Albany, Fremont activists turn in petitions

Activists in Albany and Fremont have turned in enough signatures to qualify ballot measures for the November ballot.

Albany shoreline

On May 16, Citizens for the Albany Shoreline turned in almost 2,500 signatures, far more than the 950 required to place the Albany Shoreline Protection Initiative on the November ballot, and on June 8 the county registrar of voters validated the signatures.

Magna Entertainment, owner of Golden Gate Fields, and its development partner Caruso Affiliates are expected to oppose the initiative with an expensive campaign. Magna has already sued to try to stop certification of the initiative.

The initiative's purpose is threefold:

• to preserve Albany's local small-town charm;
• to give the people of Albany control over their waterfront;
• to protect the Albany shoreline as parkland while buttressing Albany financially through limited development at appropriate locations and minimizing traffic.

Norman La Force, chair, East Bay Public Lands Committee

Fremont - Patterson Ranch

On May 5 Fremont voters turned in their signatures for a ballot measure to regulate development on the wetlands and associated uplands of Patterson Ranch. On June 6 the city clerk verified that the group had far more than the required number of signatures.

City staff is studying the impacts of the measure, and the City Council must vote by July 7 whether to adopt the measure as an ordinance or to place it on the November ballot.

WhatYouCanDo

Passing these ballot measures will be among the Bay Chapter's priority campaigns for this November's election.

To work with the East Bay Public Lands Committee on the Albany campaign, contact Chapter conservation organizer or call (510) 848-0800, ext. 312.

To work with the Southern Alameda Group on the Patterson Ranch campaign, contact Chapter conservation director or call (510) 848-0800, ext. 304.