After winning an important victory in court, the Martinez Open Space and Park Protection Initiative has officially been added to the June 5 Primary Election ballot as Measure I ("I" as in "Initiative"). Martinez voters will now have a chance to approve a measure that gives the people the power to overrule city council decisions to develop open space and parkland. The initiative helps protect all such land in Martinez.
In its early March decision, the Superior Court of California in Contra Costa County ruled that the Martinez City Council violated State Election Code by not putting the initiative on the ballot. The council accepted the County Election Department’s finding that the initiative did qualify for the ballot. The council also sued the initiative proponents to try to keep the public from voting on it, using taxpayer dollars for the suit.
The good news: This legal victory means that the over 4,000 Martinez voters who signed the petition to put the initiative on the ballot (more than 17 percent of all Martinez voters!) have finally been heard.
The bad news: Following its loss in court, the Martinez City Council has placed its own last-minute “poison pill” initiative on the ballot (Measure F). If the city’s initiative wins more votes, it would supersede the grassroots Martinez Open Space and Park Protection Initiative. According to the East Bay Times, the city’s initiative would “allow a public vote, but it only applies to publicly owned property.” In other words, the city initiative is a toothless measure designed to confuse voters.
The Martinez Open Space and Park Protection Initiative has the endorsement of the Sierra Club and Thousand Friends of Martinez. It is supported by the Martinez Open Space and Park Protection Committee.
The Initiative is in line with Sierra Club policy on compact growth. To protect open space and parkland, and in order to create efficient, non-polluting communities, we must concentrate development in urban areas that are walkable, bikeable, and transit-accessible. This Initiative will prevent sprawl and preserve our threatened natural areas and wildlife.
What You Can Do:
Please volunteer to help the Measure I pass in June! Volunteers are needed to deliver flyers doorsteps to inform the voters. No door knocking, just delivery. If you can help out, sign up here.
Photo courtesy Martinez Open Space Facebook page