Mark Leno Senate Bill 792 encounters hurdles and LACKS support in Sacramento and Bayview.

Candlestick Recreation Area aka Candlestick State Park is well used for recreational purposes and brings in an income of over $950,000. Some months ago, much before the devious Senator Mark Leno introduced his Senate Bill 792 - there was talk to close down Candlestick Stick Recreation Area. Some of us went to Sacramento, met with the State Legislators that count and were well told that they would represent us and stop the closure of Candlestick Recreation Area.

When Senator Mark Leno first introduced this horrible bill SB 792 - I for one could not believe what Mark Leno had got himself into. The man has lost his marbles and for money is selling his soul. The man says that he needs to collect $1 million to stay in office and to further his office. You can find this information on http://www.maplight.org

I know Mark Leno and he knows me. I believe that one must have full Transparency and Accountability. Some where along the line, Mark Leno got caught up in the Proposition 8 fiasco. One must remember that over $40 million was spent on Proposition 8 and the Proposition lost. This Proposition has hurt many QUEER folks and I can say with some assurance Mark Leno had more then something to do with this defeat.

With SB 792 Mark Leno who has not visited Bayview Hunters Point and has NOT on meaningful dialog with the community at large - has chosen to hoodwink the community at large in broad daylight. When SB 792 was first introduced at the Natural Resources Committee I was there. I addressed the committee Chaired by Fran Pavley and the Committee heard loud and clear that this precious land Candlestick Recreation Area should NOT be sold to a Rogue Developer - Lennar.

However, Mark Leno feels that Lennar a Rogue Developer that failed in Mare Island - promising to build 10,000 homes and declaring bankruptcy after 10 years. A fact that has put Vallejo in dire straits forcing the City of Vallejo to declare bankruptcy. After 10 years Lennar has nothing to show.

Lennar is deeply involved at Treasure Island and at Hunters Point. Nothing much is happening and Lennar is losing millions of dollars because of the down turn in the home building industry. Yet, Lennar prods on and folks like Mark Leno should be ashamed of themselves for aiding and abetting a Rogue Developer like Lennar. Lennar is NOT respected by the majority of decent constituents in the Bayview Hunters Point.

Lennar poisoned our children and elders and was fined $515,000 by the Bay Area Air Quality Management District. Lennar is not trust all over the Nation. Lennar now want to build on 40 acres of Public Trust Land - the Candlestick Recreation Area. The only State Park we have in San Francisco that is well used by all San Franciscans and others from near by counties.

When some of us went to Sacramento to testify before the State Appropriations Committee on SB 792, before Chair Kevin De Leon the Legislators heard first hand testimony and found out that indeed something was a miss. Chair Kevin De Leon admonished Senator Mark Leno and requested him to better facilitate the issue at hand and to resolve standing issues with those that strongly oppose his SB 792. Chair Kevin De Leon from the Appropriations Committee, clearly stated that he and the committee saw a clear opposition and did not like what they saw.

Decent constituents from the Bayview Hunters Point that had left very early in the morning by bus from San Francisco to be present on time at 9 am for the hearing. We also presented the Chair of the Appropriation Committee over 600 signatures and have more in the pipe line. We have made hundreds of telephones calls and have expanded all our limited resources to fight Senate Bill 792.

Assembly Person Tom Ammiano did a stellar job on SB 792, as he often does when he is committed to any cause. I met Assembly Tom Ammiano on Saturday at the BMagic event held at the Bayview Opera House and he assured me that the fight was not over. Thousands support him on SB 792 but also on the Bart Legislation. We will be in Sacramento fight side by side with you.

Senator Leland Yee has done what is possible to clarify some issues and bring on board some of the Democrats who were NOT very clear on the real facts. Unfortunately, as often happens the Republican Senators voted in favor of SB 792 and when the roll was taken - we lost by one single vote at the last Appropriations Committee.

Yesterday, pass 4 pm the Legislators decided not to send this devious SB 792 before the Full Assembly for vote. What this means is that Mark Leno and his cronies do not have the support of most of the Legislators that count. Now, is the time for the African American Legislators, the Latino Legislator, the Asian Legislators, other Legislators to defeat this EVIL Senate Bill 792 once and for all.

Some of us have been working very had to fight this SB 792 for a long, long time. I remember some years ago, I had to go with Andrew Bozeman my partner and fight against Assembly Bill 1187 also crafted by Mark Leno to create the Hunters Point Shipyard Development Authority HUPSDA) - much like the Treasure Island Development Authority (TIDA).

In those days it was possible for the Legislators were receptive to decent constituents and hear them. Today, the scene in Sacramento is " living hell " - it is all about MONEY and I know that Mark Leno loves MONEY - and this time around he will drown in the CESSPOOL of his own making.

While the Bayview Hunters Point may not be as filthy rich at the Pacific Heights Mafia region of Nob Hill, Pacific Heights that can wheel and deal and break at will those that oppose them. This time around some of us are a force to reckon with. This SB 792 has been well document by me from the inception. I knew from the inception where it was going.

There are some folks that will do anything to GRAB LAND. You may not believe me but soon they will try to build homes on top of Bayview Hill. That is the hill near Candlestick Stadium or near Executive Park. Acres of land that now belong to Recreation and Park. Few know about this but there is wheeling and dealing to take over this land named Bayview Hill and develop it.

This quest to fight EVIL and those that are in bed with developers in nothing new to Bayview Hunters Point. What makes it difficult are the sell outs that I have named again and again - and if I name them this time - I will tarnish the writing and facts before the reader.

Let me say, on this one Senator Mark Leno has dug his grave. Looking back he will have remorse but as time goes by he will suffer because he made a deal with the DEVIL. On this one as I have predicted before many times - all those that had anything to do with this ploy will suffer.

All the land that is San Francisco belongs to the Muwekma Ohlone. It was stolen from them. While thousands of units are vacant - hundreds of homes in foreclosure - we have greedy developers still wanting to build INFERIOR homes as LENNAR is prone to build:

http://www.muwekma.org

For sure we have had some with us on this one, Senate Bill 792 from the start. Others are just joined in the fray as they do often times to win kudos, pretending they are helping the Bayview Hunters Point community - they are not.

What really counts anyway you look at it - if you were present at the Sacramento hearings and if you spoke up for the community - your really were for the community. If you did not - you are luke warm and will be spit from the mouth.

Few have been committed to this cause and to those that stood up for what is right - KUDOS to you all - you know who you are. To those that want to jump on the bandwagon at the last moment - we decent folks in the Bayview Hunters Point - know a skunk when we see it.

Shame of Arc Ecology and the man down the totem pole who says he represents the Sierra Club. Saul Bloom aka David Saleman and Art Feinstein. You two do NOT represent the community and must refrain from saying so.

For years at least one of you has been on the take - working with San Francisco Redevelopment Agency the most nefarious organization that has brought harm to thousands. Nothing much has happened. Today, SF Redevelopment Agency works hand in glove with Lennar. Anyone, that works with Lennar works against the people.

Candlestick Recreation Area is Public Trust Land that belongs to all Californians. Public Trust Land must not be for SALE. Today, Candlestick Recreation Area bring in more then $950,000 and is self-sufficient. We do not want high rise buildings at Candlestick Recreation Area by the Bay - and NOT one square inch must be sold to the DEVIL.

http://www.bcdc.ca.gov

http://www.hunterspointnavalshipyard.com

http://www.sescdc.org

Francisco Da Costa
Director
Environmental Justice Advocacy

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http://www.bcdc.ca.gov

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