Oakland A's officially withdraw from Fremont

The A's send an letter to the city and officially withdraw from Fremont. The planned "protest" was changed to "rally" a few days ago. Now it becomes a night for "celebration." About 600 people show up at city hall, and many residents speak in the council meeting to express concerns about how city handle the process. Although the real reason for A's withdraw is the economy and they have better options, Fremont residents are glad to be the catalyst for the A's timely decision. BTW, today is Mardi Gras (Fat Tuesday).

Press Release: FCN welcome A's decision

Lew Wolff's letter to the city

[Mercury News] Oakland A's owner: Fremont is out

[Tri-City Beat] A's to Fremont Dead

[Tri-City Beat] Victory Rally

[Marine Layer blog] Lew's "Dear John" letter: 

[Oaklands A's examiner] Oakland A's officially withdraw from Fremont

A's plans for Fremont appear headed for doom

There have been many news recently. It's very critical now to have a PEACEFUL STRONG RALLY on TUESDAY 2/24 6:30pm at CITY HALL. This is the best chance to stop this ill-planned stadium proposal.



Although the Oakland A's ask the city to cancel the NOP for Warm Springs and "stop" the EIR process for Pacific Commons, the pro-stadium camps have not given up yet. The Chamber of Commerce and "A's to Fremont" group are moblizing their supporters now. The Mayor plans to have another talk with the A's next week to save the project. The A's can still resume the process at any time. 

[Mercury News] A's plans for Fremont stadium appear headed for doom
[San Francisco Chronicle] A's halt plans for ballpark village in Fremont

[Argus] A's fans not giving up fight for Fremont stadium

[Argus] Steward: A's should forget about Fremont

[KTVU news video] Fremont Mayor Says A's Stadium Plans Are On Hold

[Tri-City Beat] A’s supporters to “Step up to the Plate”

[Tri-City Beat] Nina Moore (Chamber of Commerce) email

[Tri-City Beat] Dirk Lorenze (Planning Commissioner) email

[Marine Layer blog] Now it's official

[Marine Layer blog] Fremont EIR work halted

[Oakland A's Examiner] A's ballpark project officially delayed

A's move to Fremont hits a snag

The A's cancel the lunch with Chamber of Commerce, and decide not to present at the city council meeting on February 24. The NOP is still on. The city is still going ahead with the 30-day public comments until March 12. "Clearly the A's are unwilling to engage the community, and are only interested in conducting deals behind closed doors where they can exert questionable practices and sales tactics without accountability."

A's New stadium plan halted (KTVU.com news video)

Oakland A's stadium plans delayed (ABC7 news video)

A's move to Fremont hits a snag (Mercury News)

A's decision to put stadium on hold is a ploy (Mercury News)

A's put Fremont plans on hold (Argus)

A's playing games, stadium opponents say (Argus)

A's delay Fremont meetings on new stadium (SJ Business Journal)

Athletics stadium meeting ‘postponed indefinitely’ (A's Examiner)

A’s call timeout (Tri-City Beat)

Wasserman is not optimistic (Tri-City Beat)

City still taking comments on A’s Project (Tri-City Beat)

NUMMI’s stadium opposition (Tri-City Beat)

NUMMI Letter to City 2/11/2009 (tinyurl.com/nummi-20090211)

A's will not attend 2/24 City Council session (Marine Layer blog)

A’s make Warm Springs preference official

On February 10, the A's submitted an amendment to change their stadium site to Warm Springs location, and the City promptly issued a new Notice of Preparation (NOP). You can read the full details of this on the Fremont City website. Please see detail at FCN.

The City Council will hold a public hearing on Tuesday, February 24, 2009. PLEASE JOIN THE PROTEST. The public has until 4 p.m. on March 12, 2009 to provide written comments regarding the environmental issues to be considered in the Draft EIR.

The A's now expect to open the ballpark in 2014, to be inlined with BART's opening date. They also pick a new location for the Pacific Commons alternate site (between Christy Street and 880).

