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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, September 18, 2008
Contact: Anthony Moscarelli 707/290-6757 or 916/996-9170
www.saveoursuisun.org
Suisun City Council recall proponents charge voters may have had their votes ‘compromised' after county says petitions insufficient for election
SUISUN CITY, Ca. – Proponents of a ballot measure to recall three members
of the Suisun City Council said late Thursday – after they were informed
that petitions for the recall fell just short of qualifying a recall election – that they believe hundreds of Suisun City voters may have had their votes compromised.
Save Our Suisun, a citizen committee formed last March, said they will
immediately begin to review the rejected petitions and contact lawyers for
potential legal action.
"We are not necessarily surprised considering the political climate in this county, and we will have our lawyers look at it. We do feel badly that Suisun City voters have had their votes disallowed at the whim of the County Registrar of Voters," said Anthony Moscarelli, a spokesperson for SOS.
Moscarelli said that SOS validated virtually every signature on every petition – using the Registrar of Voters' own computers and database. "We vetted the signatures we turned in. We know they were good," said Moscarelli, adding "We intend to thoroughly investigate the petitions to determine exactly why hundreds of citizens were denied their will."
According to the Solano County Registrar of Voters, with 2,013 valid signatures required to force a Recall Election, the petition seeking recall of Mayor Pete Sanchez contained 1,907 valid signatures; Council member and vice-mayor Jane Day had 1,852 valid signatures and Council member Michael Hudson contained 1,894 valid signatures.
SOS – sued and threatened with arrest for gathering signatures in public places, and opposed by Wal-Mart, which spent tens of thousands of dollars to try to stop the Recall Election – turned in between about 2,300 and 2,400 signatures for each of the lawmakers August 8.
The recall campaign asked voters to oust the city council members, who voted to raise their own benefit plans 118 percent and risked the public safety by approving a Wal-Mart SuperCenter near an air base despite the protestations of pilots and public safety experts. SOS also targeted them after the discovery of missing city monies, and other financial irregularities – including spending $300,000 for a monument, while the local YMCA closed.
***************************************************************************** FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Friday, August 8, 2008
Contact: Save Our Suisun 916/996-9170 www.saveoursuisun.org
Sued and threatened with arrest, citizens dodge
Wal-Mart's $20,000; will turn in petitions to
recall Mayor, 2 others on Suisun City Council
SUISUN CITY, Ca. – Proponents of a ballot measure – sued and threatened
with arrest for gathering signatures to recall the Suisun City Mayor,
vice-mayor and another council member – will turn in thousands of
signatures Friday to qualify the measure for the ballot.
They also dodged a last minute, $20,000 effort by Wal-Mart to thwart the
signature drive.
The community group "Save Our Suisun" will hold a media availability Friday at 3 p.m. shortly before they turn in the petitions at Suisun City Hall,
700 Civic Center Blvd.
The recall campaign is asking voters to oust Mayor Pete Sanchez, Vice-Mayor Jane Day and councilman Michael Hudson, who voted to raise their own benefit plans 118 percent and risked the public safety by approving a
Wal-Mart SuperCenter near an air base despite the protestations of pilots
and public safety experts.
Proponents had four months to gather 2,030 valid signatures to qualify
the recall measure. They plan to turn in more than that number – virtually
all of which have already been validated by Solano County Registrar of
Voters' computers.
SOS targeted the city council after the discovery of missing city monies,
and other financial irregularities – including the spending of $300,000 for
a monument, while the local YMCA closed.
Proponents have been repeatedly threatened with arrest, sued and harassed
pursuing the recall. The California Secretary of State office is
investigating possible election fraud by opponents of the recall.
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PRESS ADVISORY
Monday, July 21, 2008
Contact: Mark Merin or Josh Kaizuka 916/443-6911 or Cres Vellucci 916/996-9170
Civil rights firm petitions appeals court to ‘stay' an order obtained by Raley's which prohibits free speech activity
SACRAMENTO – A civil rights firm here Monday said it has asked the State Court of Appeals for a "stay of execution" of an injunction obtained by
West Sacramento-based Raley's eliminating free speech rights of a community group attempting to gather signatures to recall members of the Suisun City Council.
In what could become a landmark case, civil rights lawyer Mark Merin said
in his motion to the Court of Appeal (First Appellate District) that the
decision by Solano County Judge Paul Beeman July 2 was in error, and that
the decision by Raley's to ban members of "Save Our Suisun" would
effectively "doom" the petition drive.
