Measure A: a closer look at the debate

Editor's note: The following is an account of some of the major issues surrounding Measure A as addressed by supporters and opponents during the Oct.

[Vote NO on A]

Jeff Adams of DDR keeps telling the BIG Lie that all the studies will be done and the agencies will review the studies before issueing permits. This is not true. Read the impartial analysis. Measure A is not subject to the normal environmental review or approval process.

If Measure A passes, DDR's 800,000 square foot "conceptual" project will be automatically approved, with no conditions except the "conceptual" ones that DDR has included in Measure A.

If Measure A passes, there will be no EIR, no study or conditions to limit greenhouse gas emissions, no water assessment study as normally required by state law, no economic analysis of the impact on existing business centers as normally required by state law, no public hearings before the Planning Commission and Board of Supervisors, no public comment and no conditions to mitigate the many significant impacts of the DDR project.

The taxpayers are likely to get left holding the bag for millions of dollars that it will cost to fix the problems that DDR will cause but not pay for.

[Michael Toschi]

We should vote yes on Measure A because retailers that want to come to Mendocino Crossings that are not able to, they have the availability to come to the Ukiah Airport area like PetSmart (Jeff Adams said Mendocino Crossings has only room for one pet store tenant, and Petco is doing better than PetSmart, financially, and they already have a letter of intent from Petco.), Borders (Jeff Adams said it likely that Barnes & Noble is likely to come to Mendocino Crossings because Barnes & Noble is doing better than Borders, financially, even though Barnes & Noble has not expressed interest to come to Mendocino Crossings, at this time), and retailers like those.

[DDR is dying]

Michael Toschi wrote:

We should vote yes on Measure A because retailers that want to come to Mendocino Crossings that are not able to, they have the availability to come to the Ukiah Airport area like PetSmart (Jeff Adams said Mendocino Crossings has only room for one pet store tenant, and Petco is doing better than PetSmart, financially, and they already have a letter of intent from Petco.), Borders (Jeff Adams said it likely that Barnes & Noble is likely to come to Mendocino Crossings because Barnes & Noble is doing better than Borders, financially, even though Barnes & Noble has not expressed interest to come to Mendocino Crossings, at this time), and retailers like those.

Michael,

Your comments make no sense at all. Simply there is room for all that you mention at Redwood Business Park. There is no way Borders or Barnes & Noble would locate here. LOL The demagraphics just don't cover it. Petco or Petsmart is pretty laughable as well. This area can't even support one small Pet store and you can buy dog and cat food at a bunch of places.

Get Real.

[Dr Evil]

Vote NO on A wrote:

Jeff Adams of DDR keeps telling the BIG Lie that all the studies will be done and the agencies will review the studies before issueing permits. This is not true. Read the impartial analysis. Measure A is not subject to the normal environmental review or approval process.
If Measure A passes, DDR's 800,000 square foot "conceptual" project will be automatically approved, with no conditions except the "conceptual" ones that DDR has included in Measure A.
If Measure A passes, there will be no EIR, no study or conditions to limit greenhouse gas emissions, no water assessment study as normally required by state law, no economic analysis of the impact on existing business centers as normally required by state law, no public hearings before the Planning Commission and Board of Supervisors, no public comment and no conditions to mitigate the many significant impacts of the DDR project.
The taxpayers are likely to get left holding the bag for millions of dollars that it will cost to fix the problems that DDR will cause but not pay for.

Sounds like 'ol Tommy and 'ol Dave are at it again. Hey Tommy...have you received any offers on your overpriced "ranch" up Doolan Canyon?

[no response from DDR]

Dr Evil wrote:

<quoted text>
Sounds like 'ol Tommy and 'ol Dave are at it again. Hey Tommy...have you received any offers on your overpriced "ranch" up Doolan Canyon?

Once again, a non-responsive response from the pro-DDR crowd. Protect our local economy and the taxpayer's pocketbook by voting No on the corporate special priledges initiative. Vote NO on A.

[More sad truth]

I've been in Ukiah 50 years. Do you think I've seen some changes? Well, Im sure glad all the Highway 101 trafic does not go down State Street, but if folks back in the day had their way that is what we'd have. Where does this 'change is bad' crowd get the idea they have the solutions to Ukiah's future.

[you are kidding me]

Vote NO on A wrote:

Jeff Adams of DDR keeps telling the BIG Lie that all the studies will be done and the agencies will review the studies before issueing permits. This is not true. Read the impartial analysis. Measure A is not subject to the normal environmental review or approval process.
If Measure A passes, DDR's 800,000 square foot "conceptual" project will be automatically approved, with no conditions except the "conceptual" ones that DDR has included in Measure A.
If Measure A passes, there will be no EIR, no study or conditions to limit greenhouse gas emissions, no water assessment study as normally required by state law, no economic analysis of the impact on existing business centers as normally required by state law, no public hearings before the Planning Commission and Board of Supervisors, no public comment and no conditions to mitigate the many significant impacts of the DDR project.
The taxpayers are likely to get left holding the bag for millions of dollars that it will cost to fix the problems that DDR will cause but not pay for.

