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SANCHEZ and COUNCIL CHANGE HEARING DATE Opposition to the dreadful Wal-Mart Supercenter has been so great that the city has decided to change the public hearing date. Just a few days before the hearing they switched the date to a week later. On January 29 the city of Suisun will begin its public hearings on the Wal-Mart Supercenter project for Highway 12 and Walter's Road. This is a chance for residents to voice their opinions as to whether they want this kind of mega business and the kind of problems it will create for nearby residential communities.
The Planning Commission hearing will be on January 29 and the City Council hearing on February 12 at City Hall. Our local Wal-Mart, on Chadbourne Road, store is away from residential development and is less than half the size of the proposed project. It is also sufficiently away from Travis Air Force Base and the two major petroleum pipelines that run along Highway 12. The Department of Transportation's Division of Aeronautics, has weighed in on the matter of crash safety. They stood on the side of the Solano County Airport Land Use Commission which ruled on November 8 the project was inconsistent with the Tavis Airport Land Use Compatability Plan. In a letter to the city they wrote: "We concur with the Solano County Airport Land Use Commission analysis that the project proposed will yield greater density and that will exceed the 300 persons-per-acre established criteria for projects within Traffic Pattern C.." Regarding aviation fuel and petroleum pipelines near the site, the
Pipeline Safety Trust,
of Bellingham Washington, has written a letter to Travis requesting they come forward and advocate for public safety. They wrote, "After reviewing the available information from Suisun City regarding the proposed construction of a Wal-Mart Supercenter at the corner of Walters Road and State Route 12, along with all applicable pipeline safety regulations, we share [residents] concerns .." The Planning Commission hearing will be on January 29 at 5PM at Suisun City Hall and the City Council hearing will be on February 12 at 5PM. We encourage all Suisun residents to attend the hearing and to participate in this very important decision for our future.
SANCHEZ: LIAR,LIAR, PANTS ON FIRE TRYS TO OUST ALUC CHAIR
The Commission's responsibility is to protect the public from aviation accidents. The Walter's Road site is within walking distance of the base and within a designated crash zone. Jane Day, Suisun vice mayor (and well known crony of former Suisun Mayor Jim Spering), was sent to the January 16 meeting of Solano County mayors to try to get the group to oust Foster. This move was in revenge for his failure to support the heirs to the Wal-Mart fortune and their mission to decimate communities across America for corporate profit. The county's Airport Land Use Commission is made up of nine people. Five are appointed by the Solano County Board of Supervisors and four by the mayors.
Sanchez complained that the city was not allowed the amount of time they wanted to continue to argue with commissioners about their decision. Interestingly, Solano County Planner, Ron Glas, who is the county planner assigned to the ALUC, stated, "I think there was a perception that the [Suisun] city manager was not allowed to speak, but it's clear from the tape she was allowed to speak.." On January 15 the mayors met and were greeted by a dozen angry sign carrying residents outside the Hungry Hunter Restaurant. Picketers braved the ice cold winds and the darkness to show support for aviation safety and Chairman John Foster. Sanchez did not show up at the meeting instead he sent Councilwoman Jane Day to stand in for him. She was reported as saying, "Mr. Foster's conduct was completely irresponsible. He has earned the right to be dismissed on his actions and his actions alone.", Eddie Woodruff, mayor of Rio Vista, was reported as saying, "I'm very uncomfortable with this. I don't know this gentleman, and to be fair, we have to weigh both sides.", (Danny Bernardini,"Decision on Airport Chair Delayed", Reporter, 17 January 2008) However, Day insisted he be fired anyway.
The mayors met and decided to delay their decision until there February 20 meeting. We encourage you to contact the mayors of Suisun, Vacaville, Benicia, Dixon, Vallejo, and Rio Vista. Ask them to protect public safety by retaining John Foster. Editor: Some of the information from this story was taken from the Vacaville Reporter
MISSION SOLANO NEEDS HELP The cold weather is back. This year we are hit with flooding again. Most of people are lucky to have warm clothes and comfortable homes to find refuge in. It is good to be able to snuggle up under the heater and sip a hot cup of your favorite drinks. Unfortunately, in our community not everyone has that pleasure. Mission Solano provides shelter, food, and warm clothing for a maximum of 49 homeless people each day. The colder the weather gets the larger the number of people seeking shelter at the Mission. This year they are making a special appeal for volunteers and donations. Please contact Mission Solan0 at 422-1011 or stop by at 740 Travis Boulevard, Fairfield. Make a donation, lend a hand.
WASHINGTON MUTUAL OPENS IN SUISUN Suisun has been a one bank town for a long time. Up until now We have had to leave town or visit a supermarket to do our banking. Many residents have felt disappointed at our city government's failure to find appropriate businesses for Suisun residents. Past Mayor Jimmy "the snake" Spering was good at assisting develpers in building homes here but was a colassoal failure at building the city economy. But fortunately Washington Mutual (Wamu) has seen the great fit for their first rate service with our residents needs. Most WaMu patrons have had to trek all the way out to Cordelia near Costco to do their banking. The convenince of a Washington Mutual Office in the Heritage Shopping Mall next to Hollywood Video is a dream come true. Sue Yacovetti, the Financial Center Manager, is a veteran banking industry professional. Before coming to Washington Mutual she worked for Wells Fargo for 15 years. The bank has attracted new customers by limiting the fees and charges that are often associated with banking at other banks. In fact there are no monthly minimums required - making it easy to avoid service charges. The new site officially opened on December 27, 2007. Their grand opening will be on February 1, 2008 at 9AM. It will feature catering by Chevys Fresh Mex, a clown, fingerprinting of children by the Suisun Police Department, and $75 American Express gift checks for all new accounts - as long as the account stays in good standing for 10 weeks without a negative balance (the best news is they say it only requires a $35 deposit to open the account). |
The city also decided to hold two meetings instead of one. Apparently, they thought they could ram a quick uncontested approval down the throats of residents in one swoop by previously scheduling just one. That was not to be. Opposition to the Wal-Mart behemoth shopping center has been growing by leeps and bounds.
Mayor Pete Sanchez who ran for mayor on his vow to oppose Wal-Mart's Mega Supercenter has done nothing but back peddling ever since his election. In the face of mounting opposition the mayor and city staff have tried to take retribution against the Solano County Airport Land Use Commission Chairman (ALUC), John Foster. Foster who has served on the commission since 2000 was blamed for the ALUC's decision to find the Suisun Wal-Mart project as inconsistent with the county's Travis Air Force Base Land Use Compatibilty Plan. The Department of Transportation's, Division of Aeronautics has written a letter supporting Foster and the ALUC's ruling.
Foster has been the chairman for several years and is a seasoned military pilot. "I'm not upset about (possibly being removed)," said Foster. "But it's a very troubling precedent to allow a city to break the Travis Air Force Base Land Use Plan. If Suisun is allowed to deviate, what happens next?"
In a telephone conversation with suisuncitizens.com, John Kakacek, vice chariman of the ALUC said, "I am very upset about this Mickey Mouse game Suisun is playing. If the politicians oust John I will resign. I don't want to be a part of any Mickey Mouse organization that is controlled by political outsiders because they don't like our decisions. Since I have been on the board we have never had a mayor even show up at our hearings - much less try to oust someone they didn't like."
March 2007 News (Langston Train Death), Feb 2007 News (Dump Opponents Win Suit!)
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