"Raley's...had no right to maintain an action to exclude defendant and its
members from gathering signatures on the common walkway adjacent to
Raley's," said Merin, who noted the group has only until August 8 to
collect enough signatures to put the matter of the ballot.
He explained that Raley's is the only grocery store in Suisun, located in
Heritage Mall, the only real shopping center in Suisun – and therefore
barring expressive activity in arguably the only real public place
"irreparably injure(s)" Save Our Suisun, and "dooms the citizen effort."
Merin argues that Raley's did not have the right to bring an action on the
public area in front of its store because Raley's does not own the common
area used by all shoppers of the center. Save Our Suisun said it would
restrict its activities to not interfere with Raley's operation.
Save Our Suisun is an all-volunteer community group gathering signatures to
recall Suisun City Mayor Pete Sanchez, and council members Jane Day and
Michael Hudson because they risked the public safety by approving a
Wal-Mart SuperCenter near Travis Air Base over objections of air safety
experts, including the County Airport Land Use Commission, and CalTRANS.
SOS also said council members have lost the public trust by raising their
own compensation plans 118 percent, making questionable loans, and other
deals with taxpayer monies.
******************************************************************* FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
Contact: Cres Vellucci (cell) 916/996 9170
Judge gives partial victory to free speech advocates in Solano County recall case; citizen group still restricted in attempt to recall city council
VALLEJO – Civil rights lawyers in part praised a decision by a judge here
to not ban petition gatherers – who have been threatened with arrest, sued
and physically assaulted – from the only real public gathering place in
Suisun as they attempt to get enough signatures to recall members of the
Suisun City Council.
Heritage Shopping Center in Suisun sought a complete ban of "Save Our
Suisun" petition gatherers, who are seeking to recall Suisun City mayor Pete Sanchez, vice-mayor Jane Day and councilman Michael Hudson after the discovery of missing city monies, other financial irregularities and their approval of a Wal-Mart Supercenter over public safety concerns.
However, Judge Paul Beeman rejected the shopping center's original motion
Tuesday, but still restricted petitioners to several spots in the center in
a temporary restraining order until Aug. 1.
"This is a limited victory. These are unrealistic restrictions, and largely
defeat the purpose of expressive speech," said Mark Merin, a Sacramento
civil rights lawyer representing Suisun residents. Merin said he is
prepared to appeal some of the judge's decisions in the case, which
criminalize free speech at the Suisun shopping center and the Raley's
grocery store.
"This case goes much further than Suisun and this shopping center. Slowly,
courts have been whittling down our freedom of expression in public places. Those who believe in free speech must make a stand for any and all groups wishing to express themselves," said Cres Vellucci, a Sacramento ACLU board member monitoring the case.
Vellucci noted that the judge recognized "that this is a public area. The
judge also rejected the center's suggestion that petitioners be placed in a
‘dead zone' in front of closed stores. Oddly, there are no restrictions at
the center for U.S. Army recruiters, girl scouts, the Salvation Army and
even some of these same petition circulators when they were gathering names opposing the Wal-Mart."
The latest court decision is only one of several unexpected hurdles
incurred by the modest community group. Their members have been accosted and harassed – at least once by councilmember Hudson, who was investigating for wrongdoing by Suisun police.
******************************************************************* URGENT NEWS ADVISORY
Monday, July 14, 2008
Contact: Cres Vellucci (cell) 916/996 9170
ATTN: Daybook/Assignment Desk
Civil rights lawyers, shopping center in landmark showdown Tuesday over free speech rights; battle started over Wal-Mart
VALLEJO – In what could become a landmark case, civil rights lawyers
Tuesday will go to court to fight attempts to criminalize free speech at a
Solano County shopping center where residents have been threatened with
arrest for peaceably petitioning in public places as guaranteed by state
and federal law.
A hearing to decide whether a Suisun shopping center owner should be
granted a restraining order against residents is set for TUESDAY, 10 a.m.,
at the Solano County Superior Court (321 Tuolumne St., Vallejo), Judge Paul L. Beeman, Dept. 1.
A PRESS BRIEFING will be held at 9:45 a.m. at the courthouse entrance.
The Law Office of Mark Merin, a major civil rights firm based in
Sacramento, will appear on behalf of "Save Our Suisun," an all-volunteer
community group gathering signatures to recall Suisun City Mayor Pete
Sanchez, and council members Jane Day and Michael Hudson.