Here are some news coverages:

Oakland A's owner decries Fremont stadium delays (Mercury News)

A’s make Warm Springs preference official (Tri-City Beat)

A’s now eye 2014 (Tri-City Beat)

Let's just be friends (yet another good analysis by Marine Layer)

A's shift preferred ballpark site to Warm Springs (SJ Business Journal)

Wolff ‘focused’ on Fremont despite protests (Oakland A's Examiner)

Despite Delays, A's Owner Set on Fremont Stadium (KCBS)

A’s cancel meeting but protestors turn out in force

The protest at Warm Springs Elementary continued despite the cancellation of several scheduled meetings at different elementary schools, hosted by the A’s for 25 pre-chosen residents. The cancellation comes on the heels of the last such meeting (2/5) being protested by nearly 1,000 residents.

There were ~500 people show up for tonight's protest along Warm Springs Blvd. While most people are from Warm Springs neighborhoods, there are many from other parts of Fremont. Opposition of the stadium is organized and growing, especially in light of the recession.

Warm Springs Protest Pictures (Tri-City Beat)

A’s cancel meeting but protestors turn out in force (examiner.com)

Fremont Residents Protest A's Stadium Plan (ktvu.com with transcript)

Note: NBC came earlier and only got 100+ people. The A's cancel the meeting with 25 residents at Warm Springs Elementary School.

At the same time, a few folks spoke at city council:




Lisa Quan's appointment is delayed until next week.

Warm Springs turns out to protest A's stadium plans

Hundreds turn out to protest A's stadium plans (Argus)

Cold reception for A's in Warm Springs (Argus)

Hundreds turn out to protest A's stadium plans (Mercury News) 

Hundreds turn out to protest A's stadium plan (examiner.com) 

A few good blog posts from Tri-City Beat:

Weibel Protest (with pictures)

The A's (has a good summary of what happened)

One account of how Weibel Q&A session came to pass

An unofficial Fremont A’s Logo (LOL), previously the San JosA's

Also followed by Marine Layer: Warm Springs turns out in protest

How many people show up tonight? The A's ends up using the multi-purpose room (instead of the originally planned 25-people meetings). There are about 500-600 people inside the room. And there are at least as many people still on the side walk. So it's likely over 1,000. It's a very peaceful protest. The weather cooperates too.

One clarification. This protest was not initiated by Fremont Citizens Networks (FCN). It was started by a few concerned local citizens. FCN becomes a channel for people to get connected. Many volunteers just show up to facilitate the traffic, talk to the crowd and media, and make sure the whole protest is safe and peaceful.

Here is the video news report (02/05/09) from KTSF (Mostly in Chinese, but still worth a watch).

Videos from Q&A in multi-purpose room:

Fremont Residents oppose to A’s Ballpark

Fremont Residents oppose to A’s Ballpark

[translated and edited from Chinese Word Journal]

Fremont (2/3) reported

With the proposal of Oakland A’s building a ballpark at the Fremont Warm Springs area gradually to surface on the table, opposition from local residents also increasingly more prominent.  A’s has planned hold a meeting with residents on the fifth at the local Weibel Elementary school.  However, only 25 residents can enter the meeting hall.  Local residents of various ethnicities plan to protest outside the assembly, declaring the opposition movement to A’s building the stadium.

One of the Founders of Fremont Citizens Network, Mrs. Bai expressed, City of Fremont and A’s have never directly answered to the request of the local residents, as well as hold public forum to communicate with the residents.  The meeting that is being held this Thursday only invited very few people to attend.

Mrs. Bai pointed out the actions of A’s holding only private meetings have already outraged many residents of different ethnic backgrounds.  If the city government does not provide public channels for residents to express their views, people can only take to the streets.  She anticipate that in the evening of the fifth, there will be many residents attending the rally to protest against the City and the Athletics’ practice of only closed doors negotiation, regardless of public opinion.

Fremont Citizens Network pointed out that there aer already more than 1,300 residents that have signed online petitions in opposition to the A’s building the stadium at Warm Springs.