You're clearly not interested in the facts of this deal..either that or you justify spreading your propaganda without any facts backing up your accusations. Jeff Adams has addressed each and every one of your ingnorant accusations. Educate yourself and quit trying to "win", because it's important to note that if Measure A doesn't pass, we clearly do not win as a community...Anything you think will happen at that site is complete folly, as SOLE won't do a thing there and either will the BOS...This is a positive step in moving forward and getting some kind of stimulus going here, otherwise, we're doomed financially and that horrendous site will look exactly like that 20 years from now...
VOTE YES ON MEASURE A

[you are kidding me]

DDR is dying wrote:

<quoted text>
Michael,
Your comments make no sense at all. Simply there is room for all that you mention at Redwood Business Park. There is no way Borders or Barnes & Noble would locate here. LOL The demagraphics just don't cover it. Petco or Petsmart is pretty laughable as well. This area can't even support one small Pet store and you can buy dog and cat food at a bunch of places.
Get Real.

If you have ever read the Journal, you'd know that PETCO has a LOI with DDR, have said that they want to come here and it's a done deal when Measure A passes...you get real buddy VOTE YES ON A

[you are kidding me]

no response from DDR wrote:

<quoted text>
Once again, a non-responsive response from the pro-DDR crowd. Protect our local economy and the taxpayer's pocketbook by voting No on the corporate special priledges initiative. Vote NO on A.

Exactly what do you think your protecting about our local economy? We are all but bankrupt as a County with County employees cutting back their work schedule and Willits closing the court system there...wake up...Yo are saying NO to more jobs, tax revenues, sales tax dollars and a lot more...that's just a luxury we cannot afford...Oh, and by the way, you should learn how to spell...
VOTE YES ON MEASURE A

[DDR Shill]

no response from DDR wrote:

<quoted text>
Once again, a non-responsive response from the pro-DDR crowd. Protect our local economy and the taxpayer's pocketbook by voting No on the corporate special priledges initiative. Vote NO on A.

Sorry, we are just tired of responding to the same ol' pack of lies. It's getting boring.

I have to laugh when you all say DDR and Jeff Adams are lying. Have you read any of the flyers from SOLE? Did you hear Richard and Cliff at the debates? YOu would be hard pressed to find the truth in anything that is coming from SOLE or these clowns.

Sorry, but all the "DDR Shills" are just bored with responding to all the stupid comments you people keep making. I think all 22 people on these blogs have long since made up their minds... but feel free to keep blabbing away over every little comment.

[Proud Ukiahan]

Who needs Barns and Noble or Boarders? We have an EXCELLENT independent bookstore here which would die, as would several other wonderful local businesses should these behemoths come in. One reason I live in Ukiah is that it ISN'T Santa Rosa.

I'm just wondering why so many of these responses come from people out of town. Are they residents? Landowners? Carpetbaggers????

They certainly won't be losing jobs or businesses because of these stores. Oh, wait...that's right, those stores will bring in jobs.
Right. Minimum wage, part-time?

[DDR is dying]

you are kidding me wrote:

<quoted text>
Exactly what do you think your protecting about our local economy? We are all but bankrupt as a County with County employees cutting back their work schedule and Willits closing the court system there...wake up...Yo are saying NO to more jobs, tax revenues, sales tax dollars and a lot more...that's just a luxury we cannot afford...Oh, and by the way, you should learn how to spell...
VOTE YES ON MEASURE A

Pathetic! You don't so well either. At least you have a county job you can milk.

[DDR is dying]

you are kidding me wrote:

<quoted text>
Exactly what do you think your protecting about our local economy? We are all but bankrupt as a County with County employees cutting back their work schedule and Willits closing the court system there...wake up...Yo are saying NO to more jobs, tax revenues, sales tax dollars and a lot more...that's just a luxury we cannot afford...Oh, and by the way, you should learn how to spell...
VOTE YES ON MEASURE A

You don't SPELL so well either. LOL

[no response from DDR]

you are kidding me wrote:

<quoted text>
You're clearly not interested in the facts of this deal..either that or you justify spreading your propaganda without any facts backing up your accusations. Jeff Adams has addressed each and every one of your ingnorant accusations. Educate yourself and quit trying to "win", because it's important to note that if Measure A doesn't pass, we clearly do not win as a community...Anything you think will happen at that site is complete folly, as SOLE won't do a thing there and either will the BOS...This is a positive step in moving forward and getting some kind of stimulus going here, otherwise, we're doomed financially and that horrendous site will look exactly like that 20 years from now...
VOTE YES ON MEASURE A

Once again, you fail to cite a single fact to refute the well documented lies that DDR is spewing.

FACT: Measure A approves an 800,000 square foot conceptual project without ANY further review. If Measure A passes the project is approved. Period. We will find out later if there is water, if they will pay there fair share for sewer capital improvements and how much the taxpayers will get stuck for the traffic projects.