Merin – considered an expert on free speech issues involving shopping
centers – argues that the Heritage Mall in Suisun is violating the
constitutional, free speech rights of residents circulating recall
petitions and literature. He calls attempts to ban or restrict peaceful
petitioning "unconstitutionally restrictive."
SOS is working to recall the city council members because they have risked
the public safety by approving a Wal-Mart SuperCenter near Travis Air Baseover the objections of public safety experts, including the County Airport Land Use Commission, and CalTRANS. SOS also charges the council members have lost the public trust by raising their own compensation plans 118 percent, making questionable loans, and other deals with taxpayer monies.
******************************************************************* FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
Contact: Cres Vellucci (cell) 916/996 9170
ATTN: DAYBOOK/NEWS DESK
Suisun police accused of cover-up after they fail
to interview eye-witnesses, fully investigate
claim that politician accosted grandmother
SUISUN/FAIRFIELD – The Suisun City Police Dept. – investigating a complaint that a Suisun City Council member harassed and accosted a grandmother gathering signatures to recall him from office – did not make any real attempt to seriously explore the charges, a spokesperson for a community group said here today.
Police told civil rights attorney Jeff Kravitz, representing Suisun
grandmother Mina Guerrero, that the Solano County District Attorney had not found grounds to pursue the criminal probe – but police failed to interview any eye witnesses, or even the accused, councilman Michael Hudson.
"We are not at all surprised. The police association has put up billboards
announcing its opposition to the Recall Election. Despite their assurances,
we knew they would not fully investigate the charges," said Cres Vellucci,
a spokesperson for "Save Our Suisun."
"We did, though, expect them to at least interview eye witnesses and
Michael Hudson. But, they did not even do that," added Vellucci. He added
that an outside agency, possibly the California Attorney General's office,
is being contacted to oversee a objective investigation.
Members of "Save Our Suisun" – since they began gathering signatures in
April – have been sued, threatened with arrest by the same police who did
not probe the Hudson matter and accosted by Hudson, and other Recall
opponents. SOS has until August 8 to submit about 2,030 signatures to force an election to recall Hudson, Mayor Pete Sanchez and Vice-Mayor Jane Day.
Sanchez, Hudson and Day are the targets of a recall because, said "Save Our Suisun," they risked public safety by approving a Wal-Mart SuperCenter near Travis Air Force Base, despite the warnings of air safety experts.
The councilmembers also raised their own compensation plans 118 percent and have made a series of questionable city financial decisions. In addition
more than $100,000 is missing from the city coffers, according to one tally.
****************************************************************** FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, July 3, 2008
Contact: Cres Vellucci (cell) 916/996 9170
‘Anti-4th of July' message sent by courts; Judge rules Raley's can ban free speech in public areas of Suisun store to stop recall effort of community group
VALLEJO – In what is being described as an "anti-4th of July, Independence Day" message from the courts, a community group attempting to recall an out-of-control city council in Suisun said today a Solano County Court judge has ruled free speech has to take a back seat to big property owners – at least in Suisun.
Solano County judge Paul Beeman Wednesday granted a preliminary injunction to Raley's, Inc. that allows the chain to ban free speech not only in its store, but also on the sidewalk in front and on the sides of its store in
the Heritage Shopping Center in Suisun, to "Save Our Suisun," the group
circulating petitions to recall three members of the city council.
The store argued that "property rights" take precedent over other rights,
even the 1st Amendment to the U.S. constitution, and the California
constitution, despite a spate of court decisions that support freedom of
expression on private property in public places.
"It is ironic, and sad, that as our country prepares to celebrate our
Independence Day, July 4th, that we witnessed an attorney from Raley's
argue – and a judge agree – that the Constitution, and Bill of Rights,
should be superseded by ‘property rights," said Cres Vellucci, a
spokesperson for "Save Our Suisun" and a ACLU/Sacramento board member.
"Our founding fathers purposely argued that we had free speech in the
village shopping square, replaced today by shopping centers and malls.
There is a very good reason they made freedom of speech the very first
amendment in the Bill of Rights. People have fought and died for free
speech, not property rights," said Vellucci, a Vietnam veteran.
The Law Office of Mark Merin, a major civil rights firm based in
Sacramento, represented "Save Our Suisun" and has agreed to pursue any
appeals necessary to reverse the decision
Merin argued, in a brief filed with the court, that the attempts to ban or
restrict peaceful petitioning are "unconstitutionally restrictive." Raley's
has also repeatedly, over the span of a month, called police to arrest
community group members.. Police refused.
