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The price of no: $1.75 million
Measure N foes spent nearly $700,000 in campaign’s final weeks
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CommentOpponents of June’s Measure N poured nearly $1.8 million into defeating the initiative that would have killed the proposed development at Napa Pipe, according to campaign finance reports.
During the last filing period, May 18 to June 30, Measure N opponents Keep Napa Napa reported $550,000 in contributions from the owner of the Napa Pipe site, Napa Redevelopment Partners. Those late contributions put Keep Napa Napa’s total contributions for the year at at more than $1,550,000, dwarfing the reported budget of Measure N supporters.
During the last filing period, May 18 to June 30, Measure N opponents Keep Napa Napa reported $550,000 in contributions from the owner of the Napa Pipe site, Napa Redevelopment Partners. Those late contributions put Keep Napa Napa’s total contributions for the year at at more than $1,550,000, dwarfing the reported budget of Measure N supporters.
Nearly all of the contributions to Keep Napa Napa came directly from Napa Redevelopment Partners. Napa Redevelopment Partners’ Keith Rogal has said the firm has financial support from Farallon Capital Management, a San Francisco investment firm.
At the polls, Measure N was defeated 54 to 46 percent. The measure would have stopped the proposed development of 3,200 townhomes at Napa Pipe and given voters the right to decide on any future proposal that exceeds existing county caps on residential growth.
At the polls, Measure N was defeated 54 to 46 percent. The measure would have stopped the proposed development of 3,200 townhomes at Napa Pipe and given voters the right to decide on any future proposal that exceeds existing county caps on residential growth.
Napa Coalition for Responsible Growth — the group behind the Yes on Measure N campaign — raised a total of $73,000 this year, according to reports, including $15,000 between May 18 and the end of June.
Napa attorney James Marshall, treasurer for the coalition, reported three separate personal contributions to the campaign during the last filing period, totaling $7,600. Marshall reported contributing $4,100 several days after the election.
Napa attorney James Marshall, treasurer for the coalition, reported three separate personal contributions to the campaign during the last filing period, totaling $7,600. Marshall reported contributing $4,100 several days after the election.
Additional contributions totaling $4,247 came in from winery owner Dario Sattui. Jon Stiffler, an investment counselor in Santa Rosa, is listed as contributing $3,800.
Rogal questioned the accuracy of the Napa Coalition for Responsible Growth finance reports, which, he said, “raise a lot more questions than they answer.”
Earlier this year, Keep Napa Napa’s Joe Fischer filed a Fair Political Practices Commission complaint alleging that the coalition under-reported its contributions and failed to report unnamed financial backers.
At the time the complaint was made, both Marshall and Measure N campaign manager Vic Ajlouny denied any wrongdoing.
Rogal questioned the accuracy of the Napa Coalition for Responsible Growth finance reports, which, he said, “raise a lot more questions than they answer.”
Earlier this year, Keep Napa Napa’s Joe Fischer filed a Fair Political Practices Commission complaint alleging that the coalition under-reported its contributions and failed to report unnamed financial backers.
At the time the complaint was made, both Marshall and Measure N campaign manager Vic Ajlouny denied any wrongdoing.
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napamartha wrote on Aug 4, 2008 10:15 AM:
abouttime wrote on Aug 4, 2008 10:35 AM:
napablogger wrote on Aug 4, 2008 10:39 AM:
The question is whether we want it or not. I was glad to see that Measure N folks decided to wait and see what the project is before filing another initiative. "
jt wrote on Aug 4, 2008 11:56 AM:
TheWholeTruth wrote on Aug 4, 2008 12:32 PM:
Napa was bought for less than two million dollars? And the dollar isn't worth what it used to be.
I'll be pondering that with many of the 54% who voted no on N (especially those who voted no on N to stop Napa Pipe, and, well, Keep Napa Napa) as we endlessly sit stuck in traffic 24/7 on highway 29 after NewPipeCity gets built.
Without N we can attend all the public meetings we want. This is where big money talks and public opinion walks because we just don't count on growth anymore.
I'm afraid Napa will get really, really big now that money, development interests know just how easily and inexpensively this town can be manipulated.
Yep, we can truly Keep Napa Napa, to the 10th power. Kinda like always having to buy new trousers with ever expanding waist lines. Will Keep Napa all right, just make it bigger and more bloated!
World class project? Oh, yeah, like the overpriced trailer park that, from the highway, looks like a cheap metal mock up of a western town. You know, the project we have come to know and love as the Carnerous Inn.
Yep, this is vision! The kind that makes you wish you saw it coming before it was too late.
Now we can have visionary highrise rusting metal western town mock ups all over the city and county of Napa. Thanks napablogger. Can’t wait. "
rogers wrote on Aug 4, 2008 12:58 PM:
abouttime wrote on Aug 4, 2008 2:45 PM:
TheWholeTruth wrote on Aug 4, 2008 3:38 PM:
Just what blind, deaf and dumb entity provided this award to Carnerous Inn?
Keep Napa Napa?
Napa Redevelopment Partners?
Napablogger?
Or maybe, how much did Napa Redevelopment Partners have to pay to get the vote for this well deserved architectural award?
But your right, most us lowly Napa old-timers can't afford to stay at an overpriced, award wining trailer park that looks like a poor man's metal western town mock up from the road. "