County Team Leaders will be doing the following:

1. Establish meeting place for before and after the session 
2. Pre/Post debrief on visioning sessions
3. Review possible questions (Heather has prepared a suggested list for review which leaders have)
4. Provide intel on what to expect based on previous sessions
5. Answer your questions
6. Assist in role play and feedback

Things might start to get ugly out there.  There will be name calling (because they can not win the argument) and attempts to marginalize you.  Don't let them provoke you.  Remain calm.  Let them lose control.  The opposition knows that we are coming and are concerned that we are exposing their game.  Greenbelt Alliance, one of the One Bay sponsors and promoter of Open Space sent out an urgent appeal to their people to attend the sessions entitled This Isn't The Good Kind of Tea Party. 

We are a threat to their wealth redistribution efforts.  They did not count on the fact that the people paying the bills might actually show up and disagree with how our hard earned money is being spent.  They will try to paint us as those with the "tin foil hats" who are the conspiracy theory crack pots.  Check out these articles.  By being knowledgable and articulate our message can get through. They will call you names and try to marginalize you.  Take the high road and ignore the insults.  Stick to your point (I recommend you NOT use the term Agenda 21.  It plays in to their hand and allows them to call you crazy and marginalize you.)  Insist on property rights and freedom of choice vs a planned future of high density homes and mass transit.

SB 375 Draws Ire of the Tea Party 

How Dense: Tea Party Rages Over Smart Growth 

Pleasanton Praises and Supports One Bay

Right Wing Conspiracy Theories Pose Threat to Humanity

Give some thought to what you would say to a reporter or an opponent if they asked you to why you are at the sessions.  In sales, we call it the elevator pitch, what you can say in less than 1 minute to state your position.  Here are some suggestions:

1. We are here to provide our input.  The law requires public input and I am a concerned citizen and tax payer.
2. The visioining process is rigged for a predetermined outcome which is unacceptable.
3. The regional  planning process usurps the authority of local governments to make zoning decisions.
4. The self-admitted objective of planning is social justics and wealth redistribution.  That has nothing to do with transportation and I object to equating the two.
5. My city is not adequately represented by MTC-ABAG
6. Market forces should determine land use scenarios and economic development, not governments.
7. "We the People" do not agree with this process and have come to express our views.
8. Transportation and housing should not be subsidized.
9. Open space is violating private property rights and driving up the cost of housing in the Bay Area.

 Focus on the Delphi

Heather Gass will be conducting a special session just dealing with the Delphi Technique and preparing people for the upcoming January visioning sessions. 

Exact address will be provided via email to those registered several days before the meeting.

Focus on the Delphi

Mimi Steel will be conducting a special session just dealing with the Delphi Technique and preparing people for the upcoming January visioning sessions.