Castro Valley needs local control
By Darryl BAYUK

I am in favor of incorporation for Castro Valley and recommend you vote "Yes" onMeasure Q.

Opponents like to talk about what Castro Valley was like 20 to 30 years ago. Yet, younever hear from them that Castro Valley has been a city for the last 20 to 30 years, ifnot even longer. As a city, we need people locally to take care of this city.

Who has been primarily in charge of what has happened here in Castro Valley? It'speople who live out of town: the county supervisor and the county bureaucracy.

Today, a lot of people talk very kindly about Nate Miley. It's all true. There are many allover the East Bay who have positive things to say about him. Nate Miley is a rising star.He is very talented. He will not always be around -- not because he does not care, butbecause he does care. That is one of the reasons he is such a rising star. He will bemoving on to bigger and better things. It is only a matter of time.

The problem is, who will come after Nate? Unfortunately, there is a far greater chancethat his successor will be more like his two predecessors Mary King and Bob Knox thanlike Nate. These two were ineffective and many times simply did not serve Castro Valleyin its best interest. Those who want you to vote no on Measure Q conveniently omitthese two people in their conversations.

During Mary's and Bob's years, it would take weeks, months, and even years for them to respond to CastroValley's needs. Nate has reduced it down somewhat, but he doesn't live in Castro Valley. Castro Valley needslocal people who can respond in hours, days and weeks.

THE county supervisor's job is to run Alameda County not Castro Valley neighborhoods. Nate is also accountableto other cities and their neighborhoods, many which outnumber Castro Valley. Like anyone running for thiscounty supervisor seat, the political base is over the hill, primarily in Oakland. A candidate for this countysupervisor seat can be elected hands down without receiving a single vote from Castro Valley.

Opponents to Castro Valley incorporation will tell you how nice Castro Valley was 20 to 30 years ago. They don'tmention the Alameda County bureaucracy. The faceless, nameless bureaucracy regularly make decisions thataffect Castro Valley without any input from those who live here in Castro Valley. The problem is Castro Valleyhas to live with their bad decisions, they don't. They control so much of what happens in Castro Valley withoutaccountability. Opponents easily overlook this. This is not something new; it's been like this for decades.

Some opponents against incorporation bring up the Municipal Advisory Council (MAC). They say, "The MAC ishow we can run Castro Valley." The MAC is year in and year out made up of highly respected Castro Valleycitizens, but the MAC is not elected by the voters. They are an advisory task force appointed by the countysupervisors who in essence are their bosses. The county supervisors can choose to listen to the MAC or choosenot to. When you go back through the past 20 to 30 years (Bob and Mary again), there are numerous timeswhen our county supervisor did not listen to the MAC or even take the time to hear what the MAC had to say.The MAC has no money, no authority, and really serves at the pleasure of the county supervisor.

What I am concerned about is not how nice Castro Valley was 20 to 30 years ago. I am concerned about howour city will be run for the next 20 to 30 years. The opponents want you to live in the past. I want to live in acity where the future is determined by people who live in Castro Valley and are fully accountable to CastroValley.

Vote "Yes" on Measure Q, incorporation for the city of Castro Valley.

Darryl Bayuk is a Castro Valley resident.

Daily Review
http:///Stories/0,1413,88%257E11010%257E945990,00.html