SOS, an all-volunteer citizen group that includes many retired longtime
residents, is attempting to recall Suisun City Mayor Pete Sanchez, and
council members Jane Day and Michael Hudson because they have risked the public safety by approving a Wal-Mart SuperCenter near an air base over the objections of public safety experts. SOS also said the council have lost the public trust by raising their own compensation plans 118 percent and making questionable loans, and offering no-bid contracts.
****************************************************************** FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monday, June 30, 2008
Contact: Cres Vellucci (cell) 916/996 9170
ATTN: Daybook/Assignment Desk
Civil rights lawyers seek relief for citizens sued by Raley's, accosted by city councilman and threatened with arrest in recall campaign
SACRAMENTO – Citizens circulating petitions to recall the mayor of Suisun City, and two other members of the city council have been intimidated and harassed on the streets and in the courts – in part aided by Raley's, Inc. and possibly members of the local police, according to information to be disclosed Tuesday at a press conference here.
The press briefing will be held at 10 a.m. TUESDAY at the Law Office of
Mark Merin (2001 P Street, Suite 100). Several Sacramento civil rights
lawyers are working on the case.
Members of "Save Our Suisun" – since they began gathering signatures in
April – have been sued, accosted by a local politician who is a target of
the recall and repeatedly threatened with arrest in public places by
police, whose own "association" is hardly objective: they have publically
opposed the recall effort.
The Suisun City Police Chief has confirmed he is taking witness statements
and investigating claims council member Michael Hudson – one of those
targeted by the recall – accosted a grandmother who was gathering
signatures to recall him, according to Jeffrey Kravitz, a Sacramento civil
rights lawyer.
And, in a court case to be heard this week, a local grocery chain, Raley's,
is arguing that the recall signature gatherers should be banned from
otherwise public places, although Raley's is the ONLY grocery store at the
ONLY real mall in Suisun. The law office of Mark Merin is representing the citizen group.
The members of the City Council – Mayor Pete Sanchez and council members Hudson and Jane Day – are the targets of a recall because, said "Save Our Suisun," they risked public safety by approving a Wal-Mart SuperCenter near Travis Air Force Base, raised their own compensation plans 118 percent and made questionable city financial decisions.
****************************************************************** URGENT NEWS ADVISORY
Friday, June 27, 2008
Contact: Save Our Suisun (SOS) 916/996 9170
Police open probe after grandmother says city council member ‘accosted' her while she gathered signatures to recall him
SUISUN CITY, CA – The Suisun City Police Department in this city of 28,000 near Fairfield has confirmed it is taking witness statements and
investigating claims a Suisun City Council member – facing a possible
recall, in part because of a Wal-Mart vote – accosted a grandmother when
she was gathering signatures to recall him from office.
City Council member Michael Hudson was named by Suisun City grandmother Mina Guerrero and at least one other witness, according to Jeffrey Kravitz, a Sacramento civil rights lawyer who accompanied Ms. Guerrero to the police department to make a formal statement at the request of police Thursday.
The allegations first were made a week ago by Save Our Suisun, a community group seeking the recall of Mayor Pete Sanchez, and council members Hudson
and Jane Day.
Hudson allegedly accosted Ms. Guerrero June 14, yelling and screaming at
her, intimidating recall petition signers, and pushing himself to less than
a foot of Ms. Guerrero, who had to repeatedly retreat to avoid being
touched. At least one witness said Hudson stalked Ms. Guerrero for about an hour. Hudson reportedly demanded identification from Ms. Guerrero to prove she was a citizen. She is Latino and a U.S. citizen.
The members of the City Council are the targets of a recall because they
risked public safety by approving a Wal-Mart SuperCenter near Travis Air
Force Base, raised their own compensation plans 118 percent and made
questionable city financial decisions, said SOS.
Some members of SOS have questioned the objectivity of the Suisun City
police after the Suisun City Fire & Police Association placed large signs
around the city opposing Hudson's recall. However, Police Chief Ed Dadisho Thursday promised his department would remain objective in the
investigation.
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Contact: Save Our Suisun (SOS) 916/996 9170
ATTN: Daybook/Assignment Desk
Recall campaign in Suisun turns dirty;
City Council member accosts petition
gatherer, may have broken law
SUISUN CITY, CA – A Suisun City Council member – facing a possible recall
on the November ballot – may have broken state election laws and made what could be considered racist remarks when he accosted a recall signature-gatherer
at a public event, proponents of the recall said today.
