Action Letters

May 16, 2007
Patricia M. Mahan, Mayor City of Santa Clara 1500 Civic Center Drive Santa Clara, CA 95050
Re: Santa Clara Gardens Development Project , File CEQ2006-01032/ CEQ2006-01032/CEQ2007-01039/SCH# 2003072093
Dear Mayor Mahan:
The League of Women Voters supports effective measures to protect the public health and the environment from the adverse effects of hazardous materials. The Santa Clara Gardens Development Project at 90 North Winchester Boulevard does not take adequate steps to address the hazardous materials risk on this property, in view of the contamination arising from the prior use of the property. We urge you to require a more comprehensive standard for remediation of the soils on this property prior to development.
As part of the request for certification of the Final Environmental Impact Report for this project, the property owner, the California State Department of General Services, plans remediation of all onsite soils to levels to meet current Department of Toxic Substance Control standards for the proposed residential use. Since BAREC was a research site for agricultural chemicals, many would not have a Health Risk Assessment associated with them so that they were not tested. Furthermore, the testing was only to a depth of six inches rather than down to the depth of housing foundations. The State plans excavation and removal of onsite contaminated soils and importation of clean fill.
We recommend that, if feasible, bioremediation methods be used instead of excavation and removal of soil that is identified as contaminated. These methods can be quicker and cheaper, but above all they allow natural processes to clean up harmful chemicals, using microbes that live in the soil and groundwater. These methods can be used to treat soils that are contaminated, even when the contaminant does not have a specific test for detection by the DTSC, since the bioremediation process allows the soil to return to an overall healthy state.
We recognize that using this natural process will take more time, as the microbes take time to work. Nevertheless, given the benefits to area residents, we urge you to explore the possibility of using this solution. Some sites can be cleaned in as little as a few months, which would not appreciably extend the time frame for project completion.
If feasible, this seems like a win-win situation. The State would spend no more, and possibly less. Santa Clara and its residents would benefit from cleaner, healthier soil and better environmental quality. We urge you to make bioremediation processes a requirement for this project to proceed, if at all possible.
Sincerely,
Bobbie Fischler President
Cc: Jennifer Sparacino, City Manager
Kevin L. Riley, Director of Planning and Inspection
Tony Marine, Chairperson, Planning Commission

General Plan Taskforce

May 16, 2007
Mayor Chuck Reed San Jose City Hall 200 E. Santa Clara St. San Jose, CA 95113
Dear Mayor Reed:
The League of Women Voters of San Jose/Santa Clara supports the principle that communities should have a master or general plan that is a written policy statement of community goals and that is periodically reviewed. To that end, we commend you for having put into motion the arrangements for a revised General Plan for San Jose.
While we understand from the Council's study session last week that there is no firm structure set as yet, it was clear that a committee would be formed for the San Jose 2040 General Plan Update. I am requesting that one of the committee positions be given to a representative from the League of Women Voters of San Jose/Santa Clara.
The League has had a representative on General Plan 1975, Horizon 2000 and General Plan 2020 and other committees such as the Hillside Greenbelt Study. Our League member would come informed about our positions and principles, but not instructed on how to vote in order to be a contributing member of a committee that will necessarily require both cooperation and compromise.
Our general principles with respect to effective master plans complement your draft guiding principles. The plan should be general, comprehensive and long range; based on current economic and land use studies; and state goals agreed upon by citizens and the legislative body. It should be clear, concise, readily available and meaningful to the ordinary citizen, and used as an educational document as well as a guide to the city's growth. Citizens with diverse interests and backgrounds should play an active role in developing the plan.
Please consider our request for a representative on the General Plan committee when it is formed. We look forward to a productive working relationship.
Sincerely,
Bobbie Fischler President
cc: Les White, City Manager

