League of Women Voters of California Education Fund
Alameda County, CA November 6, 2007 Election
	Sharlene Saria-Mansfield Answers Questions Candidate for Council Member; City of Newark

The questions were prepared by the the League of Women Voters of Fremont-Newark-Union City and asked of all candidates for this office.
Read the answers from all candidates (who have responded).

Questions & Answers

1. What are your thoughts on land use and development for vacant land in Newark, especially in Areas 3 and 4?

Area 2 stretches from Old Town all the way to the Cargill Salt Ponds.

We need a new vision for Old Town, the most impoverished area in Newark. The building of the fire station as well as Carter Station is a good start. But much more needs to be done.

First, we must make a commuter rail stop in Newark a reality. It could either be part of the Dumbarton Rail project, which is under-funded and in danger of disappearing, or part of the ACE and Capitol Corridor routes. This would be a great fit, if and when, the A's build their stadium in Fremont.

A train station could be the foundation for exciting in-fill development projects with higher density, mixed use, and work-force housing. Then, we can truly transform Old Town.

We must also be mindful of the Wetlands in the western portion of Newark. I am an advocate of balancing the need for housing and commercial property, while the preserving open space and natural habitat.

Anything we do on Newark's wetlands should complement and enhance the Don Edwards Wildlife Area.

Area 3 and Area 4

The Ohlone College Campus is located in Area 3, just west of Cherry. Area 4 is west of that. Let me congratulate Ohlone College for building the first "green" community college campus in the nation.

Ohlone, with its modern campus, and emphasis on high-tech and bio-tech, should be the basis for all future development in that area. Area 3 currently zoned as "Special Industrial".

Development in this area has been hampered by the Sobrato Corp., which owns 77 acres adjacent to the Ohlone Campus. This developer has insisted that the land be "re-zoned" for housing.

It appears that our leaders are ready to agree. In exchange for re-zoning the land for residential purposes, Sobrato is ready to build a country club style golf course surrounded by multi-million dollar homes. The developer stands to make millions of dollars from the country club and the homes it will build.

Newark will lose all of the potential revenue from businesses. Given our 2.5 million dollar deficit, it seems like the worse time to make a deal with a developer and to build a country club that does not fit in with the Newark we all have known for 50 years.

Finally, we must be mindful of the Wetlands in the western portion of Newark. I am an advocate of balancing the need for housing and commercial property, while the preserving open space and natural habitat.

Anything we do on Newark's wetlands should complement and enhance the Don Edwards Wildlife Area.

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Responses to questions asked of each candidate are reproduced as submitted to the League.  Candidates' answers are presented as submitted.

Read the answers from all candidates (who have responded).

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Created from information supplied by the candidate: October 29, 2007 22:33
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