Commentary: The Sierra Club as a Political Organization
Albany resident Karen McKeown wrote the article below criticizing Sierra Club’s political role in local elections, in response to the Commentary: Here’s why I plan to vote for Lieber, Panian and Toomey.
”How self-serving of Ms. Wishner to publicize her support of Sierra Club candidates for Albany City Council without disclosing that she was a member of the Sierra Club committee that interviewed Council candidates for inclusion on its slate.The one objection she notes to this slate of candidates is that their election “will create an all-Progressive council”. My concern is far more specific than the label a candidate might–or might not–affix to his or her political philosophy: I am deeply suspicious of any candidate endorsed by the Sierra Club.
I am not”anti-Sierra Club”. I am, politically-speaking, a liberal, and I have been a long-time supporter of the Sierra Club and its conservation and education efforts. But during the last election the Sierra Club–as a political organization–and its candidates did much to create a serious rift in our community. Those Sierra Club candidates and their associates produced and distributed literature that was misleading (proposing a conference center that included land that was unavailable for sale or use) as well as nasty (campaign hit pieces). These same Sierra Club “operatives” filed a lawsuit against valued Albany community members–a lawsuit determined by a local court to be a SLAPP suit (a Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation). That case was found to be without merit and was dismissed and the bringers of that lawsuit–associates of the Sierra Club’s candidates–were charged with the costs and fees of the defendants. As far as I know, they have yet to pay a dime to the defendants.
It is time for the people of this community to recognize that the Sierra Club, notwithstanding its history and many laudable, and historical, endeavors, is no longer the 501(c)(3) charitable or educational organization people remember. Today it operates as a 501(c)(4) political action organization. And when Albany voters defer to selections made in closed meetings by “progressives” like Nan Wishner, they’re getting candidates who serve someone else’s agenda, and not the broader interests of our community.”
*Albany Today encourages open and constructive discussion on the current election and other issues of public concern in the community. All voices of reason from Albany residents are welcome. You can post your opinions under the articles or send them to me through email linjun9913@berkeley.edu
Agreed. I’m a relatively new resident of Albany and have been surprised by the level of Sierra Club PAC activity in the community. I will be focusing on those candidates who choose to represent the interests of Albany, not external entities.
Wow. Albany is a fine city, but only occupies about one square mile with 16,000 residents. How could we possibly wall off the borders and not allow any outside influences to interfere in our little burg, “The Gateway to Alameda County”?
As it is, the Sierra Club has about 600 dues paying members in Albany, the largest organization in town. Should those tax paying Albany residents not be allowed to associate with the Sierra Club? That’s unconstitutional, not to mention impractical.
Remember the plea to Think Global, Act Local? How can we support saving the far away rain forest, for example, but when it comes to our own back yard, seek to maximize profit and over develop the waterfront at the expense of the environment?
Go Albany!
(We’re only the “Northern Gateway to Alameda County,” though I’m on tenterhooks to hear what’s been chosen, in this centennial year, to replace that motto. I’m hoping it’s “Come for the schools, stay for the bitter waterfront infighting.”
Bill, I think that strawman arguments like, “How can we… seek to maximize profit and over develop the waterfront…,” don’t much help the dialog. I have yet to meet an Albanian who wants a Southern California-style galleria mall in place of the racetrack (there may be some, but I’ve never met them, nor met Caruso)… I’m sure there’s a spectrum of opinion, and that most of us aren’t at either extremes.
I have met Mr Caruso. Since you haven’t, let me tell you about the mall on our waterfront.
Mr Caruso entered into an agreement with Magna Entertainment Corporation (MEC), the owner of the racetrack, to build two malls: one at Santa Anita racetrack and the other at Golden Gate Fields. Mr Caruso’s budget to influence the electorate was set at $2MM. He opened an office on Solano Ave, hired staff, and set about to push the mall and support candidates for election to the City Council.
Grassroots citizen action opposing the mall resulted at least in part in the election of three progressives to our City Council, whereupon Mr Caruso withdrew from Albany to concentrate on Santa Anita. Two years later, MEC is in grave financial trouble, racetracks are up for sale with no buyers, and the mall at Santa Anita has not yet broken ground.
Think of the problems Albany would now be facing if we had listened to the mall advocates, who were then in the majority on the City Council! What a disaster that we have averted for Albany.
Now the same mall supporters, but in new clothing, attack with a vehemence the City Council majority of progressives in general and incumbent Robert Lieber in particular (see the latest Journal letters and articles).
Rather than focus on the issues, the attacks on Robert Lieber are often personal and started four years ago when he was first elected to the City Council. Because he was the lone voice on the Council who opposed the ill-conceived mall project, the majority attempted to silence Robert and his supporters.
At one point they attempted to prevent Robert from placing items on the agenda–a right given to each councilmember by the Charter.
Failing that, the pro mall majority started the practice of placing time limits on the people speaking before the council–something they now accuse Robert of practicing on them! Lord knows they didn’t listen to us then, and in the process lost their majority.
To put this acrimony associated with the waterfront behind us, the new council majority of progressives put in place a community based planning process, which was stridently opposed by the mall supporters. However, today all six candidates for City Council support the planning process.
That is leadership we can count on. Let’s not go back to the old days when the City Council was a club composed of ideologically identical members out of touch with the majority of Albanians.
I’m surprised to see the “Sierra Club” as an epithet, denounced as an “outsider” in Albany.
Other candidates also sought “Sierra Club” endorsements and did not win that support. That does not make them more “pro-Albany” than those who won Sierra Club support.
Ellen Toomey — as one example — is a bridge-builder and someone who listens to the voices of her many neighbors in Albany. Ellen is longtime Albany resident, strong supporter of green on the Gill Tract and ‘green’ education, and a founder of SchoolCARE. Those are ALBANY positions.. AND, Ellen Toomey won the support of the Sierra Club for her support of the environment.
Like many in Albany, when the Sierra Club supports open spaces or keeping an area ‘green’ I’m appreciative. When the Sierra Club takes a position I don’t like, I say so. I expect my Council members who have won endorsements from other candidates and from the Sierra Club to listen to us all, and to speak their minds!
Some may remember that when John F. Kennedy first ran as a Catholic, many feared that the Catholic Church would determine his political positions. That is (thankfully) no longer the case for a Catholic candidate. As it should not be for a candidate supported by the Sierra Club.