Not in my back yard
RCD’s proposed 49-unit project, the Berellesa Palms, is like an 800-lb. gorilla in my back yard that will not leave until they get their way and force their ill-conceived project onto our neighborhood.
  This project not only dose not comply with the Downtown Specific Plan and environmental review as set forth and certified by the state of California.. This project makes no sense.
  This project will be built less than 150 yards of the following.
1.Rail grade crossing where 63 trains pass 24 hr. a day and are required to sound their horns according to federal law.
2.Rail switching yard that is in operation 24 hours a day. Witch couples tank cars of caustic corrosive and flammable liquids with such force and the multi concussion that rattle the windows within 1/4 mile and all done by switch engines controlled electronically without an operator in the cab and unwilling cars are dragged along with brakes locked to an unworldly screeching sound.
3.Where engines sit at idle for hours at a time pumping caustic hazardous smoke and diesel fumes into the area.
4. 2/3 of the proposed units will have direct line of site to tracks.
5.These units will be built in a known flood plain that in 2005 put this site 2 feet under water and made Berrellesa St. impassable for hours.
Some will try and convince you that this project will bring economic revitalization the downtown to the tune of $800,000 per year in spending.
At 49 units, each unit will have to spend $16,326.00 per year that is more than my entire social security check.
Becouse this developer is a non-profit Corporation, they will not be paying property taxes. There will be no collectable revenues for the city coffers.
It’s just too massive, to big, and not consistent with the neighborhood scale of single family home with not enough parking.
  I am asking you to respect your neighbors and neighborhoods and require that RCD comply with the Downtown Specific Plan.
Paul Wilson
 Martinez

Say no to Berellesa Palms
This is a 49 resident plus one manager complex of 50 one bedroom apartments. The building will be 40 feet high and will encompass the entire block boarderd by Richardson, Buckley and Berellesa.
The Specific Plan for that area in Martinez suggests 17 units on that one acre, not 50.
The City of Martinez as well as Contra Costa County will generate NO PROPERTY TAXES FROM THESE 50 UNITS. (however, the special assessments will be paid)
Why would the City of Martinez agree to this proposal (which is a 50-year deal) knowing that the much needed property taxes will not be generated??
Merchants are being told of all the discretionary cash the residents will have to spend in the shops in the greater historic area. If it’s for low-income residents, who can’t even pay the full rent without HUD subsidies,then what makes you think they will have any discretionary income to spend anywhere? 
There’s talk about the great proximity to public transportation. Well, if you have all day and can catch the appropriate buses for the needed round trip, then it is there.  I tried it and I spent over three hours getting to and from Long’s pharmacy.
This proposal is not a good fit for the historic area of Martinez. However, it would be a good fit in the area behind Nob Hill shopping center, where I understand many apartments/condos are in the planning stage. 
Call all of our City Council members and tell them the Berellesa Palms is a bad idea for Martinez.
What we need in the downtown are are families, working people, children. People who are working and are not low income. People who have a bit of discretionary income to spend with the downtown merchants every month.
Carolyn Hill
 Martinez

Thanks for supporting Bocce Federation
On behalf of the Martinez Bocce Federation, we would like to thank all of you for your generous donations for our annual 4th of July Tournament. It is people like you that make our events successful. Our wonderful sponsors included Ace Hardware, Auto Parts Emporium, Big O Tires, Char’s Flowers, College Lane, J&D Embroidery, Ray’s Lounge, and Viano Winery
Thank you again for all your support.
Doreen R. Bagno
Martinez Bocce Federation

Pacheco annexation: Everybody loses
Ray Robbins’ letter of July 9 underscores serious concerns about the Pacheco annexation.
It is a money loser for Martinez taxpayers from the outset.  The City Council has spent $72,000 on consultant studies and undocumented thousands for staff time just to do the application—-money that could be better spent on worthwhile local non-profits, or projects like marina repairs, or a professional marketing program to permanently solve the Downtown problems.
It is a money loser on a yearly on-going basis. It will cost tax payers $33,000 per year until some unspecified economic improvements occur, according to the consultant the Council hired for $15,000.
The true loss will be $96,000 per year because the consultant made a few errors:
• over estimated sales tax income by $25,000;
• did not include any costs for police services ($26,000 for a quarter of an officer);
   • did not include any costs for city administrative services ($12,000 estimated).
The City magically changed the consultant’s figures to show a $16,400 profit when they presented the annexation to the county.  But they still did not include any police or administrative expenses.  When they are included, even the ‘revised’ figures show a loss of $21,600.
Is a Redevelopment Agency planned for here as a sneaky way to get one started in Martinez ?  Yes.  See the Council and Mayor’s own words on tape and to the newspapers both before and after the City Council meeting at which the Mayor denied this direction.  The consultant and staff reports also continually refer to redevelopment for this area.
So we lose money now and for the foreseeable future and get a Redevelopment Agency that will eventually spread to Downtown and elsewhere in Martinez .  (And the consultant rightly points out any Redevelopment Agency in Pacheco will further limit property tax income to the City.)
This is a big loser for Martinez taxpayers.
It is a loser for the regular people in the Pacheco annexation area.  They can expect less that stellar service from a city that will be annexing their area at a big loss.  And the business and landowners who are not amongst the favored few can expect years of delay and stagnation in any plans they might have while the City sorts out how it will make this Redevelopment Agency development scheme occur.  (Remember Downtown Pleasant Hill languished for over 20 years before its Redevelopment Agency did anything.)
It is a loser for the residents and businesses in Mountain View and Vine Hill, because they will be next.
It is a loser even for the big money land owners in Pacheco who proposed the whole deal expecting a Redevelopment Agency development bonanza.  Just consider two facts:  (1) our Council’s stellar lack of development success, and (2) efforts to form a Redevelopment Agency have been stopped by Martinez citizens seven times in the last 50 years.
Tell our City Council to pay attention to the business at hand, and stop wasting our money and energy on ‘dreams’ that are nightmares for most involved.
Tim Platt
 Martinez

Enough with the Joltin’ Joe
Regarding Phillip Ciaramitaro’s idea for a visitor center to house the Joltin’ Joe: Is this city trying to corner the market on bad ideas? First of all, what really is the connection between Martinez and Joe DiMaggio? That he was born here? That he stayed in Martinez long enough to learn to crawl and eat pablum before he struck out for greener pastures? Come on. It’s making us look pathetic.  About the boat: it’s a weather-beaten pile of splinters. You want to restore it because once, out of pity and good manners, DiMaggio and Marilyn Monroe took a little ride in it? Pshaw. Let it be nourishment for termites.  DiMaggio never seemed quite as sentimental about Martinez as Martinez seems about DiMaggio. If you want to create a visitor center, fine, but enough already with the boat.
Lissa Miller
 Martinez