Riverside Neighbors JLarrattSmith_Warehouse uses March JPA1

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From: Jen L <jlarrattsmith@gmail.com> Sent: Tuesday, November 29, 2022 11:08 AM To: Edwards, Erin <EEdwards@riversideca.gov>; Cervantes, Clarissa <CCervantes@riversideca.gov>; Fierro, Ronaldo <RFierro@riversideca.gov>; Conder, Chuck <CConder@riversideca.gov>; Plascencia, Gaby <GPlascencia@riversideca.gov>; Perry, Jim <JPerry@riversideca.gov>; Hemenway, Steve <SHemenway@riversideca.gov>; 2Mayor <2MAYOR@riversideca.gov> Subject: [External] Riverside Neighbors Opposing Warehouses Update This email's attachments were cleaned of potential threats by The City of Riverside's Security Gateway. Click here if the original attachments are required (justification needed). Dear Madame Mayor and Honorable City Councilmembers, As you know, there is widespread opposition to the proposal for the West Campus Upper Plateau proposal to the March Joint Powers Authority. As we have attempted to engage with our elected officials, many have pointed to the formal CEQA process as the key time to make our opposition known. We are days, at most weeks, away from the release of the EIR and ask that the City Councilmembers use the official time of public comment to advocate for their constituents. I also want to alert you to recent unconventional and questionable moves the March JPA has made in the past related to this project prior to the CEQA process. In the past month, the JPA has: 1. amended the DDA with the developer behind closed doors, 2. approved a schedule of payment which involves payouts related to occupancy of four buildings that have not yet been CEQA approved, and 3. given the Executive Director Grace Martin full authority to convey the land to the developer. (The Commission voted 6 yes and 1 abstain. Both of our representatives voted for this decision.) This they have done mere weeks before the start of the formal CEQA process despite broad community concern and vocal opposition to the project. Riverside Neighbors Opposing Warehouses (R -NOW) sent the attached letter to the Commission imploring them once again to engage meaningfully with the public They are a public agency repurposing excess taxpayer land. They have a responsibility to the constituents, just as you do. We have been told in the past to "trust the process," but our experience has been that the process favors developers and silences your constituents. Please do what you were elected to do: represent and advocate for the people who will be directly affected by this decision. Hold the public agency of which you are part accountable. Thank you. Sincerely, Jen Larratt-Smith Riverside Neighbors Opposing Warehouses 92508 1 cc Mayor City Council City Manager City Attorney ACMs CEDD Director