Fremont Unified School District (FUSD) is also extremely concerned about the impact of the Athletics building stadium.  In a joint meeting of FUSD and Fremont City Council, school board member Ivy Wu raised two questions to the City Council:  Has the City conducted any survey to fully understand the true concerns and thinking of the Fremont residents?  What had happened to the comment letters from the Fremont residents that were delivered to the City before the end of the public comment period on 12/18/2008.

Regarding this first question, Fremont city employee replied that their main duty is to conduct research and analysis, and to submit a report to the City Council, thus allowing the Council to make decision under the circumstances of knowing the public comments.  Regarding the second question, city employee exclaimed that they have received more than 2,000 comments from the residents.  Until the project advances, there will be no action to address the comment letters.

Ivy Wu is worried that the City has already made a decision on this project, and is unwilling to listing to the voices of the residents.  She reminds the City Council that they should respect the comments of the residents.  Before making any decisions, the City should take into account to provide students with a safe and healthy educational environment.

Fremont Residents oppose to A’s Ballpark (Chinese)

運動家建球場 佛利蒙人抗議

記者周吉吉

佛利蒙3日報導

隨著屋崙運動家棒球隊（Oakland A's）在佛利蒙Warm Springs地區建造球場的計畫逐漸浮上檯面，當地居民的反彈聲浪也日益突出。運動家隊訂於5日在當地Weibel小學舉行街坊會，但是只有25人可以進入會場。當地各族裔民眾計畫在會場外舉行抗議集會，宣示反對運動家隊建球場。

「佛利蒙公民網路」（Fremont Citizens Network）發起人之一華裔白女士表示，佛利蒙市府和運動家隊從來不正面回應居民的要求，也不願召開公開會議與民眾對話；這次舉行的會議又只邀請很少人參加。

她指出，當地各族裔民眾對此已群情激憤；如果市府不給民眾渠道發表意見，民眾只有走上街頭。她預期5日晚會有許多居民出席集會，抗議佛利蒙市府和運動家隊只顧關起門商議而不顧民眾意見。

「佛利蒙公民網路」指出，已有1300多位民眾在網路上簽名，反對運動家隊在Warm Springs建造球場。

佛利蒙聯合學區（FUSD）對運動家隊建球場造成的影響也極為關注。在2日舉行的佛利蒙市議會與學區聯席會議上，學區委員吳葦（Ivy Wu）向市府職員提出兩個問題：市府有沒有做過任何調查，以確定了解佛利蒙居民的真實想法？到2008年12月18日截止日期，佛利蒙民眾向市府送交的所有意見書下文如何？

對於第一個問題，佛利蒙市府職員回應表示，他們的主要職責是進行研究和分析，並向市議會提交報告，以供後者在對公眾意見有所任知的情形下作出決策。對於第2個問題，市府職員表示，他們總共收到2000多份居民意見書，在整個球場項目繼續推進之前，對這些意見書暫時沒有動作。

吳葦擔心市府在此議題上已有決定，不願再聽取民眾的聲音。她提醒市議會應尊重居民的意見，在作出決定時能考慮到讓學生有安全和健康的受教育環境。

Lots of potential problems if A's move to Fremont

My Word: Lots of potential problems if A's move ballpark to Fremont

[origonal link from Argus]

By Vinnie Bacon

My Word

Posted: 02/03/2009 12:01:00 AM PST

IN HIS Jan. 29 My Word, Dominic Dutra wrote that the Oakland Athletics coming to Fremont could "lead to significant economic growth for years to come," and that the impacts could be addressed to "an extent acceptable to most reasonable people." 

There are many who disagree with this optimistic assessment. 

A number of these concerned residents have joined together to form the Fremont Citizens Network, a group that feels that the negative impacts of a ballpark would far outweigh the benefits to the city. 

Fremont Citizens Network is educating people about the reality of building a ballpark in Fremont.

