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Big Money Behind Greenway's Effort to Block Passenger Rail in Santa Cruz County
The 'Yes Greenway' campaign took $56,876.47 in contributions between July 26 and September 30, according to financial documents filed today, November 1 with the County of Santa Cruz (see attached PDF file). The 'Yes Greenway' campaign committee has been collecting signatures, and officially soliciting donations, since July of this year to put an initiative on the 2022 ballot that would block the establishment of clean, electric passenger rail service along the Coastal Rail Corridor in Santa Cruz County. Greenway has the potential to raise very large sums of money, having taken in over half a million dollars in contributions since the organization's founding in 2017. According to financial documents filed with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), Santa Cruz County Greenway, Inc. took in $194,892.00 in 2017, and $305,698.00 in 2018 (see attached PDF files).
The Yes Greenway measure calls for the removal from Santa Cruz County's general plan all references to the establishment of passenger rail service, and the continued construction of the Rail Trail, in order to remove the train tracks in favor of a 'trail only' model. Multiple segments of the 'Rail Trail' have already been constructed, and are in use, in the cities of Santa Cruz and Watsonville (see attached photos). The Rail Trail plan preserves the existing train tracks, while adding a new bike and pedestrian trail along the edge of the rail corridor.
As a a 501(c)(4) 'dark money' organization, Santa Cruz County Greenway, Inc. is not required by law to disclose the identity of its donors. As a county campaign committee, however, Yes Greenway must disclose its top donors supporting the ballot initiative.
Top contributors to 'Yes Greenway':
$5,000 - John W. Ballard
$5,000 - William Menchine
$5,000 - Rowland K. Rebele
$5,000 - Miles Rieter, CEO Driscoll's Berries
$5,000 - Bill Simpkins
$5,000 - Robert Stephens
$1,039.04 - Jack Brown
$1,038.73 - Ed Colligan
$1,038.73 - Elizabeth Doolin
$1,038.73 - Carin Hanna, Owner of Craft Gallery, Capitola
$1,038.73 - Rick Magnuson, Managing Director, Orpheum Capital, LLC
$1,038.73 - Peter Meehan
$1,038.73 - Gayle Ortiz, Owner of Gayle's Bakery, Capitola
$1,000 - Jeremy Ertl
$1,000 - Suzanne Holt
$1,000 - Gerald Weber
Sources and More Information:
IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search
https://apps.irs.gov/app/eos/
Santa Cruz County Campaign Reporting Documents for Yes Greenway
https://public.netfile.com/Pub2/AllFilingsByFiler.aspx?id=200915759
As a a 501(c)(4) 'dark money' organization, Santa Cruz County Greenway, Inc. is not required by law to disclose the identity of its donors. As a county campaign committee, however, Yes Greenway must disclose its top donors supporting the ballot initiative.
Top contributors to 'Yes Greenway':
$5,000 - John W. Ballard
$5,000 - William Menchine
$5,000 - Rowland K. Rebele
$5,000 - Miles Rieter, CEO Driscoll's Berries
$5,000 - Bill Simpkins
$5,000 - Robert Stephens
$1,039.04 - Jack Brown
$1,038.73 - Ed Colligan
$1,038.73 - Elizabeth Doolin
$1,038.73 - Carin Hanna, Owner of Craft Gallery, Capitola
$1,038.73 - Rick Magnuson, Managing Director, Orpheum Capital, LLC
$1,038.73 - Peter Meehan
$1,038.73 - Gayle Ortiz, Owner of Gayle's Bakery, Capitola
$1,000 - Jeremy Ertl
$1,000 - Suzanne Holt
$1,000 - Gerald Weber
Sources and More Information:
IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search
https://apps.irs.gov/app/eos/
Santa Cruz County Campaign Reporting Documents for Yes Greenway
https://public.netfile.com/Pub2/AllFilingsByFiler.aspx?id=200915759
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Greenway has been much more vocal since 2018. How long until we can get newer returns/filings?
Greenway claims they have taken in less in contributions in the last two years. The organization reported taking in less than $50K each year for 2019 and 2020, which means by law they were only required to file a Form 990-N (e-Postcard) for those two years and not disclose the specific amount they took in.
This photo shows the only information available about Greenway from the IRS for 2019 and 2020.
IRS information about Greenway can be found by searching for "Santa Cruz County Greenway Inc" at: https://apps.irs.gov/app/eos/
Greenway's EIN is 82-1286815.
This photo shows the only information available about Greenway from the IRS for 2019 and 2020.
IRS information about Greenway can be found by searching for "Santa Cruz County Greenway Inc" at: https://apps.irs.gov/app/eos/
Greenway's EIN is 82-1286815.
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