Glazer complains of BART union illegally using work sites to campaign; Bonilla calls for all parties to stop campaigning at BART stations

BART Concord Yard Bonilla Rally-Shift No. 1. courtesy of Glazer for Senate campaign.

Bonilla rally at Concord BART Yard, Shift No. 1. photos courtesy of Glazer for Senate campaign.

By Allen Payton

During a press conference at BART headquarters in Oakland, today, State Senate candidate Steve Glazer condemned the illegal electioneering on public property by the BART unions and management, and called for a swift crackdown on the use of BART facilities for campaign activities. In a letter to BART Board Chair Thomas Blalock, Glazer wrote, “During the same week that BART experienced major breakdowns, inconveniencing thousands of Bay Area commuters, BART workers were holding illegal Susan Bonilla for Senate rallies at BART facilities throughout the Bay Area. Some of these activities occurred openly with management personnel nearby.”

Union leaders during member training session about Senate District 7 race, Shift No. 1, BART Hayward Yard.

Union leaders during member training session about Senate District 7 race, Shift No. 1, BART Hayward Yard.

This is an outrageous abuse of public property for campaign activities,” Glazer added. “I know there is resentment by BART unions and management for my criticism of their involvement in the eight days of strikes in 2013. These actions by the union and management resulted in exorbitant pay raises in an agency that claims that it has no money for train, station and technology upgrades. But that is no excuse for allowing this illegal conduct at numerous BART facilities.”

I am calling on the BART Board of Directors to initiate an immediate investigation into these violations. This inquiry needs to be conducted by an independent party to ensure the fairness of the review. The BART Board should also take steps now to prevent these abuses from happening again.”

The attached photos show maintenance personnel rallying for Senate candidate Susan Bonilla at facilities in Concord, Hayward and Richmond. These events were not just held in private rooms but were in open spaces in clear view of management. In one case, union leaders are showing television coverage of a recent Glazer and Bonilla debate using BART audiovisual equipment.

In response to Glazer’s complaint, Assemblywoman Bonilla issued a statement calling on Glazer, BART workers and Bill Bloomfield, who has been funding an independent expenditure campaign to support Glazer, to stop campaigning on BART property.

Photos of Glazer at BART stations, used in his campaign materials and on his website.

Photos of Glazer at BART stations, used in his campaign materials and on his website.

I am appalled that BART platforms and BART property have been used for electioneering by Steve Glazer, Los Angeles billionaire Bill Bloomfield (who has spent $2 million on Steve Glazer campaign advertising), and by BART employees who were holding my campaign signs – these parties should immediately stop using BART property for electioneering, including candidate Steve Glazer who has repeatedly used internal BART property for self advertising,” Bonilla stated.

Bonilla’s campaign also provided examples of dozens of uses by Glazer and his backers, including use of BART platforms and internal BART property for electioneering and promoting his political campaign, including campaign photo shoots, use of those photos in campaign advertising, direct mail and on his website, and displaying Glazer campaign signs and materials at BART stations.

Visit SteveGlazerFacts.com, to see examples of Glazer’s usage of BART property for his campaign advertising.

It is illegal for BART workers to use BART facilities to oppose or promote a candidate during work hours. They can campaign on their own time, but only at BART stations in public areas. It’s also against BART’s code of conduct to campaign at BART facilities, other than stations, any time. 

However, candidates can campaign at BART stations and have been doing so for years. BART has a permit system and Glazer says he has the necessary permits to campaign.

I have the right, I have a permit and I’m not an employee on the premises,” he stated in a brief interview, today. “I’m talking about their [the BART employees’] place of work.”

Rally for Susan Bonilla at BART Richmond Yard during Shift No. 1.

Rally for Susan Bonilla at BART Richmond Yard during Shift No. 1.

According to Director Joel Keller who represents Antioch and East County on the BART Board, “It is a violation of BART’s code of conduct for all employees. The short answer is it is not allowed at BART.”

He further stated, “Anyone can campaign at the non-paid areas of BART stations on their own time at any time. Directors, management and employee groups may not use district property to campaign at any time.”

As of the time of publication of this article, Bonilla had yet to respond to why she’s calling on Glazer and his supporters to stop campaigning at BART stations when it’s legal for them to do so.

Glazer is Mayor of Orinda and a Trustee of the California State Universities. He was the top vote getter in the primary, leading Bonilla, who finished second, by more than 10,000 votes. The 7th Senate District includes most of central and eastern Contra Costa County, including all of Antioch, as well as the cities of Livermore, Pleasanton and Dublin in Alameda County.

Bonilla is serving in her final of three terms in the State Assembly. For more information, visit www.glazerforsenate.com or www.susanbonilla.com. The election is Tuesday, May 19.


the attachments to this post:


RIC2-BART Richmond Yard-Shift No. 1 rallies for Susan Bonilla


Glazer at BART stations


HAY1-BART Hayward Yard-Shift No. 1-union leaders lead member training session about SD7 race


CONC1-BART Concord Yard Bonilla Rally-Shift No. 1


One Comment to “Glazer complains of BART union illegally using work sites to campaign; Bonilla calls for all parties to stop campaigning at BART stations”

  1. Arne says:

    BART should punish their employees who were clearly violating BART policies about campaigning for or against a political candidate on BART property during working hours!!

    And Bonilla needs to get her facts straight.

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