraordinarily strong voter support for the measure's provisions. Unlike the deceptive counter-measure funded by wealthy apartment and mobile home park owners, ours has no hidden agenda and no adverse consequences.

"Our research shows voter opposition to the counter measure. That's not surprising since it's nothing but a deceitful attempt to abolish rent control and includes provisions that could stop future water projects, destroy local land-use planning and erode environmental protections.

"We've put together a successful campaign team with a proven track record and are confident voters will support the Homeowners Protection Act and defeat their counter measure in June."

Winner & Mandabach Campaigns: Lead campaign consultants, coordinating campaign strategy and paid media.

Bicker, Castillo & Fairbanks: Campaign strategy, earned media, and grassroots/coalition outreach.

Nielsen, Merksamer, Parrinello, Mueller and Naylor: Campaign strategy, legal

Fairbank, Maslin, Maullin & Associates: Campaign strategy, opinion research

>>>>
Bicker, Castillo & Fairbanks
1121 L Street, Suite 803
Sacramento, CA 95814

http://www.bickerandassociates.com/

Phone:  916-443-0872
Fax: 916-442-3510
mail [at] bickerassociates.com