The council member will be named and details and witnesses provided at a
major news briefing THURSDAY, at 10 a.m. on the sidewalk in front of the
Raley's store (Heritage Park Shopping Center at Sunset & Highway 12).
Opponents have turned to dirty campaign tactics to stop the recall of Mayor
Pete Sanchez, and council members Jane Day and Michael Hudson, said Cres
Vellucci, a spokesperson for Save Our Suisun (SOS).
The officials are target of a recall because they risked public safety by
approving a Wal-Mart SuperCenter near Travis Air Force Base, raised their
own compensation plans 118 percent and made questionable city financial
decisions, said SOS
"The targeted public officials are desperate. They know that SOS is close
to collecting the signatures necessary to put their political futures at
risk. Apparently they fear the voters. Why else would they play dirty to
stop a vote of the people of Suisun," said Vellucci.
SOS last week was told by the courts to limit petitioning at the city's
only grocery store, Raley's, after several people – anonymous and who may
be linked to the "No on Recall" group – complained. Vellucci said there was
no proof that the anonymous complaints came from anyone other than
supporters of the targeted council members.
****************************************************************** FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Friday, June 13, 2008
Contact: Save Our Suisun (SOS) 916/996 9170
Court grants Raley's store temporary order limiting free speech rights of the proponents of Recall of Suisun mayor, city council members
SUISUN CITY, CA – Volunteers with Save Our Suisun – circulating a ballot measure to recall the mayor and two other members of the Suisun City Council – said a grocery store chain was granted a temporary restraining order Thursday limiting signature gathering.
SOS is attempting to recall Mayor Pete Sanchez, and council members Jane
Day and Michael Hudson because they risked public safety by approving a
Wal-Mart SuperCenter near Travis Air Force Base, raised their own
compensation plans 118 percent and made questionable city financial
decisions hurting taxpayers.
"It is disappointing Raley's, Inc. decided to interfere with the local
politics of Suisun City, and limit free speech rights of its citizens,"
said Cres Vellucci, a SOS spokesperson. Raley's earlier tried to arrest
petitioners, but police refused because no crime had been committed.
The 20-day temporary restraining order limits where volunteer petition
gatherers may collect signatures at the entrance to the Raley's store at
the Heritage Park Shopping Center at Sunset & Highway 12. TRO's are
routinely granted. A full hearing is set on the case's merits July 2.
"In effect, Raley's has taken the side opposing the Recall, and has
concocted claims that our political work – which is what makes us a strong
democracy – somehow is wrong in front of their store. When I last checked,
Raley's was still part of the United States," added Vellucci.
Raley's asked for relief because a handful of anonymous customers said they
didn't like petition legal gathering. But, Vellucci said there was no proof
that the complaints came from anyone other than supporters of the targeted
council members, or the members themselves.
"Even if the seven complaints are real, they are dwarfed by the 1,300
voters who signed petitions at Raley's, and SOS petition gathers, who are
also their shoppers," he said.
Notified only 24 hours before the hearing, SOS presented proof that the
group has not caused any harm to Raley's, and demonstrated that local
volunteer signature gatherers have been credited with registering new
voters, and assisting Raley's shoppers – including ferrying one elderly
woman home with her groceries when a cab she called failed to arrive.
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Thursday, April 17, 2008 NEWS CONFERENCE ALERT
Thursday, April 17, 2008 Contact: Dwight Acey SUISUN CITIZENS LEAGUE 707/432-0792 916/996-9170
Nearly $139,000 is missing from city's coffers on land for Wal-Mart, according to probe of Suisun's files, says watchdog group
SUISUN CITY – Nearly $139,00 in taxpayer funds advanced to a contractor
in 1993 by the City of Suisun for work performed on the 22-acre Walters Road property – now owned by Wal-Mart – appears to be “missing,“ according to a city watchdog group, Suisun Citizens League.
The full report will be released to the public Thursday, April 17, at 10 a.m. at a press conference in front of Suisun’s City Hall, 701 Civic Center Blvd in Suisun.
California Healthy Communities Network, a project of non-profit Tides
Center, is making public the report after it conducted an exhaustive search of City of Suisun records of the Wal-Mart site history, dating back to the purchase of the property by former property owner and prominent highway paving contractor, E.O. DeSilva in 1986.
