๐๐ก๐๐ญ ๐๐ข๐ฅ๐ฅ $๐.๐ ๐๐ข๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ข๐จ๐ง ๐๐ฎ๐ฒ ๐๐จ๐ฎ ๐ข๐ง ๐๐ก๐ข๐๐จ?
There are many reasons for concern about Valleyโs Edge, the Gridley-sized pseudo-city proposed for Southeast Chico; lack of affordable housing, high fire danger, our watershed/viewshed, and SPRAWL.
๐๐ฎ๐ญ ๐ญ๐จ๐๐๐ฒ ๐ฐ๐ ๐๐ซ๐ ๐ก๐๐ซ๐ ๐ญ๐จ ๐ญ๐๐ฅ๐ค ๐๐๐จ๐ฎ๐ญ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐ฆ๐จ๐ง๐๐ฒ.
Back in 2019, when the "Safe Chico" PAC was started in Tom van Overbeek's living room with $10,000 seed money from James Gallagher, the goal was to flip the council to ensure that a more developer-friendly council was in place before Valleyโs Edge came forward. Gallagher's even had his chief of staff, Curtis Grima, work closely with them on this campaign, but that's another story. You can read it here.
No wonder, given that a conservative estimate puts the developer's profit for this project at around $250 million. The $1.2 million they have dumped into buying our town is chump change for the expected return on investment.
Of course, not all of that was the developer's money. During the 2020 and 2022 election cycles, they received nearly $600,000 in donations, about 75% from real estate and builder's interests. To put that number in perspective, before 2020, the most a PAC had spent on a Chico City Council race was around $48,000; you can review the filings from all the candidates and PACs, including us, here.
This cycle, Bill Brouhard, Doug Guillon, and their partners have put an additional $636,000 into the PAC they are using to support Valleyโs Edge.
๐๐จ ๐ฐ๐ก๐๐ญ ๐๐จ๐๐ฌ $๐.๐ ๐ฆ๐ข๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ข๐จ๐ง ๐๐ฎ๐ฒ ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ ๐ข๐ง ๐๐ก๐ข๐๐จ
๐ฒ 4 years of ugly campaigns that demonized the homeless, the mentally ill, and people struggling with addiction
๐ฒVicious, deeply personal attacks on the youngest and only LGBTQ+ council member, Alex Brown
๐ฒAds that promoted contacting former Chico City Councilmember Scott Huberโs employer, and resulted in him resigning from both his job and his council position
๐ฒA bunch of slick and misleading brochures + one brochure that randomly tries to associate people who oppose Valleyโs Edge with syringe litter
๐ฒA pet assemblyman who will call the university to prevent you from holding a forum there
๐ฒA former police chief to send a letter about how we need not worry about fire danger
๐ฒA bevy of slick political consultants
๐ฒ2 city councils to ensure your project goes through without too many questions
And your vote?
It's time to show them our community was never for sale.
Vote No on Measures O and P!
Send in your ballot today!
