Excerpt:

A new citizens' group has kicked off a campaign to rally support behind SunCal's plan for Alameda Point, saying the former military base is a burden on taxpayers and the developer will transform it into a community asset.

But not everyone supports their effort: As of Monday, 550 Alameda residents have asked for their names to be pulled from the petition that would place SunCal's plan on the ballot, according to the city clerk's office.

Wednesday's announcement about the new citizens' advisory committee came from Singer Associates Inc., the public relations firm that SunCal Companies has been using to gather support for its plan.

The group was formed so that people who want a "positive, realistic and financially healthy" plan for Alameda Point can show their support, said Doug Siden, its chair and the Alameda representative on the East Bay Regional Parks board.

Other members of the new group include Doug Biggs, executive director of the Alameda Point Collaborative, and Kathy Moehring, executive director of the West Alameda Business Association.