Big Money Funds Yes on Measure D Campaign in Santa Cruz County

Since the passage of the California Political Reform Act and subsequent legislation, ballot campaigns must report the source of contributions and how they spend their revenue. Here in Santa Cruz County, our Elections Department provides a website where citizens may obtain these reports (see "Public Portal for Campaign Finance Disclosure" at https://wideningwontwork.org/news/who-is-behind-the-yes-on-measure-d-campaign-on-the-santa-cruz-county-november-ballot/#campaign-disclosure-portal).

Widening Won't Work obtained the data in a report generated on October 11, 2016 on the "Get Santa Cruz County Moving 2016" political campaign ("Yes on Measure D"). We now present for your consideration, along with additional data, who is spending huge amounts of money for the Yes on Measure D campaign, and why they want to fleece you out of your money for highway widening.


Who are the players?

Since the previous transportation ballot Measure J went down to defeat in 2004 (57% opposed), the Santa Cruz County Business Council (SCCBC) has been diligently working to curry political favor and rally its usual suspects to promote development and urbanization. Its members includes Graniterock, Santa Cruz Sentinel, Santa Cruz Seaside Company, Devcon Construction, Inc., Barry Swenson Builder, Plantronics, Slatter Construction, and Wells Fargo.

The SCCBC recruited Commissioners and Officers of the Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission (SCCRTC) to put forth a transportation measure on the ballot that included highway widening. Highways are the most costly transportation mode to build and maintain, and for mitigating damages to property, public health, and the environment. These Commissioners and Officers continue to lobby in favor of Measure D.


How are voters being played?

In 2015, the SCCBC, the Santa Cruz Area Chamber of Commerce, and Plantronics commissioned a private survey to gauge sentiment of likely voters for various aspects of a transportation ballot measure. Although the survey overwhelmingly indicated that adding additional lanes to Highway 1 was a low priority, the authors of Measure D nonetheless crafted the inclusion of additional highway auxiliary lanes.

The SCCRTC spent $104,870 for "public outreach services". Those services included the production of a glossy mailer, website and social media content, and other printed material. The cost was initially approved for $65,000 on February 4, 2016 (SCCRTC Agenda, Feb 4, 2016, page 33. http://sccrtc.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/16-02-04-RTC-Agenda-Packet.pdf), but was increased to pay for "some additional work". Additional tax payer funds were spent to inform the public. (SCCRTC Agenda, Aug 4, 2016, page 42. http://sccrtc.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/2016-08-04-RTC-Packet.pdf)


Who are the largest contributors to Yes on Measure D? ($1000 or more)

California Alliance for Jobs - Rebuild California $50,000
Northern California Carpenters Regional Council Issues PAC $25,000
Plantronics $25,000
Palo Alto Medical Foundation for Healthcare, Research and Education $25,000
CA Legislative BoardUnited Transportation Union $20,000
Laborers Pacific Southwest Council Regional Organizing Coalition $15,000
Santa Cruz Seaside Company $15,000
United Contractors $10,000
Graniterock $10,000
Northern California District Council of Laborers Issues PAC $10,000
Patty Quillin, Land Trust of Santa Cruz County Board Member $10,000
Kaiser Permanente $10,000
Land Trust of Santa Cruz County $10,000
John and Rebecca Colligan, South Swell Ventures, Chief Executive Officer $10,000
J. Miles Reiter, Driscoll's Inc., Chairman $5,000
Santa Cruz County Business Council $5,000
Geo. H. Wilson, Inc. $5,000
Associated General Contractors Issues Political Action Committee of California $5,000
Physicians Medical Group of Santa Cruz $5,000
Allen Property Group $5,000
David Lyng & Associates, Inc. $5,000
Redtree Partners LP $5,000
Green Valley Corporation $4,730
Joseph J. Albanese, Inc. $2,500
David Olson, Inc. $2,500
Don Chapin Company $2,500
Rowland and Pat Rebele, retired, retired $2,500
PG&E Corporation $2,500
Matthew Haynes, Fehr and Peers, Principal and Office Leader $1,500
Casey Beyer, Santa Cruz County Business Council, Executive Director $1,000
MNS Engineers, Inc $1,000
Devcon Construction, Inc. $1,000
Transportation California $1,000
Quincy Engineering $1,000
Kimley - Horn and Associates $1,000
McPherson for Supervisor 2016 $1,000
Progressive Coalition $1,000
Elite Developments, Inc


What can we do?

We have power to influence our friends, co-workers, colleagues, and family members. Widening Won't Work provides material that you can share with others on its website, WideningWontWork.org.

* yard signs, badges, and flyers: https://wideningwontwork.org/news/widening-wont-work-yard-signs/
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