Dutra doesn't mention that the ballpark is conditional on the city changing the general plan to allow for 3,200 homes to be constructed west of Interstate 880, an area that is zoned for industrial uses that could bring high-paying jobs to Fremont. 

The homes would add children to our already overcrowded school system and require city services in a time when we're already having trouble paying for the existing services.

These homes would be in a redevelopment area. Unlike most other homes in Fremont, their property taxes would go to the Redevelopment Agency where they could not be used for police and fire services.

We would agree that an independent economic study needs to be done. No one has presented a concrete explanation of how a ballpark generates economic growth. We're just supposed to trust that it will happen.

The economic analysis done by the A's shows that the project would cost the general fund (which pays for police and fire services) more than $1 million a year in the long run. This analysis was done before the current downturn in the economy. 

Clearly, retail estimates should now be revised downward and sales tax revenue is the key component of the project providing revenue to Fremont.

The project proponents brag about the stadium creating jobs for Fremont. But their own analysis shows that these employees would only earn an average of $26,000 per year.

The traffic problems the stadium would bring are presented as a minor problem that can be easily mitigated. The A's have estimated that a game would generate an average of 11,000 car trips, the equivalent of five lanes of freeway traffic running at capacity for a full hour.

We simply don't have the roads to handle this level of traffic. According to the A's schedule, a game would coincide with the evening rush hour on one in six week nights (about 42 times a year).

Attendees trying to avoid the parking fee (currently $25) undoubtedly would drive around looking for free spaces in nearby neighborhoods.

The comparison to San Jose is not appropriate. 

San Jose already had a downtown with many high-paying jobs before the HP Pavilion was built. The proposed site in Fremont is between an auto plant and a residential community. What would support businesses in this area when the ballpark is empty? 

And if ballparks generate significant economic growth, why hasn't Oakland seen this growth in the 40 years that the Coliseum and Oracle Arena have been there?

Economic analyses are always estimates. Anyone would have to agree that this project brings significant risks to our city's economy.

We believe that the mistake here would be taking on such a risky endeavor, especially during our current economic situation.

San Jose ready if A's plans change

San Jose ready if A's plans change from San Jose Business Journals.

Yet another good anaylsis from Marine Layer.

Tri-City Beat is following up too.

Someone comments: "Is there a better location in the Bay Area? State of the Art transportation, high income fan base, downtown ballpark with built-in infrastructure ..."

Residents strongly oppose A's stadium in Fremont

[translated and edited from Chinese Word Journal]

Since the end of last year, Oakland Athletics announced Warm Springs would be an alternative site for the new baseball stadium. Many local residents have expressed strong opposition to this proposal. They recently set up an organization called "Fremont Citizens Network" (FCN) (http://www.FremontCitizensNetwork.org/) to formally oppose the stadium proposal in the Warm Springs areas.

One of the initiators of the organization, Mr. Xie, expressed on January 16th, "Because the City of Oakland has no further intention to retain the A’s, A’s move to Fremont is no longer just an idea, but is a reality about to happen." Based on his understanding, Warm Springs site was the A's initial preference. However, the team later reached an agreement with Cisco with plan to build the stadium at the Pacific Commons site, because Cisco would like to sell the use of the land near Pacific Commons. However, due to the opposition of several large businesses in Pacific Commons, the A’s are now reconsidering Warm Springs as their location of the stadium again.

Mr. Xie said that the Warm Springs site was designated as the alternative site in the A’s Notice of Preparation report to the Fremont City Council last December. Their intent was to take a short-cut as they would not need to start over again with a comprehensive Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for their alternative site.  

He pointed out that, there are many of the Fremont's best residential neighborhoods near the proposed Warm Springs site.  No other cities would have built a new stadium at such location. Mr. Xie said, "The business owners at Pacific Commons have strong financial and legal resources which have made it difficult for the A’s to reach any kind of agreement with the business owners.  As a result of it, the A’s started turnging their target to the Warm Springs residential area. This is actually a form of discrimination to the local residents." 

