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CONTRA COSTA TIMES ENDORSES CATHARINE BAKER FOR ASSEMBLY

Original post made by local voter, Danville, on Apr 24, 2014

The Contra Costa Times endorsed CATHARINE BAKER for State Assembly today. Here’s what they had to say:

"We endorse Baker because she would bring a fresh, outsider perspective to a state Legislature needing change. She comes with an R behind her name that would add a bit of partisan counterbalance to the Democratic Bay Area delegation...[T]his district deserves an independent representative...[and] we give our support to Baker. "

I urge all of you to vote for Baker. Newell Arnerich, Danville Town Council member, has betrayed the voters by his blatant failure to honor Ballot Measure S, passed by Danville voters in 2000 by a whopping 75%. Measure S, put on the 2000 ballot by Newell, Mike Doyle, and the other 3 Danville Council members then, promised voters they would get to vote on whether residential developments on Agricultural-designated land in Danville would be approved. Then when Measure S first applied, Newell denied voters rights on approval of the hideous 100-unit Elworthy Ranch development now being built by KB Homes along SRV Blvd. Just last July, he again denied those rights on the 69+ unit SummerHill Homes project on Magee Ranch. SOS-Danville is now suing the Danville Town Council for denying voters' rights on the SummerHill approval. Simply put, Newell Arnerich can't be trusted.

Steve Glazier, an Orinda Council member, is a lackey for the high-density housing construction industry and real estate speculators. He is bringing more and more high-density housing to Orinda, despite local opposition. His campaign is mailing out many expensive flyers and even running TV ads paid for by a real estate association. He does not have the our interests at heart.

Dublin Council member Sbranti is a union lackey, bought and paid for by the AFL-CIO and the teachers union. Nothing against union workers, but having someone bought and paid for by the unions is not a neutral position.

In contrast, Catharine Baker has not held public office before, and as far as I can tell, is not directly bought and paid for by any particular monied interests. She is a very smart lawyer, and knows her way around government.

CA is virtually a one-party state, a very dangerous situation. To preserve some debate in the Assembly, we need different views, and someone not in the pocket of any particular constituency. I think Catharine meets those requirements.

Comments (17)

Posted by Contra Costan
a resident of Danville
on Apr 24, 2014 at 10:05 am

So, the CCT wants Baker because they know nothing about her? Because of what she's not, which according to you is a "lackey?" What, no running dog? That's a typically shallow and tepid endorsement by the paper, and your post is just angry and unhelpful. That may be why your Party is fading into insignificance, fast.

BTW, have you noticed what's been happening under that Dem super-majority? They are balancing the budget, getting stuff done. I could do with one less fast train to nowhere, but things are looking up! It's really not so bad now, is it?


Posted by Tony
a resident of Diablo
on Apr 24, 2014 at 10:57 am

I'm glad Contra Costan is happy with a one-party system. Super-majorities do not work anywhere, be it Republican or Democrat. There is the time-tested adage, "Power corrupts, absolute power corrupts absolutely." That has proven to be the case in the State Senate. Look at Senators Leland Yee, Ron Calderon and Rod Wright. California has the highest taxes in the nation, with an income tax of almost 14%, State, county and local sales taxes over 10%, gasoline over $4.00 gallon and property taxes through the ceiling with the high property valuations. Now the Democrats have their sights on Prop. 13. With the SEIU and Public Employee Unions having a stranglehold on state politics, we have pension obligations that could bring California to its knees in the future.

We still have among the highest unemployment rates of any state in the country. Why would new private enterprise want to start up here? I'm glad everything is working for Contra Costan. I love California, but politics here does not work for my wife and me. Please heed the Contra Costa Times and vote for Catharine Baker in the June 3 Primary.


Posted by concerned taxpayer (maybe not for long)
a resident of Alamo
on Apr 24, 2014 at 11:50 am

@Contra Costan: The budget is only "balanced" because of the hefty new taxes just imposed! Do you not realize this, or have you, too, been tricked by Brown and the Dem majority? There has got to be some sense put back into California's government, or it will continue to lose the most productive residents, who are supporting the many that are "on the dole" in some way, shape, or form.


Posted by Contrary Costan
a resident of Blackhawk
on Apr 24, 2014 at 3:36 pm

Yeah, sure fellas -- please decide between yourselves which one of you will turn out the lights: your Party's so Over. Web Link


Posted by No BART strikes
a resident of Danville
on Apr 28, 2014 at 9:27 am

Newell Arnerich has signs all over Danville, many in illegal spots. Don't be fooled by his signs.

Arnerich clearly favors special interests over the public. For example, when it was suggested that BART union workers' strikes be outlawed (public transportation and safety workers are not allowed to strike in many other jurisdictions), Arnerich replied that a "no strike law" is "not a solution"! Really, Newell? Guess you don't have to commute on BART.


Posted by No BS
a resident of Danville
on Apr 29, 2014 at 8:13 am

NBS: you make many charges, and provide no evidence. Please name three places where Arn...ch's are illegal.

You caution us about his signs -- how will his signs 'fool' us?

You attack his stance on BART strikes -- tell me, why shouldn't BART workers be allowed to strike? They aren't cops or firefighters, so public safety is not impacted -- is it only your convenience you're worried about? So other workers should give up part of their legitimate bargaining rights for you? Poor you.