FACT: Measure A approves the 800,000 square foot project without having to go through the normal environmental review and approval process. If Measure A passes, there will be NO EIR, no public hearings, no public comment and no ability to attach conditions to the project to make the developer fix the problems or pay for them.

FACT: Any jobs that DDR will "create" could be created at the south end of town in the existing retail shopping center, without overbuilding two or three times the amount of retail we need here. The overbuilding will cost hundreds of local jobs at existing businesses and will cost the cities of Fort Bragg, Willits and Ukiah hundreds of thousands in sales tax revenue, making it much more difficult for them to fund essential services, including police and fire.

Start with those. There are lots more facts for people who want to know the truth. Vote NO on A. It is a bad idea that we can't afford.

[Vote NO on A]

DDR Shill wrote:

<quoted text>
Sorry, we are just tired of responding to the same ol' pack of lies. It's getting boring.
I have to laugh when you all say DDR and Jeff Adams are lying. Have you read any of the flyers from SOLE? Did you hear Richard and Cliff at the debates? YOu would be hard pressed to find the truth in anything that is coming from SOLE or these clowns.
Sorry, but all the "DDR Shills" are just bored with responding to all the stupid comments you people keep making. I think all 22 people on these blogs have long since made up their minds... but feel free to keep blabbing away over every little comment.

No, what is happening is that the many lies of DDR are being exposed and you self-admitted DDR shills have no answer for them.

DDR is lieing when they say that all the environmental studies will be done. Please read the impartial analysis that is in the voters pamphlet, then you will know that DDR is lieing.

DDR claimed they had to do an initiative because they could not go through the County process, but at the election forum Jeff Adams, DDR pitchman,(whose job is to convince us to vote yes), admitted that the real reason DDR did not go forward was because two of DDR's allies on the Board asked DDR not to bring the project to them until after the November 2008 election. The reason they did that was they did not want to put Mike Delbar on the spot before the election, but Delbar was so far down, even a little election manipulation by DDR could not help him.

[CRAZY]

DDR Shill wrote:

<quoted text>
Sorry, we are just tired of responding to the same ol' pack of lies. It's getting boring.
I have to laugh when you all say DDR and Jeff Adams are lying. Have you read any of the flyers from SOLE? Did you hear Richard and Cliff at the debates? YOu would be hard pressed to find the truth in anything that is coming from SOLE or these clowns.
Sorry, but all the "DDR Shills" are just bored with responding to all the stupid comments you people keep making. I think all 22 people on these blogs have long since made up their minds... but feel free to keep blabbing away over every little comment.

DDR Shill, When do you believe a liar? NEVER!!! DDR has lied, manipulated, misinformed and bullied. Our risk is with THEM! Why take it when you/we already know you/we are crawling in bed with a snake? Get real!

[costcobob]

If A fails, we can look forward to 20 years of NOTHING in the former Masonite property. Costco will not go to the other sites. Costco in Ukiah will bring tax dollars from Lake County that currently go to Santa Rosa. Costco will not hurt business downtown, that's what wall-mart is for. Costco sells in bulk, and it is not convenient to go there. Costco would be a boon to the local economy and tax base, guaranteed.

And Cosco will NOT come here if A fails.

[CRAZY]

costcobob wrote:

If A fails, we can look forward to 20 years of NOTHING in the former Masonite property. Costco will not go to the other sites. Costco in Ukiah will bring tax dollars from Lake County that currently go to Santa Rosa. Costco will not hurt business downtown, that's what wall-mart is for. Costco sells in bulk, and it is not convenient to go there. Costco would be a boon to the local economy and tax base, guaranteed.
And Cosco will NOT come here if A fails.

Bob, You are right about the tax dollars coming in from Lake County. No question about it! Costco would be a boon to our economy. But if Costco is inflexible as to where they are going to locate, and make a ton of money, then they are most likely not coming here at all. It seems to me that this is not a valid argument when the real deal has to do with our loss of control over our local future. No on A.

[Yer SMRT]

costcobob wrote:

If A fails, we can look forward to 20 years of NOTHING in the former Masonite property. Costco will not go to the other sites. Costco in Ukiah will bring tax dollars from Lake County that currently go to Santa Rosa. Costco will not hurt business downtown, that's what wall-mart is for. Costco sells in bulk, and it is not convenient to go there. Costco would be a boon to the local economy and tax base, guaranteed.
And Cosco will NOT come here if A fails.

And Costco has made it clear that they are staying out of the measure either way. As their policy they are not for or against A. AND they have not committed to coming to Ukiah even if it does pass.

AND jeez people, there is NO guarantee that ANY store or ANY mall will ever see that site even if A does pass.

You YES people seem SO sure that this mall will be built, could very well be that even IF A passes that property will STILL stay empty for another 20 years. Where is your guarantee?

[Smells Bad]

Measure A does not pass the STINK TEST! DDR can LIPSTICK THIS PIG all it wants but it still STINKS!
No on Measure A!