“We have reviewed the report and documents obtained by California
Healthy Communities Network under the California Public Records Act from the City and found that records provided by the City did not account for repayment of money taken from the City’s Off Site Street Improvement Project fund to perform site improvements on the DeSilva property in 1993,” reported Dwight Acey, a spokesperson for the Citizens League.
According to official records, the interest-free public funds advanced for the DeSilva property improvements in 1993 were due and payable to the City upon the sale of the property by DeSilva in 2006; however, no record of payment was located in City records.
The revelation about the land deal, and lack of repayment, is one of the
reasons another organization, "Save Our Suisun" (SOS), announced a recall of three Suisun City Council members last month. ****************************************************************** FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Wednesday, March 19, 2008 SUISUN CITY, Ca. – Three members of the Suisun City Council – including the Mayor – were served with official notices to recall them during the city council meeting Tuesday night by a community group formed after the council ignored safety experts and approved a controversial Wal-Mart last month and "risked the health and safety" of Suisun residents.
Mayor Pete Sanchez, vice-mayor Jane Day and council member Mike Hudson will have a week to respond to the "Notice of Intention to Circulate Recall Petition," according to Anthony Moscarelli, a member of "Save Our Suisun" (SOS) and one of the Suisun City residents to serve the notices. He said
residents lined up to sign the notice of recall.
Petitions to force the recall election could begin circulating within 30 days, and proponents have up to 120 days to collect about 2,050 valid signatures of registered voters. SOS expects to collect at least 2,500 signatures.
Councilmembers Mike Segala and Sam Derting are not part of the recall because they are up for re-election in November. The campaign to un-elect them, and the recall campaign against those served Tuesday night will be run simultaneously, said SOS.
"Mayor Pete Sanchez...has not kept his public campaign promises to oppose a proposed big box development that has negative impacts on the health and safety of residents," said Moscarelli, quoting the recall notice. Sanchez promised to never vote for a Wal-Mart project during campaigning for Mayor – but did so in February. Sanchez treats "residents with disrespect," and his votes "needlessly exposes (the city) to the liability of an aircraft crash" at the site of a proposed
Wal-Mart project, said Moscarelli.
Vice-Mayor Day also voted to approve the controversial Wal-Mart project, which "threatens the health and safety of residents of Suisun City, exposing Suisun City citizens to excessive traffic, crime, flooding, environmental damage and lower property values,"said recall proponent Peggy Hanson, quoting from the recall statement she served on Day.
Council member Hudson is being recalled for, among other reasons, refusing to recuse himself from The Wal-Mart vote despite the fact that he "chairs an organization that has accepted money from (Wal-Mart) pursuing approval of a multi-million dollar development...affecting the health and safety" of Suisun City residents, said Rich Hanson, who served Hudson.
The Notice(s) of Intention to Circulate Recall Petition, outlining the reasons to recall the SuisunCity elected officials, are available upon request. ***************************************************************** FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Friday, March 7, 2008
Resident group threaten recall of Suisun City Council for approving Wal-Mart
project; will hold Saturday meeting
SUISUN CITY, Ca. – Opponents of the recently-approved Wal-Mart here said they are continuing the fight, and will hold a community meeting to consider a possible recall of Suisun City Council members who disregarded public safety warnings by aviation experts and other land use professionals when they approved the controversial project at Walters Road and Highway 12 Feb. 13.
The community meeting will be held this SATURDAY, March 8, at 10 a.m. at the Grace Baptist Church, 1000 Bluejay Drive in Suisun by neighborhood activists for "Save Our Suisun (SOS)."
"It's time for a change at City Hall when the political leadership of our community refuses to listen to its citizens, and listens only to big, out-of-state development interests which dominate decisions impacting our neighborhoods, public safety and qualify of life," said Dwight Acey, a resident and one of the event organizers.
The Suisun City Council ignored recommendations by the State Dept. of Transportation, the Airport Land Use Commission, the Pipeline Safety Trust and other experts that the 24-hour Wal-Mart Superstore could pose a safety risk because of its proximity to Travis Air Force Base, an underground jet fuel pipeline and it's location on Highway 12, or "blood alley."
Land use experts advised that the project would cause air pollution, threaten nearby wetlands and likely cause flooding to surrounding neighborhoods.
"We need more than rubber stamp politicians; we need real political leadership if Suisun City is going to face the many growth issues now confronting our city," Acey added.
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