Mr. Xie said if the stadium is to be built at the Warm Springs site, it would result in traffic, parking, crime, safety and many other problems. He pointed out that BART extension to the South Bay is still nowhere in sight. South Bay fans will continue to drive to the games for many years to come. It will definitely lead to gridlocks on 880, 680 and local roads, which are already extremely congested during late afternoon commute hours. Due to the high cost of parking at the stadium, many people would preferentially park in the residential areas. This will result in severe disruption to the local esidents and their daily life. 

He pointed out there are misperceptions that traffic will increase revenue for local business. In fact, the vast majority of the ballpark attendees would only dine and shop within the confine of the stadium, for which would all be retained by the A’s and no benefits to the local businesses. Additional cars during the traffic hours would only result in gridlocks on freeways and surface roads. Gridlocks would result in a reduction of shopping time and a decrease of visits by the loyal customers, thus a decrease of business revenue. Mr. Xie also said that currently Fremont City Council members are inclined to support the A’s stadium proposal in Fremont, a proposal that will have great impact to all the residents in Fremont. Under the current situation, Fremont residents should speak out as one strong voice in opposition to the stadium project.  

Miss Bai, another initiator, expressed that Chinese are typically less vocal. But this project will have vital impact to our communities, personal being and welfare. “If we don't speak out, others will make decisions for us." She also pointed out that people from other ethnic communities all have similar concerns. We hope Fremont Citizens Network (FCN) would become a platform for all Fremont residents to get the honest and truthful information, share ideas and make Fremont a better place. 

Fremont Citizens Network web site: http://www.FremontCitizensNetwork.org/.

Residents strongly oppose A's stadium (Chinese)

佛利蒙華裔 反對運動家建球場
成立「公民網路」 發起人謝先生：球場若建在Warm Springs 會造成交通、停車及治安等問題

記者周吉吉

佛利蒙16日報導

自從去年年底屋崙運動家隊（Oakland A's）公布將Warm Springs作為在佛利蒙建造球場的替代選址方案以來，已遭到許多當地居民的反對聲浪。包括華裔在內的當地各族裔人士日前自發成立「佛利蒙公民網路」（Fremont Citizens Network）組織，宣示反對運動家隊在Warm Springs建造球場。

佛利蒙公民網路組織發起人之一謝先生16日表示，由於屋崙市已無意挽留運動家隊，運動家隊遷往佛利蒙已不再只是設想，而是即將發生的事。據他了解，當初運動家隊的首選場地就是Warm Springs；後來由於思科公司希望將Pacific Commons附近土地出售，球隊與思科公司達成協議，計畫在Pacific Commons建造球場。但是由於當地幾個大型商家反對，運動家隊重新將Warm Springs作為球場的地點。

謝先生說，去年12月運動家隊向佛利蒙市議會提交報告時，將Warm Springs列為替代方案，是意圖走捷徑，因為替代方案不需要重新作全面的環境影響評估報告。

他指出，Warm Springs被選中建造球場的地方都是居民區；鄰近佛利蒙房市最好的地區；沒有一個其他城市會把球場建造在那樣的地方。謝先生說，Pacific Commons商家企業有強大的財力和法律資源，運動家隊難以克服阻礙；就把目標轉向Warm Springs的普通居民區，實際上是一種歧視。

謝先生表示，如果球場建造在Warm Springs，會造成交通、停車以及治安等許多問題。他指出，捷運延伸至南灣仍遙遙無期；未來數年南灣球迷仍將駕車前來看比賽；每逢比賽日，必將造成當地880和680公路嚴重堵塞。由於球場停車場收費昂貴，許多人都會將車停在鄰近居民區，給當地居民的生活帶來許多困擾。

他指出，有些人認為車流量會增加商機，其實是誤解；絕大部分觀眾都只在球場內消費，而這些消費收入都歸運動家隊所有；本地商家得不到收益。謝先生說，目前佛利蒙市議會成員基本都傾向支持運動家隊建球場；建球場案將使所有佛利蒙居民都受影響；在此情況下民眾更應團結一致，表達反對的訴求。

另一位發起人白女士表示，華人往往對周邊事情不太關心；但是此一問題關係到華人切身利益；「如果華人再不發聲，別人就會代替我們作出決定。」她指出，除了華人外，其他族裔也有同樣訴求，希望佛利蒙公民網路成為大家交流聯絡的平台。

佛利蒙公民網路網址：http://www.fremontcitizensnetwork.org。

California budget delay stalls transportation work

California budget delay stalls transportation work in valley, Bay Area (Mercury News). Excerpts:

......

