E l e c t i on
S p e c i al
The Richmond Sun
November 2014 | “Shining a Light on Richmond’s News”
Voters Not Buying Chevron’s Campaign Never has a large corporation spent so much trying to buy a local City Council election. The numbers are staggering— probably $150 per voter. But it’s backfiring. A lot of voters are clearly disgusted. Chevron’s power grab is so glaring it’s even made the national news.
Spending could reach $4 million As of September 30, Chevron had contributed $2.9 million to its political action committees. That’s before the last wave of TV ads, mailers and billboards hit the books. The total cost could reach $4 million. That’s 15 times the money that Tom Butt, Gayle McLaughlin, Jovanka Beckles and Eduardo Martinez will have—combined. And a third of it is for hit-pieces. Not a fair fight. Meanwhile, Chevron won’t spend a dime to help shore up Doctors Hospital while the city looks for a long-term way to keep DMC open.
Inside Team Richmond P.O. Box 5284 Richmond CA 94805
Election Lies Exposed page 2
Why This Election Matters PAGE 3
PRSRT STD US Postage Paid Concord, CA Permit #473
Paid for by Eduardo Martinez for Richmond City Council FPPC #1328674 * Jovanka Beckles for Richmond City Council FPPC #1307178 * Gayle McLaughlin for Richmond City Council FPPC #1364821
Sample Ballot PAGE 4
Chevron’s Spending Shocks the Nation October 13, 2014
How Chevron swamps a small city with campaign money and bogus news “For a corporation to manipulate a municipal election on this scale should be illegal.”
October 13, 2014:
We Can Still Save Doctors Hospital We need united community pressure to force the County to find a long-term solution. We need strong leadership from our municipal leaders and our large employers. Team Richmond candidates have been fighting to save the hospital while others (like Jim Rogers and Nat Bates) have shrugged and given up. The nurses of DMC strongly endorse Team Richmond. They know how long an ambulance takes to get to Martinez or Concord at rush hour.
“Chevron is trying to pick Richmond’s new mayor and city council.... Chevron has run up against a city and certain elected officials that it would very much like to get out of its way, and they are trying to remove those obstacles by backing up a Brinks truck to that city and opening the doors.”
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The Richmond Sun
Election Special 2014
Chevron will spend $1 million on attack ads
5 Lies from Chevron: How Low Can You Go? Chevron has run a nasty campaign trying to discredit three independent candidates they can’t control. They may even end up spending more money attacking three good people than promoting their own candidates. It’s simply disgusting. Do the executives in San Ramon have no shame?
truth
l i es Mayor McLaughlin has been traveling the world
• In eight years, Gayle has been out of the country 22 days out of 2,290.
Eduardo is an anarchist & terrorist who’s deep in debt
• Ludicrous. Chevron stole Halloween pictures from Eduardo’s Facebook page.
Jovanka & Eduardo have had bad attendance
• In the last year Chevron’s candidate for mayor, Nat Bates, missed five council meetings. Jovanka missed none.1
Council Meetings Missed 2011-2014
• Nat Bates has traveled far more often.
Jovanka Beckles
Gayle McLaughlin
Nat Bates Richmond Confidential, Oct. 19, 2014
• The $202,000 “debt” is his mortgage, which he pays regularly.
Not only does Nat Bates miss Council meetings, when he does attend he is often busy following ballgames or napping.
• Eduardo has missed no meetings of the Planning Commission since he was appointed 15 months ago.2
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Jovanka used bad language
• Jovanka has calmly endured abuse and name-calling from homophobic residents at council meetings.3 She shared her feelings about this abuse with a (white) acquaintance, asking him how he would feel if someone called him a ‘cracka who deserved to die.’ She was using an analogy to show how hurtful such attacks are. She wrote, “My God, that feels so awful to even write for effect.” Chevron got hold of the email and quoted pieces of it out of context.
The budget is a mess
• Richmond’s budget suffered because of the recession and Chevron’s fire. Between 2007 and 2012, our revenue fell because property values dropped 53.4%.4 But we controlled expenses, and now our assessed values have started to rise again—up 9% over 2013. We have an A+ credit rating. Our finances have been managed well and we still have a rainy day fund.
Minutes of Council meetings at www.ci.richmond.ca.us/archive.aspx. www.ci.richmond.ca.us/index.aspx?NID=719 and www.ci.richmond.ca.us/archive.aspx www.ci.richmond.ca.us/archive.aspx. Nat Bates hears no hate, www.youtube.com/watch?v=ftLjerZYwa0 City of Richmond Biennial Budget 2013–14 & 2014 –15
Voice of the Voter It’s imperative we keep fighting for DMC, and all three of the Team Richmond candidates have been with us every step of the way. —Vinnel Thomas, RN, Doctors Hospital
the good that chevron does • Chevron is a major donor to school and community programs • Many Chevron employees volunteer generously • Chevron is our largest taxpayer, contributing around 12% of our total budget These contributions are all positive. But they are no argument for letting one company control our City Council.
Team Richmond wants Chevron to be a good neighbor.
Team Richmond wants Chevron to be a good neighbor. We want a plan to reduce pollution. We want Chevron to pay its fair share of taxes so we can pave our streets and maintain our parks. We want an increase in local hiring. And we want Chevron to stop making our elections unfair.
