Kudos for Commentary Regarding ‘Athletic Fields’

Kudos for the commentary by John Hauser (June 12) and Conrad Wilgus (June 5) regarding “Athletic Fields Open for More Review.” In particular, both address the glaring differences between the initial report (one 70-foot light pole lit until dusk) and the revised version (fourteen 90-foot light poles lit until 10:00 p.m.) and Hauser goes so far as to question whether that lack of full disclosure was incompetence or deliberate. We won’t get that answer but it begs the question…and since I’ve seen the latter from CVUSD in the past, it is hard to imagine being that incompetent.

To be clear: I’m in favor of certain upgrades to the fields if it will provide substantial benefit for youth sports programs. My kids played CV sports, I coached teams in CV Soccer and CVI baseball, and I’ll vote for improving facilities. What I won’t vote for is a mini version of Pac Bell Park outside my back window every night until 10:00 p.m. The houses surrounding the view of Canyon Middle School have a great deal to lose in this project—compromising a beautiful view, negatively impacting property values, excessive light pollution and constant traffic congestion.

To me, this sounds like HARD sees a new and lucrative revenue source by co-opting CVUSD as a junior (and perhaps unwitting) partner. So how about this: put the full scope of the project out in full public view and require subsequent review (with adequate notice and publicity) of any and all proposed changes prior to a binding agreement. That way everyone gets to see what’s being proposed and what they’d be agreeing to? Sounds a lot more cordial than the ensuing legal remedies a couple of my neighbors seem to be already considering. And I call upon the Forum to continue reporting on this matter as Michael Singer has done very well so far.

–Eric Nelson, Castro Valley