Without a balanced budget, California's bond rating has sunk, resulting in the freeze on using bonds to pay for work that is ongoing or ready to get started.  That includes the BART extension to the South Bay — $91 million was to be set aside in a couple of weeks for the Fremont-to-Warm Springs segment. Work could begin later this year, if all pieces of the funding puzzle are in place.

......

"We're this close to breaking ground on BART to San Jose," said Alameda County Supervisor Scott Haggerty, "and now we may have to pull the plug." 

The work on I-680 is also in jeopardy. Bay Cities Paving and Grading is the lead contractor on work now under way, but the state is a month behind paying its bills to the company.

......

A’s to shift focus to Warm Springs site

A's explore new Fremont ballpark site near future Warm Springs BART station (Mercury News)

A's warming to Warm Springs (from Argus)

From Tri-City Beat: A’s to shift focus to Warm Spings site (more and more heated discusion there);

From Marine Layer: Warm Springs now 1A, Pacific Commons 1B. 

From Field of Schemes: A's: Warm Springs, here we come, maybe

Looks like the A's PR team is up and kicking. There are more organized comments and activities from pro-staium camp in many online blogs. The A's hold a few closed-door invitation-only small group meetings. But they continue to refuse to have any public town hall meetings. (and they claim they reach out to the community?)

Are they following the proper EIR process? 

Wolff: Fremont should be decided by middle 2009

See these stories from Tri-City Beat blog:

Wolff: A’s to Fremont should be decided by middle 2009

Wolff hints that Selig letter opens up Santa Clara to A’s

Also good analysis from Marine Layer: Look South

They are based on the following two news articles:

Selig wants Fremont to approve A's ballpark (AP)

Door opens for A's in Santa Clara (MLB)

Bad time for stadium financing

01/10/09 headline from Mercury News: Economy stalls 49er's move 

Tri-City Beat: Bad time for stadium financing, Mercury News finds 

A good summary by Marine Layer: Uncomfortable Position 

Field of Schemes: Niners to consider Raiders stadium share? 

It isn’t too optimistic about stadium building in general.

Warm Springs residents demand stadium details

From Fremont Bulletin and video from Youtube. There is also a post on Tri-City Beat blog: Lots of Warm Springs folks still oppose A’s plan.

Warm Springs residents demand stadium details

by Wes Bowers

Posted: 01/09/2009 09:50:52 AM PST

A large group of Warm Springs residents requested Fremont City Council set up public meetings to provide them with more information on the Oakland Athletics' proposed stadium in their neighborhood.

The residents spoke during the oral communications segment during Tuesday's council meeting. Many residents said they were appalled at the number of people in Warm Springs who didn't know a baseball stadium may be coming. A few said they failed to see how bringing the A's to Fremont would benefit the city.

In December, the A's announced an alternative site for their proposed stadium to be built along with the ballpark village.

The "preferred alternative" to the original plan would move a proposed 32,000-square foot stadium to a 240-acre parcel in Warm Springs adjacent to the future Warm Springs Bay Area Rapid Transit station.

Other amenities of the Ballpark Village project initially proposed, including 540,000 square feet of retail, an 80-room hotel, 3,150 residential units and up to 300,000 square feet of office, would remain on the original site south of Pacific Commons in the Warm Springs Industrial Planning Area. In addition, a 7.5-acre auto dealership, an elementary school and associated open space would also be built on the original site.