Election Special 2014
The Richmond Sun
editorial
Tom Butt endorses Gayle, Why This Election Matters Jovanka, and Eduardo Key Issues include Future of DMC, Pollution, & City’s Lawsuit
On November 4 Richmond voters will decide whether to elect an independent and progressive majority to the City Council, or “Team Chevron.” Their vote will determine:
“United over ideals rather than power and personalities”
• whether the city leads the fight to save Doctors Medical Center • whether the city pushes Chevron to cut pollution over the next decade • how the City’s lawsuit against Chevron will be settled The suit could gain residents as much as $100 million for the damage caused to Richmond’s image and property values by Chevron’s history of accidents. But if Chevron’s candidates control the council, the suit will be settled for peanuts and we will be much less likely to reduce pollution or save DMC.
Chevron’s spending is a test of our democracy and intelligence. Richmond has learned a lot about Chevron and its values over the past two years. Despite Chevron’s $10 million “feel-good” PR campaign for the Modernization Project and its increase in charitable contributions, the company hasn’t exactly been “Richmond Proud.” During the last two years, Chevron • Fought for an 18% reduction in its property taxes based on a Prop 13 loophole • Pleaded no-contest to criminal negligence • Refused to commit to reasonable pollution-reduction projects— like bringing power to the wharf to allow ships to turn off their engines, as is required in Oakland • Insisted it couldn’t be part of any solution to save DMC It’s fair to say that being a good neighbor is not Chevron’s priority. Why would we want a City Council run by people who take Chevron’s money? It just doesn’t make sense.
Voice of the Voter Jim Rogers was investigated four times for cheating his clients. I don’t want him negotiating for the city. I want Team Richmond and the candidates they endorse—Tom Butt and Jael Myrick. Not Rogers. —Kathleen Wimer, Point Richmond
When these folks were just getting started I wrote that they had organized “a new Richmond political coalition that... could give the old establishment a run for its money. It’s the first Richmond coalition in memory united over ideals rather than power and personalities.” Gayle, Eduardo and Jovanka have been a big part of bringing about the progress the city has made in the past 10 years. We don’t always agree. But they are genuinely concerned with the needs of Richmond residents and they work well with others. I endorse Gayle, Jovanka and Eduardo for the four-year seats on the Council and Jael Myrick for the two-year seat.
Richmond in the National News—for the Right Reasons Richmond Police Chief Chris Magnus was called to Ferguson, Missouri, to consult on how to improve police-community relations.
U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders: ‘Richmond, Don’t Let Chevron Buy Your Election’ Sanders energized 500 voters when he spoke at the Civic Auditorium October 16. The Vermont Senator, who is considering a run for the Presidency, praised Team Richmond and said it’s time to get corporate money out of politics.
Voice of the Voter I find the hate talk against Councilwoman Jovanka Beckles to be despicable and very dangerous for civil public discussion. It is doubly to be rejected when powerful wealthy powers, such as Chevron, exploit such hate for their financial benefit. —The Rev. Dr. Phil Lawson, Pastor Emeritus, Easter Hill United Methodist Church, Richmond
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The Richmond Sun
Election Special 2014
Vote for an independent City Council Team who will: Fight for Doctors Hospital Cut pollution Support community involvement in the schools Team Richmond has achieved:
Jovanka Beckles
Gayle McLaughlin
Eduardo Martinez
Jael Myrick
Tom Butt
for City Council
v ot e n o vember 4
for mayor
Jim Rogers Votes Against You • supported building a mega-casino at Point Molate
sample ballot
• tried to exempt youth, tipped workers, and non-profit workers from an increase in the minimum wage
CITY OF RICHMOND Mayor
When the community wanted Chevron’s support for Doctors Hospital, Rogers made excuses for why it couldn’t be done.
Four Year Term Vote for One
UCHE JUSTIN UWAHEMU Small Business Owner
TOM BUTT Arhitect/Small Business Owner
Renovated parks Crime way down Urban agriculture $13 minimum wage Sustainable energy Balanced development Municipal ID cards
Does Jim Rogers represent you? He favors banks, casinos, poverty wages and backroom deals.
NAT BATES
Don’t let Jim Rogers negotiate with Chevron!
Councilmember
The City has a lawsuit against Chevron for damage to our image and property values—five fires in ten years. But Jim Rogers has said in public he’s only expecting $10 million for Richmond.
Member, City Council Four Year Term
That’s no way to negotiate.
JIM ROGERS
Same problem as when he was a lawyer—he resigned his law license to avoid disbarment for not representing the best interests of his clients.
City of Richmond Councilmember
Rogers calls himself “independent,” but Chevron is counting on him!
Vote for Three
CHARLES T. RAMSEY School Board Member
DONNA POWERS Small Business Owner
JOVANKA BECKLES City of Richmond Councilmember
GAYLE MCLAUGHLIN Mayor, City of Richmond
ALBERT R. MARTINEZ Retired Richmond Postmaster
EDUARDO MARTINEZ Retired WCCUSD Teacher
HENRY WASHINGTON Pastor, Community Advocate
DAMEION D. KING
Maybe that’s why 5 out of 6 fellow council members won’t endorse him.
Vote No on Jim Rogers.
Voice of the Voter Developers need to be watched carefully. In El Sobrante, we’re concerned about the Clark Road Project that is threatening one of our last undeveloped hillsides. I trust Team Richmond to stand up for neighbors’ interests first. —Missy Peebles, El Sobrante/Richmond
Career Counselor
Member, City Council Short Term Two Year Term Vote for One
COURTLAND CORKY BOOZE Richmond Councilmember
ANTHONY D CREER Community Organizer
JAEL MYRICK Appointed Councilmember/Analyst
Who Are They Fooling? Chevron selected Al Martinez to run solely because of his last name, to confuse voters with two Martinezes on the ballot. Donna Powers and Charles Ramsey haven’t lived in Richmond for the past 15 years—they moved to Richmond to run for office.
Vote No on Ramsey, Powers, and Al Martinez.
