Letter writer challenges Glazer’s environmental record
Dear Editor:
Steven Glazer is no environmentalist; I did some research. He’s an experienced pitchman who can help a developer distort a land grab by labeling it “creating open space.” A “communications expert” he helped turn a local forest into a golf course when he won approval of a luxury Novato housing project known as Black Point over objections of the Sierra Club. He opposed environmentalists again to defend a developer on the Humboldt Bay Waterfront. These aren’t the only times he helped a developer suppress public protests; ask Orinda residents where he’s mayor.
Glazer claims that his environmental leadership has been recognized by the Trust for Public Land and Save to Bay. Glazer was asked to advise on a finance handbook produced by the Trust. I suppose that could be seen as recognition of his leadership. He made a monetary contribution to Save the Bay that was recognized in the Annual Report. I couldn’t find proof that “Steve led efforts that raised hundreds of millions of dollars to permanently protect open space in California and 25 other states.”
He’s successfully repackaged land deals, propositions, and politicians. Now he’s selling himself the same way.
Carol Weed, Walnut Creek
Compared to the alternative Susan Bonilla and Demo rubber stamper I vote for Mr. Glazer an independent thinker.
He has helped other “Demo rubber stampers” get elected. So that is kind of ironic.
In Carol Reed’s letter, she writes that, “[Glazer} helped turn a local forest into a golf course when he won approval of a luxury Novato housing project known as Black Point over objections of the Sierra Club.” I don’t know Glazer or have an interest in the issue Reed writes about, but as a former Black Point resident, I would like the newspaper record of Black Point history to be accurate. Glazer did not develop Black Point. Black Point is a very old community (approaching 100 years old) in the northeast corner of Marin County in incorporated Marin. The luxury subdivision Reed wrote about is not Black Point. What she is referring to is the gated community of Stone Tree and it was built on historic haymaking land and some hillocks just southwest of Black Point as part of the Stone Tree Golf Course starting in 1998. The homes surround the golf course and the only access to the homes is through the golf course driveway. Before being developed, Stone Tree served as the venue for the Renaissance Faire. As a condition of approval of the Stone Tree project, the owners had to donate the entire ridge behind the development (what I’d estimate at about 50-100 acres, perhaps more) as permanent open space. That peninsula/ridge lies between Black Point and Stone Tree. Thank you.
I am responding to Carol Weed’s letter. Just as the reader Mary commented, I too would like the newspaper record regarding Steve Glazer’s environmental record to be accurate.
Carol Weed claims to have done research, however doing a half-hearted Google search and then smearing someone’s lifelong work does not qualify as research.
Both the Black Point neighborhood and the city of Novato overwhelmingly voted in favor of the small residential and golf course project. The developers donated the most pristine portion of the project for permanent open space preservation. The State Department of Fish and Wildlife said that the project would actually improve the overall wildlife habitat because the existing use as a parking lot for the Renaissance Fair was environmentally destructive. After years of hearings, the City Council approved the project 5 to 0 which was then followed by the affirmative public vote.
The Humboldt project would clean up an abandoned and polluted railroad switching yard. It was also overwhelmingly approved by the voters in the city of Eureka.
Weed also has her facts completely wrong about Glazer’s work for the Trust for Public Land (TPL). For more than a decade, Steve has worked on open space preservation projects in 25 states on behalf of TPL. In California, he has directed numerous campaigns that have raised more than $2 billion and preserved thousands of acres of open space lands.
Steve was a senior advisor to Save the Bay in their continuing effort to protect the San Francisco Bay from development.
Next time Carol Weed decides to pen a letter to the editor I hope that she will take the time to properly research the subject before disrespecting the readers of your newspaper who are looking for truth and accuracy.
Hello Melba,
I wonder if you might be Steve’s wife, Melba Muscarolas?
I can understand why you would “stand by your man.”
My google search was not half-hearted.
Carol Weed
Thank you, Mary, for the additional information. If you know of a reference, especially an online reference, with more informatiom, I’d be grateful. Do you know why they Sierra Club opposed the project? Even with the accurate place name you’ve supplied, I coming up empty.
Unfortunately, the Contra Costa Times has pubilished my same letter to the editor as originally submitted before I could correct it. Carol Weed