Dear Editor, This is an open letter to the East Bay Regional Park District (EBRPD). I have recently seen the EBRPD's "Report Card" in which you pat yourself on the back and rave about the EBRPD "accomplishments" since 1988 when Measure AA passed (for readers who may have forgotten, measure AA was a bond measure for acquiring land and making improvements to various parks). You give yourself an "A". This self-grading does seem a bit generous since upon review of the intitial 51 acquisition/projects stated in Measure AA, 35 still requrie additional acquisitions. It is interesting that the distribution of the Report Card is happening at the same time Measure W (EBRPD's operations and maintenance tax) will appear on our November ballot. Who is paying for this Report Card? I have also seen a "Yes on W" pamphlet prepared and distributed by EBRPD. This is clearly a campaign piece intended to influence voters. Who is paying for this campaign literature? Another bit of interesting reading comes from the minutes of the Legislative Committee's 5/21/98 meeting. It states under November 1998 Election -- Estimated Budget for Election Expense, "At this time there is $400,000 budgeted to cover potential election costs associated with Board member elections, but no additional funds for a Parcel Tax measure." How does EBRPD spend $400,000 on Board member elections? Before you answer, I checked with the Alameda County Registrar of Voters and found out you only paid $50,000 in 1994 to Alameda County for election costs. Even if you had to pay the same amount in Contra Costa County, we still need to know how $300,000 gets spent. We also need to know how much in "additional funds for a Parcel Tax measure" will be spent. My conclusion: If this is how you spend our tax dollars, no wonder you keep having to ask us for more!
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