League of Women Voters of California Education Fund
	Santa Clara County, CA November 4, 2008 Election
	Measure L Fire Station Construction City of San Jose Majority Approval Required Pass: 177,607 / 64.53% Yes votes ...... 97,634 / 35.47% No votes See Also: Index of all Measures

Arguments For Measure L

Arguments Against Measure L

Measure L will grant approval for construction of Fire Station No.37 on a City-owned parking lot next to Willows Senior Center and Lincoln Glen Park. Location of a station on this site will improve fire service to neighborhoods in Southern Willow Glen and Northern Cambrian. These neighborhoods are currently underserved, with fire response times above the City's eight-minute standard. The new station will enable the Fire Department to respond to emergency calls more quickly. Shorter response times will improve fire suppression and emergency medical services. Construction of this station will also enhance the operation of Willows Senior Center and Lincoln Glen Park. The emergency medical services provided by the new station will be available to assist senior center and park patrons. After construction, there will be an estimated 170 parking spaces available on the site-enough to serve the surrounding uses. Station 37 is part of a larger strategy to improve emergency services in San Jose. Since voters approved the Public Safety Bond in 2002, San Jose has embarked on a program of building and renovating fire stations. Taken together, these improvements will enhance fire service throughout the City. Rapid emergency response service is critical for the safety and well-being of San Jose residents. Because Station 37 will enhance this service, we ask you to vote yes on Measure L. /s/ Chuck Reed Mayor, City of San Jose /s/ Judy Chirco Councilmember, City of San Jose /s/ Nancy Pyle Councilmember, City of San Jose /s/ Phyllis Lazzarini Member, Public Safety Bond Citizen Oversight Committee Rebuttal to Arguments For Measure L would allow the city to open one fire station and possibly close another. Current city policy allows the city to close, consolidate or re-locate fire stations without a vote of the public. Unfortunately, the City of San Jose does not have a policy that uses response-time data from the San Jose Fire Department as a way to determine when or how fire stations are closed before they include the sale of a fire station in the budget. On August 14, 2008, I, along with Mayor Reed and Councilmember Chirco wrote a memo asking council to keep current fire stations open and to create a policy limiting the closure of fire stations city-wide. Unless the city adopts this new policy on this issue, I urge you to vote NO on Measure L. Please visit http://www.SanJoseFireSafety.com to get the latest update on the issue before you vote. Thank you for your consideration. /s/ Pierluigi Oliverio Councilmember, City of San Jose District 6

Dear Almaden, Berryessa, Blossom Valley, Cambrian, Downtown, Edenvale, Eastside, Evergreen, Rose Garden, Westside, Willow Glen and all Voters of San Jose, We cannot recommend the conversion of parkland to another use. Measure L-using parkland for a "new" fire station known as Fire Station 37- needs further attention. The devil is in the details. Currently, if this new station is built at this location; the city may choose to close Fire Station 6 - we, residents, numerous neighborhood associations, and businesses do not support closing. Closing one station to open another is the wrong way to manage public safety for the city. The city should be investing in public safety and parks; not diminishing these core city services. City management wants to "consolidate" both stations together. This is a bad idea. In 2002, San Jose voters approved a public safety bond measure which included building new fire stations to meet the need of San Jose's population growth. Building Fire Station 37 was part of that plan; using parkland and selling one of the busiest fire stations in the city was not. On August 5th, the City Council passed a motion that no decision has been made with respect to the sale of Fire Station 6. Unless there is a sudden change of policy by the City Council before November 4th, you should vote against Measure L. For updates on this issue, visit http://www.SanJoseFireSafety.com Thank you for your time and consideration. /s/ Dave Cortese Vice Mayor, City of San Jose /s/ Pierluigi Oliverio City of San Jose, District 6 Councilmember Rebuttal to Arguments Against As residents of San Jose, we can all agree that emergency services should be the City's top priority. Every resident has the right to a rapid response when they call 911 in an emergency. Unfortunately, even today, there are neighborhoods in San Jose where response times are too slow. Passage of Measure L and the construction of Station 37 give us the opportunity to eliminate our largest remaining underserved area, and ensure that all residents can rely on rapid emergency response. We understand that residents who live near Fire Station 6-an existing station-are worried that the passage of Measure L will cause the closure of Station 6. We want to take this opportunity to reassure them that Measure L will not have any effect on Station 6-its only result will be to allow construction of a much-needed Station 37. In voting yes on Measure L, you will join a broad coalition that supports construction of Station 37. San Jose Fire Department experts have recommended the parking lot site as the best location for a new station. The Public Safety Bond Citizen Oversight Committee supports the proposal, as do Mayor Chuck Reed and members of the San Jose City Council. We ask you to join with us in this opportunity to ensure the safety of San Jose residents. /s/ Chuck Reed Mayor, City of San Jose /s/ Judy Chirco Councilmember, City of San Jose /s/ Nancy Pyle Councilmember, City of San Jose /s/ Phyllis Lazzarini Member, Public Safety Bond Citizen Oversight Committee