Since I posted the myths versus facts on our blog a few weeks ago, hundreds of people have emailed me. Some good, some bad and and a few who refuse to engage in debate in a polite manner. Well, thanks to everyone who sent me an email. I appreciate the time you’ve taken to shoot me your thoughts. I decided to further illustrate my point that opponents of the Saltworks plan have to bend the truth or not tell the entire truth when making their arguments with an expanded truth versus fiction. See below.
What some groups have said: “Retired salt ponds are not the place for housing – they are a golden opportunity to restore healthy wetlands that scientists say the bay’s wildlife desperately needs.”
What the truth is: The Redwood City Saltworks site is an active salt harvesting facility operating today. This area is not “retired,” as some groups claim. As part of the 50/50 Balanced Plan, we propose to ACTIVELY restore more than 400 acres of these lands to tidal marsh habitat, at PRIVATE expense. Nearly 40,000 acres are ALREADY in public ownership around the Bay desperately awaiting funding for restoration. Some of Saltworks’ opponents propose to tax Bay area residents to come up with those dollars. We believe the economic vitality of a project like the Saltworks is a better solution.
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What some groups have said: “Common sense argues against putting new development at sea level on top of unstable bay mud at risk of liquefaction in an earthquake.”
What the truth is: The point here is simple: The substrate at the Saltworks site is the same as many other areas in the Bay Area.
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What some groups have said: “True infill development around transit hubs is the green way to accommodate Bay Area growth. Destroying the undeveloped open space that makes the Bay Area so livable is not.”
What the truth is: We agree with this statement. Did you know that the 50/50 Balanced Plan is within a quarter mile of more than 10,000 jobs and is directly adjacent to the proposed ferry terminal in Redwood City? In addition, the 50/50 Plan proposes the creation of a true transit link between the proposed ferry terminal, the Saltworks site, major employment areas and the Caltrain station in downtown Redwood City.
Some groups would have you believe that the Saltworks site is “open space” in the same sense that Bair Island in Redwood City is open space or the pristine rolling hills of 280 is open space. That simply is not true. I would encourage everyone to visit the site and see the trucks and front loaders rolling over the crystallizer beds and decide for themselves whether this site is open space.
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What some groups have said: “The bay, including these salt ponds, belongs to all of us, not just Redwood City.”
What the truth is: Actually, the Saltworks site is private property. However, realization of the 50/50 Balanced Plan would bring environmental and social benefits to the entire Redwood City and regional community. What some groups want to do is play the self-appointed judge, jury, and executioner of any perspective that conflicts with their unilateral view.
It would be nice to see some of these emailers comment here. Good and bad. The one thing we miss is a real conversation. Thanks, Jay for doing this.
Going to your first point, is there any data regarding how much it would cost to fully restore the current site to wetlands?
Comment by Lou Covey — April 5, 2010 @ 9:39 am
Good point Lou. I think that this should be an open forum. The 50/50 plan is an excellent idea and the opposition needs to be more honest. I’ve heard it would cost over 1 billion to restore….
Comment by Steve — April 5, 2010 @ 3:44 pm
Let the EIR be done and I hope the opposition will stop the lying.
Comment by Colton — April 5, 2010 @ 4:00 pm
Jay, thank you for this information and the points that this property is a private operating company not public land and that the owners are willing to create public access to salt ponds they will be creating. To Lou and Steve, this is a blog not a forum. Personally, I don’t want to see whining here.
Comment by Marion McEwen — April 12, 2010 @ 1:16 pm
When you don’t feel good you don’t take a poll of non doctors to determine what you should do to feel better.
Instead, if you are smart, you go to your doctor. Your doctor then goes through a process to get the facts about your condition. After the doctor has all the facts he gives you his educated, expert recommendation of what actions you should take. However, the final decision is up to your vote.
Our City Council has called in the doctor(s) to provide them with the facts surrounding the Saltworks 50/50 plan. Our Council is following a long, well established process to get the facts and present the to the residents of Redwood City for a vote.
We should applaud our Councils efforts to continue this process in spite of pressure from people and organizations who don’t want us to know the facts. They would rather take a poll of biased people who choose to ignore the process and want to stop it .
Rich
Comment by Rich — May 18, 2010 @ 4:11 pm