Posted by BART rider
a resident of Danville
on Apr 29, 2014 at 10:41 am

@No *%#: BART workers are already the highest paid transportation workers in the country. Are you worried that they will not continue to be?

Comparable workers in many other jurisdictions are not allowed to strike. As everyone knows, when a government board "bargains" with other people's money it is not a true "bargaining" situation. As the polls show, even many on the far left of the political spectrum believe it is not right for BART workers (nor for air traffic controllers, police, and firefighters) to strike. Arnerich is quite obviously a union lackey so he doesn't want to offend his constituency by called for a BART strike prohibition. How laughable to say that such a prohibition "is not a solution." He is about to find out that he has alienated many voters with his position.


Posted by Fare Izphair
a resident of Blackhawk
on Apr 29, 2014 at 11:55 am

Yeah, because Danville's just chock full of "union lackeys." Do you have ANY idea how ridiculous you sound, with your uncited, half-remembered stats and your inability to distinguish public convenience from public safety, and your apparent ignorance of the fact that the BART Board is ELECTED? If you don't like the job the Board is doing -- and BART is the ONLY thing they do -- Vote Them Out! And pay attention when the bargaining happens.

Oh wait -- it's more fun to just spew largely irrelevant invective, far in arrears, and let somebody else carry both your water and your sorry butt.


Posted by BART commuter
a resident of Alamo
on Apr 30, 2014 at 9:51 am

Guess what, @Fare Is whatever, the BART Board can't legally prohibit the union's strike ability. Why do you think Steve Glazier, Arnerich's opponent for Assembly, is running largely on a no-BART-strike platform? You need some lessons in government.

Air travel is also "convenience" in your vernacular. Yet traffic controllers are prohibited from striking. And remember what happened during the last strike, several non-striking workers were killed. I'll tell you, I didn't feel too safe trying to fight dangerous traffic and breathe dangerously high levels of air pollution during the strike.

Enjoy your highly overcompensated salaries, BART workers, and I hope you enjoy paying your taxes that go toward the government subsidy necessary to pay those salaries, Mr. Fare.


Posted by NO to Steve Glazier
a resident of Danville
on May 2, 2014 at 10:50 am

If you oppose the forcing of high-density housing into Danville, don't vote for Steve Glazer. He is a great proponent of building more of that stuff in Orinda, and that is why he is being heavily funded by real estate developers. He is flooding radio with his anti-BART- strike ads to distract attention from his real estate developer support.


Posted by Truth in voting
a resident of Danville
on May 6, 2014 at 9:30 am

In the election ballot information that just came out and on his campaign Facebook, Newell Arnerich (a Democrat) is falsely claiming that he is endorsed by Supervisor Mary Piepho (a Republican). In fact, Piepho has endorsed Catharine Baker. Newell simply can't be trusted. What else is he lying about?


Posted by concerned voter
a resident of San Ramon
on May 6, 2014 at 9:34 am

Glazer is really backed by the BIG BUCKS! I have received at least 5 expensive mailers for him and heard numerous radio ads. That guy is definitely bought and paid for by real estate interests. I'll take a guy bought by the teachers' union and the AFL-CIO(Sbranti) over Glazer any day. He may tax my money away, but at least he won't destroy my neighborhood with HIGH-DENSITY HOUSING!


Posted by Derek
a resident of Danville
on May 6, 2014 at 4:48 pm

I find both Glazed-over and Arny to be distasteful choices.

T No BS- I generally vote democrat (for lack of genuine independents or Green Party members, who seem to be as rare as Tasmanian Tigers) but having mingled with Newell at a couple parties, there's no way he would ever get my vote or that of my wife with the impression he made.

When the No Bart Strikes poster mentioned "illegal" postings of Arny signs, that may have not quite been the right adjective, but Arny certainly has posted some in our neighborhood without permission. These include one on a school property, two on the edge of residential rental properties, and one in a Greenbrook common area that probably wasn't authorized either. And yes, Glazed-Over is making it his personal mission to fill our mailbox on a daily basis with the remains of dead redwoods, and he does not even have the decency to use absorbent paper that we can line our parrot cage with....

So, sadly, once again it is "none of the above"


Posted by voter
a resident of Montair Elementary School
on May 7, 2014 at 10:12 am

@Derek: Posting campaign signs on public property (e.g. school property) is absolutely illegal. I noticed one on the edge of the Town offices on La Gonda! Clearly, Newell Arnerich's hutzpah knows no bounds....


Posted by disgusted
a resident of Danville
on May 8, 2014 at 10:08 am

I found out yesterday that Glazer uses the same campaign manager as the State Senator/felon Leland Yee. Two peas in a pod. The Dem supermajority has got to end. Absolute power corrupts.


Posted by Amy Chin
a resident of San Ramon Valley High School
on May 16, 2014 at 11:11 am

All Asian American votes in AD16 will vote for Catharine Baker!!!!

Say No to Skin Color Act 5! We have enough of Democrats!!!


Posted by Derek
a resident of Danville
on May 16, 2014 at 5:38 pm

@Voter-

I had not looked into the specifics of campaign sign legalities, but I will take your word for it and remove the law-breaker's in my area. And any others I see while out riding my schwinn. After all, our fair city has a no-hand-bills ordinance, so it's only right that we get rid of the offending political signs.



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