Hidden Agenda
During the hearing to decide whether the Planning Board can discuss key issues of civic importance, a brochure was distributed with the dramatic flair of Oprah’s car giveaway (except instead of a car it was an “information” sheet produced by one of the great founts on mis-information in Alameda).
After the dramatic “unveiling” of this killer piece, a challenge was issued. To paraphrase: “I dare anyone who wants to talk about Measure A to read this brochure and see if it doesn’t blow your mind.” As one of the “let’s talk” crowd in attendance, I had found this challenge a bit tardy, many of us had already read the piece and chuckled at the complete lack of “facts” listed in the “FACT” section. I go back and forth on whether or not to even address it, I love a challenge, but this doesn’t offer one. Further, to give legitimacy to such fluff is a bit galling.
That said, I did catch a bit of “fact” that caught my eye. On the back of the brochure, are the three organizations to contact to support measure a:
Keep Measure A Organization
Keep Measure A Citizens for Alameda Neighborhoods
Action Alameda
Your eyes don’t deceive you, one group is listed twice. “Keep Measure A” the group started by Pat Bail and Diane Coler-Dark. There is one difference, though they have the same contact information (the contact numbers listed for the first iteration are the same as the second according to the Secretary of State, and the website is the same site created by the registered PAC), one of the “keep measure a” groups is registered as a political action committee and the other isn’t.
The Keep Measure A PAC is the same that first did not file its campaign finance spending in 2006. Then, they knowingly filed an erroneous campaign financing report. From the Alameda Times-Star:
The nonprofit group raised more than $2,000 in individual contributions in 2004, Coler-Dark said.
None of these contributions showed up on the statement that was filed, however.
Coler-Dark said she paid for the mailer out of her own pocket, and will eventually be reimbursed from the money collected by the original nonprofit group.
She said the transfer of funds from the original group to the PAC is difficult because the treasurer of the original nonprofit is ill.
To date, nearly 7 months later, no amendments have been filed.
However, the latest round of Keep Measure A lawnsigns are being distributed by a newly created, but essentially the same, “Keep Measure A” group.
I guess it shouldn’t be surprising that this crew, who spend a lot of time casting aspersions on other people’s motives, is maneuvering to create multiple organizations to hide their money (and lack of people donating it). What other reason could exist for setting up a new group and passing it off as a separate entity?
Clean, open government indeed.
Editors note: Post has been amended to clarify the the perceived intent of both Keep Measure A groups.
Popularity: 4% [?]
Michael Krueger
May 21st, 2007 at 3:02 pm
Well, I can think of one reason for “setting up a new group and passing it off as a separate entity”: maybe they’re trying to make it look as if there’s a huge coalition of different organizations, all defending Measure A! Then again, if that were really the strategy, I suspect they might have chosen a less obvious name for the second group. As I’ve read so often in that venerable blog with the yellow headlines on the black background, “WHAT’S REALLY GOING ON HERE?!”
Stop, Drop and Roll » Alameda’s own Newt Gingrich
December 9th, 2008 at 8:36 am
[...] I guess now that she’s not a candidate, she feels comfortable being involved again. The PAC has decertified itself last year after failing to disclose where it got its money, more here. [...]