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The following letters and other commentary express only the personal opinion of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of the Piedmont Civic Association.
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YES -Pool proponents have stated Piedmont needs a working, non-leaking municipal pool, and it is timely and cost-effective to issue the bonds to allow the designing and building of two enlarged pools and Aquatic Facilities. Pools were costing the City $1,000 per day prior to the closure by Alameda County COVID-19 mandate. Proponents note the new pool facility will be used by the schools, swim teams, Recreation Department, and the general public. The added operating costs of the Facility are projected to be covered by an increase in community-at-large usage.
NO – City records show tens of millions of dollars in outstanding City financial obligations, and opponents state the City should first fund current obligations and needed Police and Fire facilities before a yet-to-be-designed expensive multi-pool Aquatic Facility. A lack of prioritization of City needs, increased congestion next to schools, higher taxes, poor economic timing, environmental impacts, financial money-pit, mis-management, oversized costs, and Covid -19 are noted as negatives.
Official Measure UU – Pool Construction Bonds information
*The “City Attorney’s Impartial Analysis of Measure UU” is provided by Piedmont’s contract City Attorney.
Measure UU is found near the end of Piedmont voters ballots.
This forum will be on YouTube. The City of Piedmont is legally not allowed to use public resources for political purposes. Prior to the forum, the Piedmont League of Women Voters endorsed Measure UU.
Join the League of Women Voters of Piedmont for a virtual Election Forum featuring proponents and opponents of City of Piedmont Ballot Measure UU. Measure UU authorizes the city to issue bonds to reconstruct the Piedmont Community Pool. Each side will be given two minutes to present an opening statement, followed by a question and answer session where each side will have one minute to answer each question. Submit your questions concerning Measure UU now or during the event.
You may submit questions during the livestream by using the YouTube comments or anytime prior to or during the event by completing the anonymous form below or sending an email to lwvpiedmont@gmail.com.
For more information about Measure UU, review LWVP Pros & Cons.
I have watched Conna in action in many volunteer situations. She listens, she is curious, she asks questions, she seeks many opinions. She understands there is a process and is not afraid to speak up and advocate for what she feels is right. She really knows how to build bridges and seeks the higher ground. She is a problem solver. She is the right woman for the job and future of Piedmont.
Vote for Conna McCarthy for City Council.
Sincerely, Valerie Corvin
Conna’s commitment to our community is obvious – through her participation on school parent boards, chairing of fundraising activities, service as Recreation Commissioner and spearheading of city campaigns.
Conna thrives on creative problem solving and seeks out diverse opinions in order to find solutions. Her community interests range from school sports and civic programs to city beatification and the arts. And, I must add, her love for the Piedmont community is clearly evident in her vast purple and white wardrobe!
Most inspiring, however, is the way Conna has prioritized service to others and instilled this value in her family. Whether serving our country, our community or vulnerable segments of the population, Conna, Peter and their children have all made career and volunteer choices that contribute to the greater good.
Conna has integrity, a collaborative spirit and loves our community. I have seen this commitment and witnessed her tireless efforts serving Piedmont over the past 25 years.
Please join me and the entire Meyersieck family and vote for Conna McCarthy for City Council!
Lindsey Meyersieck
Conna has the vision, experience, prodigious energy and intelligence to guide Piedmont through these challenging times. She has a deep understanding of the issues facing our town and a remarkable gift of listening to all points of view with respect. Her almost thirty years of outstanding service to our schools and city make Conna a most qualified candidate.
Please join me in supporting Conna McCarthy for City Council.
Valerie Matzger, Former Piedmont Mayor
When I think about Piedmont, the iconic image that comes to mind is the center of town – the 4 schools, the tennis courts, Piedmont Park and City Hall. And, in the middle – the pool. We live in a really beautiful place and the pool is a vital part.
This picture fades when you foresee the pool drained and the site pad-locked. Further, it is difficult to imagine it replaced by anything else. I can’t see, and don’t want, it “developed” for alternative (commercial) purposes. That’s not Piedmont. What belongs there is a pool. This is where our kids learn to swim. This is where my parents took me to learn to swim. Why would we take that away from our community and future residents? A cost/benefit analysis falls woefully short of responding to that question. Nobody applies that logic to the other amenities.
We rightfully take pride in our city. We should be a community that does not require a “fiscal” conclusion to support inherently valuable projects. We have parks, fields and courts for our citizens and students to pursue their athletic interests. Swimmers and water polo players deserve the same. Make no mistake, the pool augments the quintessential Piedmont “selling point” – the Schools.
Should UU fail, Piedmont High School and it’s swimming and water polo teams will be without a pool. Would some families opt for private schools that have pools? Seems likely. Replacing the pool is a great opportunity. The proposed plan ties the pool and the tennis courts together and creates a modern and attractive recreational facility. This is more than a replacement – it’s an improvement.
Think about recent projects. Does anyone regret remodeling Hampton Field? Do we wish we hadn’t spent the money to replace Havens? Of course not. All things have a lifespan whether we are talking about civic amenities or personal property. Well, the pool’s life has ended and it is our responsibility to get it replaced.
Those that oppose Measure UU because they ‘don’t use the pool’ or ‘don’t like how it will be funded’ should consider the risks of shuttering the pool. How does creating a blight improve our city? Whatever the objection, in the long-run this project enhances Piedmont, which benefits us all. Because Piedmont’s a community and not just an address, we owe it to the past and future to get this done.
Please vote ‘YES’ on UU.
Chris Hart, Current President Piedmont High School Boosters, Prior President Piedmont Baseball Softball Foundation
We all know that public services will be under tremendous pressure during this pandemic and its aftermath, and we need professionals with judgment, deep understanding of the hard trade-offs local governments face, and compassion to meet this moment. We’ve closely watched the work of the Piedmont City Council during our over two decades as residents, and this is a time when we need our very best.
Jen Cavanaugh has earned our trust and deserves re-election, and there’s no public servant better-qualified to join her on the Council than Conna McCarthy. Conna understands how government works, and especially how Piedmont works, and has proved her commitment through her service on everything from the Municipal Tax Review Committee, the Recreation Commission, parcel tax campaigns, and her deep roots in this community. She will be an extraordinary Council member at a critical time.
We are voting for Conna McCarthy and Jen Cavanaugh, and we urge others to join us.
We are fortunate to have Jennifer Cavenaugh as a Member of our City Council, and we will continue to be well represented by electing Jen for four more years.
Throughout the years, Jen has been doing the important work of bringing our community together through her support of PADC, the “Let’s Talk” series, the city’s annual MLK celebration, and lending elected leadership to a city-wide anti-racist brainstorm this past summer to name just a few. These activities are just the tip of the iceberg — Jen works tirelessly for what we all want, a community that is engaged in productive civil discourse, one that can overcome polarization in the name of fairness, real progress, and human kindness.
Jen’s fair, critical, thorough, probing, and measured approach to solving Piedmont’s toughest challenges serves her (and us all) well. Her dedication and commitment is clearly demonstrated by the sheer number of meetings she attends, always with her sleeves rolled up, ready to get “the work” done.
Jill Lindenbaum, Piedmont Resident
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