Milpitas Open Government Ordinance

This letter was also sent to the City Council
February 1, 2007
Jose Estevez, Mayor
Milpitas City Hall 455 East Calaveras Boulevard Milpitas, California 95035
Dear Mayor Estevez:
The League of Women Voters has been observing with concern the Council's recent action on the Open Government Ordinance, whereby the Open Government Subcommittee is to consist of only two Councilmembers. We are pleased to see that this might be re-considered on February 6th, through the agenda item XV, 3, Request to Form a Citizens Sunshine Committee.
The League promotes an open governmental system that is transparent and responsive to the citizens. We believe that democratic government is a partnership between citizens and their government, and depends on the informed and active participation of its citizens. Trust in government - confidence that those in office are attending to the people's business and welfare - is essential to democratic government.
An Open Government Subcommittee that only includes representatives from that government, and does not include citizens, cannot generate that trust and partnership that is so essential to governing. We urge that you re-consider the Open Government Subcommittee structure, ensuring that there is adequate citizen representation.
Sincerely,
Bobbie Fischler
President
League of Women Voters San Jose/Santa Clara
Serving the cities of San Jose, Santa Clara, Gilroy, Morgan Hill, and Milpitas

Action Letters to Public Officials

September 26, 2006 The Honorable Zoe Lofgren 102 Cannon House Office Building Washington, D.C. 20515-0516
Dear Representative Lofgren:
I am writing to urge you to vote "no" on H.R. 5825, the Electronic Surveillance Modernization Act. As President of the League of Women Voters of San Jose/Santa Clara, I have serious concerns about H.R. 5825, which would legalize the NSA warrantless wiretapping program and thereby undermine civil liberties of ordinary Americans and the important checks and balances in our government.
Protecting individual liberties is a longstanding concern for the League of Women Voters, yet it recognizes the seriousness and reality of terrorist threats. However it also recognizes the seriousness and reality of threats to our individual liberties. This bill would legalize eavesdropping on ordinary Americans without requiring a warrant. Congressional and judicial oversight of domestic surveillance conducted by the executive branch is critical to protecting our individual civil liberties and governmental checks and balances.
I urge you to reject this bill and any other approach that would repeal congressional and judicial oversight of surveillance of ordinary Americans. I strongly urge you to support civil liberties by opposing H.R. 5825.
Sincerely,
Bobbie Fischler, President

September 14, 2006 The Honorable Mike Honda 1713 Longworth House Office Building Washington, D.C. 20515-0515
Dear Representative Honda:
As President of the League of Women Voters of San Jose/Santa Clara, I am writing to urge you to oppose H.R. 4844, which has been called the Federal Election Integrity Act of 2006. The League of Women Voters finds that this bill does not protect the integrity of the election process, and puts up barriers to citizens' right to vote.
The League of Women Voters supports full voting participation by all eligible American citizens. As a result, it opposes H.R. 4844 because it would create new barriers to voting by eligible citizens by requiring photo identification and proof of citizenship in the voter registration process. The League strives to encourage and assist voters to exercise their right to vote, and we believe that this bill would undermine our activities and those of other groups that seek to increase citizen participation in our nation.
If H.R. 4844 were to be enacted, many Americans would have to pay to obtain proof of their citizenship. Not only would this create a deterrent to voting, but some voters simply would not be able to afford to exercise their constitutional right to vote. Not all voters can afford to purchase a photo ID or pay to obtain supporting documents for the ID.
Voter fraud addressed by H.R. 4844 is a rare problem. There is no question that election misconduct exists, but members of the League of Women Voters have served for years as poll workers and voter registrars and have not witnessed the evidence that many non-citizens are attempting to register or to vote.
I strongly urge you to oppose H.R. 4844. Knowing of your record on other similar issues, I am sure that I can count on you to vote "no" on this bill.
Sincerely yours,
President League of Women Voters of San Jose/Santa Clara

