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DESCRIPTION:Contact: Ned Van Valkenburgh\nTelephone: 831-760-2429\nFOR IMMEDIATE 
 RELEASE\nEmail: BBL@calcentral.com\n\nSANTA CRUZ BEACH RALLY SET FOR A 
 BETTER LA BAHIA HOTEL PLAN\nLabor, Neighbors, and Community Reps Weigh 
 In:\nProposed Hotel Is Too Big; Coalition asks How Big is Too 
 Big\n\nThursday Evening August 21 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Santa Cruz Main 
 Beach\n\nUnion laborers, community reps, even La Bahia's neighbors want to 
 upgrade the distressed Santa Cruz beachfront site with a hotel. But they 
 all demand something better--and smaller--than La Behemoth currently being 
 proposed by Barry Swenson Builder and the Seaside Company.\n\nAccording to 
 longtime neighbor Don Webber, "There's a lot of support for building a 
 hotel at La Bahia that is built in scale with the Beach Hill area, in 
 conformance with the zoning law and more in line with community values." 
 Neighbors have been asking city officials for story poles to demonstrate 
 the height and placement of the 125-room luxury hotel up for approval by 
 the City Council in September. Labor unions aren't happy with Swenson's 
 plans since the company hasn't committed to building as a union shop or to 
 a card count union election process for hotel staff. Historic 
 preservationists are unhappy with the decision to totally demolish the 
 aging landmark currently on the site instead of trying to restore even part 
 of it. Community reps don't like the City Council riding roughshod over the 
 general plan, the zoning law, and a host of other city policies intended to 
 protect the quality of life in Santa Cruz. But Swenson wants to demolish a 
 city landmark and build 30 feet above the legal height limit,so he 
 definitely needs to have the city change a number of important planning 
 laws.\n\nAll of these groups are gathering for a rally at the beach to 
 inform anyone who wants to know more about La Bahia. The public is invited 
 to the Main Beach right across from La Bahia on Thursday evening, on August 
 21, 5:30 p.m. Please join them if you want to show your support for the 
 appropriate development of La Bahia, or if you just want to hear another 
 side of the story.\n\n"We'll show you what's right and what's wrong with 
 Swenson proposal," said Mark Weller, of UNITE HERE Local 483, "and how to 
 design a project that benefits the entire community."\n\nThe Build a Better 
 La Bahia Coalition is a group of neighbors, construction and service 
 workers, and community representatives interested in the successful 
 development of a hotel at the La Bahia site. They want it to be both 
 economically and environmentally successful.La Bahia is a great hotel site. 
 So let's build a great hotel there--not just a great big one. As a 
 signature project for the Santa Cruz beach area, it must be consistent with 
 core community values: conformance with the planning laws, respect for 
 neighborhood compatibility, good jobs that are secure and pay middle-class 
 wages and benefits. Join us.\n\n# # #\n\nFor more information about this 
 topic, or to schedule an interview with Don Webber or Mark Weller, please 
 call Ned Van Valkenburgh at 831-760-2429, or email BBL [at] 
 calcentral.com\n https://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2008/08/18/18527605.php
SUMMARY:Santa Cruz Beach Rally for a Better La Bahia Hotel Plan
LOCATION:Santa Cruz Main Beach
URL:https://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2008/08/18/18527605.php
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