Followed by a Counterpoint.

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Point: “After decades of military use, the old navy base has . . . contaminated groundwater. Measure B will clean up the old navy base . . . .”
Counterpoint: The Navy is responsible for cleaning up contaminated groundwater.
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Point: “By law, the plan must pay for itself."
Counterpoint: Under Measure B, the plan must only TRY to pay for itself.
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Point: No on B is equivalent to “doing nothing.”
Counterpoint: No on B frees the city from a bad deal and allows it to negotiate in our best interest. The Navy is continuing its half-billion dollar cleanup program regardless of vote.
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Point: “Measure B makes it a requirement that any developer provide [a host of public amenities]" and “jobs.”
Counterpoint: There is no requirement in Measure B that any specific public amenities be provided or that a single job be created.
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Point: Taxpayers are “wasting” their money maintaining the old base.
Counterpoint: Lease revenue, not general tax revenue, funds annual maintenance costs.
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Point: “Since the base closed, over $100 million Alameda taxpayer dollars have been spent on the former Naval Air Station.”
Counterpoint: Since the base closed, zero taxpayer dollars have been spent on the former Naval Air Station. Some taxpayer dollars have been loaned from the General Fund, but they are in the process of being paid back. (See previous counterpoint.)
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Point: “Measure B will: require ANY developer to pay to clean up toxic materials.”
Counterpoint: California law, not Measure B, requires any developer to clean up lead and asbestos. Federal law, not Measure B, requires the Navy to clean up other toxic materials.
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Point: “If we do nothing, Alameda taxpayers will continue to pay for the cleanup and maintenance of the old navy base,” says Councilwoman Lena Tam.
Counterpoint: To date, Alameda taxpayers have not paid one dime for cleanup and maintenance at Alameda Point. The US Navy has spent over $350 million on environmental cleanup, and maintenance has been funded through lease revenues from Alameda Point businesses.
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Point: The people opposing measure B are the same people who opposed the construction of the library.
Counterpoint: Many people who worked on the library campaign—including Councilmember Frank Matarrese—are opposed to Measure B because they believe that, unlike the library, Measure B will hurt and not benefit our city.

An initiative is not needed to facilitate toxic cleanup.

The Navy began cleanup in 1994, and the cleanup efforts were stepped up in 1999 when Alameda Point was declared a Superfund site. Roughly $300 million has been spent so far on cleanup by the Navy, and the work is ongoing (see our Image Gallery).

SunCal would be responsible for removing lead and asbestos, as would any builder under state law. No voter approval is required for either the Navy or SunCal to do what they have to do.

It is disingenuous of SunCal to pretend that toxic cleanup has not been happening, and that nothing will get done unless SunCal does it or we pass the initiative.