Citizens' Voices

Posted: January 10, 2011

Q defeated in city's 'most dishonest, corrupt campaign'

There has been sufficient time to clearly identify why and how the ballot Measure Q was narrowly defeated (200 votes out of the 14,000 that were cast). Measure Q was designed to keep in place the growth restrictions that had been in place since the city was incorporated and which have kept Saratoga a highly desirable place to live.

Measure Q was defeated by the most dishonest and corrupt campaign in the history of Saratoga. Its defeat was funded by two main sources: a Los Angeles real estate PAC that contributed $46,000 and two out-of-town Saratoga property owners/developers who donated $10,000. In sharp contract, the entire $12,800 raised by Measure Q supporters came from Saratoga residents and merchants.

The unprecedented money raised by "No on Q" was used to fund a Colorado phone bank whose callers pretended to be fellow Saratogans (their script included warning residents of the horrors of a "Yes on Q" vote) and an LA firm that designed and distributed five fliers to all Saratoga households depicting Saratoga as a wasteland with a stake driven through the heart of the city if "Q" succeeded. The "no" campaign also hired an out-of-town company specializing in running negative campaigns.

To top it all off, there was the duplicity of our city council. During negotiations with five "Restore Saratoga" (aka, Measure Q) steering committee members, they agreed to remain neutral if the measure was placed on the ballot. However, once on the ballot, a majority of our council members broke their pledge and came out in strong opposition to Measure Q.

Recently Saratoga was rated as the most costly suburban city in California. According to Zillow, during 2010 our median home sale price was $1.3 million. The most recent information (2007) reported that Saratoga's median income was $151,000 per household.

Saratoga is a Mother Lode for the real estate and developer interests who contributed to the defeat of Measure Q and they expect a handsome return for their donations. From now on, all items pertaining to rezoning or commercial property that come before the planning commission or the city council will be tainted by their money. Their money left a paper trail and a foul aroma that can be easily followed.

California Realtors are fearful that if any community, especially a small affluent community like Saratoga, can limit growth, other cities will follow suit. In recent years Cupertino, Campbell, Mt. View, Napa and Walnut Creek all tried and failed due to developer/Realtor opposition. They now have multi-story, high density developments. Do we want that for Saratoga?

Those thousands of us who love Saratoga have lost the initial battle but the war has just begun. Because four of five of our city council [members are] pro-growth, we will be extra vigilant.

In the past when we faced this same problem, we corrected it by electing council people who were not in the pockets of developers and Realtors. We have a voice that can be heard and we shall be heard! What we are doing is honest and above board and, in the long run, honesty prevails.

Submitted by:

F.L. Stutzman

Park Drive

Dr. F.L. Stutzman is a former Saratoga mayor and city council member.