To our Friends and Neighbors of Pleasant Hill, below are some of your personal stories about how the proposed CarMax facility will affect you. We want your story told so that the Pleasant Hill City Council will consider the human toll that will occur.
>> From Breana Burgos
Dear Elected Officials of the City of Pleasant Hill,
My name is Breana and I am resident of this town. Up until a few months ago, I was not particularly active in local politics or happenings. Like many of my generation, I kept abreast of the news but I was not very active in fulfilling my civic duties. I voted in the major elections, but never really paid attention to what was happening locally or even, really, at the state level. I first heard about the planned Carmax from my best friend, another Pleasant Hill resident. She was frustrated at the plan but we didn’t know there was anything to be done. “That’s just the way it is” was our attitude. Who were we to do something about it and honestly, what could we do about it? It felt like a done deal that was our of our hands.
A month or so later, I was catching up with my neighbor and we also discussed the planned Carmax. We discussed how it would negatively impact our air quality due to an increase in pollutants from construction and the possibility that runoff from the cars would poison Grayson Creek. We talked about how much better it would be if it were a mixed use space with cafes and restaurants or even how great it would be if it were a park. I still felt as if I couldn’t do anything about it. I’m 23 years old. What do I know about grassroots organizing? What do I know about zoning ordinances or Carmax construction? How much of an impact could I actually make on this issue? My neighbor encouraged me to attend a public forum with her. I spoke up, as did many other residents of Pleasant Hill, and nervously enumerated my concerns with the committee. They decided to proceed with the project.
When I found out that none of the issues my neighbors and I described to the committee changed any of their minds, I realized it did not matter. It did not matter that I don’t know anything about grassroots organizing or zoning ordinances or Carmax construction or that my impact on this issue is marginal at best. No, none of this matters because, to me, this isn’t just a Carmax. To me this is a statement from the leaders of my city. They are telling me that tax revenues are more important than public health. They are telling me that corporate benefits are more important than community benefits. And they are telling me that the concerns of a corporation are more important than the concerns of my neighbors and myself. And I absolutely cannot let this happen because Pleasant Hill is my home. I will not silently watch as our small town becomes a playground for large corporations. I will not allow big businesses to be permitted to pollute our air and our water. I will not allow the concerns of our community to brushed aside in lieu of corporate interests. At least, not without a fight.
So at the next public forum on July 17th, I will once again stand up with my neighbors and express our concerns. I hope, as elected officials, you’ll listen.
Sincerely,
Breana
>> From Christine Scharmer
To the City of Pleasant Hill,
My name is Christine Scharmer and my son, Mario, lives at Chilpancingo Vista, a residence facility for the mobility impaired, which will be kitty-corner to the planned CarMax. We are opposed to the CarMax development in the DVC Plaza. My son is
disabled and the plan for a fine arts and education plaza is a much
better plan. Many of the residents at 102 Chilpancingo Parkway, who are also disabled, would
benefit from that plan. Most cannot drive and are limited to where they
can go. Like my son, many are artists and would enjoy a fine arts center.
Being close to a beautiful college campus how can you even consider a
CarMax? Being disabled, my son and his neighbors have limited options and have to travel the sidewalks in that area. How will they be able to avoid the CarMax hauler trucks, the test drives and the increased traffic? Please, do not create a dangerous situation for them. Please do not build a CarMax.
View Mario Painting up a Storm
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dXS3kyL2nGM
Sincerely,
Christine and Mario
>> From Kim Ledford
To the City of Pleasant Hill,
I grew up in unincorporated Walnut Creek off Geary Road and on
the other side of the street was Pleasant Hill. I went to Pleasant Hill Elementary for a few
months until Larkey School, off Larkey Lane, was built and continued
elementary school from there. Our district must have included PH
Intermediate (now Sequoia) and Pleasant Hill High School, clearly the best school
around during 1968-1971 when I was a student. Living
in Hawaii in the 70's I came to really miss Pleasant Hill. But, my
life took some different directions, and I lived throughout the Bay Area, until finally settling back in Pleasant Hill, where I have lived for the last 29 years. Pleasant Hill conveys community and family and exudes a Small Town Charm that people love and is why many of us are here.
Having grown up in the area, how would a CARMAX affect our neighborhood and the surrounding area? In the townhouse that I have lived in for almost 29 years on Camelback Road, the thought of a car dealership kills me. I
have talked to my neighbors and we are in univeral agreement. How does a CarMax fit into the character of the neighborhood? Nobody here needs a CarMax. We can easily drive to Concord or Walnut Creek to buy cars and if we need to go a CarMax, there are already plenty of locations nearby. We have noticed that our area of the City has been neglected, and we would like to see it as vibrant as other parts of the City. We would like to see restaurants, retail, shops or a gym. Doesn't that
make sense?
The Pleasant Hill I
know is a nice SMALL town. We do not want another Walnut Creek. Even
though there are people that love that City, we love the intimacy and community that a SMALL town has. Pleasant Hill needs to be Pleasant Hill, so keep it simple PH.
That is why people come here and not Walnut Creek. My grandchildren are small, 2 and 3 and
they have been having a blast going to Pleasant Hill Park although they actually live in
Martinez. My son went to all Pleasant Hill schools too and just being able to
drive by Mangini Ranch and still enjoy a ride on Pleasant Hill Road is fabulous. Don't ruin the character of Pleasant Hill. A CarMax neither contributes to a Small town atmosphere nor makes our lives better. We can do better.
I
am a fierce lover of Pleasant Hill. Put into that space a pleasant, enjoyable
retail space that is conducive to family gatherings. Reinvigorate the poor Chilpancingo Park so that our kids and grandkids can play there. Do something
beautiful for our area. Thank you.
Sincerely,
Kim
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