SCA 3: Redistricting Reform. Letters were sent to a) Assembly Speaker Nunez and Minority Floor Leader Plescia urging them to move quickly for the vote in Assembly (see below), b) all 5 Assemblypersons covering parts of San Jose/Santa Clara urging them to vote yes, and c) all 4 Senators, thanking them for their YES votes and urging them to move it quickly if and when it came back from the Assembly. The measure never got to Assembly vote, however. The League of Women Voters strongly supports SCA 3, the redistricting reform resolution. As president of the League of Women Voters of San Jose/Santa Clara, I urge you to move SCA 3 through your house quickly.
SCA 3 embodies the basic elements of redistricting reform that are advocated by the League of Women Voters: a bipartisan commission as the preferred redistricting body, and a process and standards that promote fair and effective representation in the state legislature and in the house of representatives with maximum opportunity for public scrutiny.
Since the defeat of Proposition 77 last year (which we opposed), the League has worked with a broad coalition and participated in numerous hearings to develop and refine SCA 3. It is now a strong bill, and I urge you to support and quickly move for its passage in the Assembly.
I appreciate your help in moving SCA 3 quickly, for the good of the citizens of this state and their fair and effective representation.
Sincerely,
Bobbie Fischler, President League of Women Voters San Jose-Santa Clara

SB 840: California Health Insurance Reliability Act. Letters were sent to a) Assemblyperson Cohn, the only Assemblyperson in our area who was not a co-sponsor, urging a yes vote, b) Assemblyperson Coto, thanking him for being a major co-sponsor, and c) Governor Schwarzenegger (see below), responding to his press release stating he would veto this bill. Please sign Senate Bill 840 (Kuehl) into law. The League of Women Voters strongly supports SB 840, the California Health Insurance Reliability Act, and I urge you change your mind about vetoing it. As president of the League of Women Voters in San Jose-Santa Clara, I know that many of your constituents strongly favor this bill, and that citizens in the Santa Clara valley as well as in the rest of the state would benefit from its passage.
SB 840 is an affordable and viable solution for solving our health care crisis and providing comprehensive health care to all residents. It is a major reform that goes to the root of the problems that are causing our health care crisis by establishing the single insurer endorsed by the League of Women Voters.
I was disappointed to see in your press release today that you plan to veto this bill, and I would like to respond to some of the statements you have made in that news release.
1). You say that this is a "failed old paradigm," but every industrialized nation in the world except the United States has universal health care with government price controls, and many of their health outcomes are better than those in the United States. 2). You call this "socialized medicine," but it is not + SB 840 does not call for government to employ the workers and own the facilities. As now, independent providers would deliver health care. SB 840 would provide public insurance for privately delivered health care, changing the financing while allowing doctors and hospitals to remain independent. 3). You state that the program would "cost the state billions and lead to significant new taxes," yet governments of all other industrialized countries find it more efficient and cheaper to provide universal coverage. The Lewin Group has found that over a 10 year period, a model similar to SB 840 would save $343 billion in overall health costs, compared to the present system, of which $44 billion would be state savings on public employees' health insurance costs.
A recent Boston University study found that our current system in the United States wastes nearly 50% of all health spending on clinical and administrative waste. It is estimated that, by streamlining the administrative functions of thousands of different insurance companies, California could shift $20 billion in the first year from administration into direct health care. Also, by consolidating California's purchasing power for pharmaceuticals, California could shift an additional $5.3 billion into direct health care. Finally, by providing preventive and primary care to everyone California could actually save an additional $3.4 billion in the first year.
Providing discounts on prescription drugs is certainly a good start, but SB 840 is "the comprehensive and systemic approach that not only provides affordable medical treatment to people when they are ill, but that strives to make sure people don't get sick in the first place," as you said. The League of Women Voters promotes a health care system that provides access to a basic level of quality care for all U.S. residents and controls health care costs. The League supports plans that provide access to a basic level of care that includes prevention, health promotion and education, primary care, acute care, long-term care and mental health care. SB 840 will do so, and in the process save dollars and eliminate waste seen in the current process.
Signing SB 840 is your chance to rise above partisanship and fix our escalating health care crisis. I urge you to sign SB 840, for the good of the citizens of this state as well as its finances.
Sincerely,
Bobbie Fischler, President League of Women Voters San Jose-Santa Clara

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