Although the A's have yet to submit formal plans for the alternative site or even any formal plans for the original site, the residents who spoke were angered at the thought of a baseball stadium coming to town that close to their homes.

Janet Fitzgerald said she and her family moved to Warm Springs because of the diversity and quality of life, not for a baseball stadium to be built there.

"Whether it's premature to talk about this or not, we feel we need to be heard as early as possible," she said. "I don't think the people of Warm Springs moved here to have a big, noisy ballpark in their back yards. This doesn't reflect the values of the people of Warm Springs."

Other residents said the city would end up paying for the ballpark, claiming no stadium in the country had been built without the help of public money.

Lew Wolff, the team's owner, has promised the city the stadium would be paid for by the A's organization.

Resident Shafir Rafai said he couldn't understand why the city was welcoming the team with open arms, adding the franchise could move elsewhere.

"I'm disappointed to hear the city is trying to bring the A's here," he said. "I know about the problems Oakland is facing to retain the team. But they don't care if the A's leave.

"Ballparks are usually reserved for cities like San Francisco or San Jose. This will bring down the value of the area, and eventually the city will have to raise property taxes to maintain the ballpark," Rafai added.

Resident Brian Hsieh said he supports a baseball stadium plan, but only as long as it was well-thought out and beneficial for the city. But he said a plan to site the stadium in Warm Springs was not good.

"The A's and the city never consulted us before considering this site," he said. "The A's keep saying they'll promise to meet with us, but we haven't seen them so far and they keep delaying our meeting requests."

Even though the city council cannot speak on matters addressed during oral communication, Mayor Bob Wasserman told residents they had to be patient. He added the latest Warm Springs site was merely a suggestion, and nothing was set in stone.

The mayor said public meetings will be scheduled for the coming year.

"No one knows anything because this (site) is brand new," Wasserman said. "No application has been made. This site is an alternative, and a request has been made just to look at it. So to pass judgment at this time is a little premature."

Taxpayers Say No

12/03/08 News video from cbs5.com: A's Owner Considers New Fremont Stadium Near BART

FYI: The lady being interviewed is Fremont vice mayor Anu Natarajan.

Wasserman Steps In

See Wasserman still not giving up on the A’s and Pacific Commons and Mayor Wasserman steps in.

Ivy Wu Speaks Out

(quotes of Ivy Wu, translated from World Journal 12/19/08, B3)

Fremont Parents Against A’s Building Ballpark at Warm Springs

Journalist:  Zhe Zhou

18th is the deadline for residents to provide comments to City of Fremont regarding Oakland A’s building a ballpark in Fremont.  Fremont Unified School Board member Ivy Wu recently received many e-mails from parents, all of which were expressing their opposition to the plan of A’s building a ballpark at Warm Springs and requesting Ivy as the elected officials to comment.

Ivy Wu expressed on 18th.  She believes that we should first understanding the situation and allow the A’s to propose what your plans are.  She pointed out that there are at least 3 versions of plans regarding to the A’s building a ballpark:  1) original plan at Pacific Commons, 2) plan at Warm Springs, and 3) outside of Fremont.  With regards to the recent publication of the city’s Environmental Impact Report, it is directed only at the Pacific Commons proposal, and does not involve the Warm Springs proposal.

Ivy Wu commented, “A’s has repeatedly expressed the desire to be a partner of the Fremont community.  If the ballpark indeed will be built at Warm Springs, it definitely will bring many problems, such as traffic, public security, and environmental concerns to the community.  The ballpark will be close to the Warm Springs BART station.  However, the Warm Springs BART station may not have been completed by the time that the ballpark is built.

She pointed out, Mayor Bob Wasserman wholeheartedly want to bring the A’s to Fremont.  He was re-elected based on this goal. However, he has not adequately evaluated the impact and influence of the ballpark will be to the local schools and the communities.  Ivy Wu commented, many e-mails received have pointed out to the fact that even though Wasserman was re-elected mayor, he only claimed 40% of the total votes.  Therefore, he cannot represent the opinions of the majority on this issue.