Follow the money

Oct 24, 2017
Oct 24, 2017 Updated Apr 13, 2025
22

Editor,

Big money is arguably the most corrosive factor in American politics today. We have seen this nationally, and we are now seeing this in our local city council elections.

(22) comments

Christopher Conway Oct 24, 2017 7:47am

I was not aware that the National Association of Realtors were so firmly behind Mr. Rodriguez. In that case I am going to have to give him one of my three votes for city council. Congratulations Mr. Rodriguez, you have a new fan and I hope you do well. My advice, wear the support of the Real Estate community with pride.

Renjit Oct 24, 2017 8:32am

The money is coming in at such a rate for this candidate, that the numbers listed in this LTE are now out of date ... the amount that the real estate lobby groups and companies have raised / spent for this candidate is now > $60K. Updated numbers in the Daily Journal here:
http://www.smdailyjournal.com/news/local/money-flows-in-san-mateo-city-council-race/article_69d7ea1a-b787-11e7-b280-5bed936ec06e.html

Thomas Morgan Oct 24, 2017 8:46am

Eric represents and is concerned for the neighborhoods and wants to preserve their unique character. Further Eric is endorsed by many neighborhood associations in San Mateo.

John Morris Oct 25, 2017 10:22am

Correction: Eric is endorsed by many members of neighborhood associations in San Mateo. I've yet to see any actual associations themselves endorse him.

Thomas Morgan Oct 26, 2017 10:18am

Looking at the 24 hour disclosures (form 497) I find it to be transparent since and an example of going further than is necessary. First the contributions are labeled go further in how they are labeled as being from the Apartment Association and NARF. Could have just used the date, so you would have to click on each individual form to know who they are from. Second, within the filing the year to date contributions are disclosed. To my knowledge this is not required and on the form 497. Otherwise the people questioning the contributions would have to go back to all the prior form 460's and 497's and add them together to arrive at the total disclosed.

I commend Eric and Joe for their transparency, and would encourage the other candidates to use the same level of transparency.

Lisa Oct 24, 2017 10:44am

If we are going to talk about losing our city, we should be talking about losing it to the powerful unions, who are happy to see development fast-track, regardless if our city can handle it. But, first things first. Rejit, I do believe your perceptions are colored by your former position as Communications Secretary for OneSanMateo. While I respect their goal of getting housing for everyone, I don't believe electing candidates to the Council (or 're-electing' them) who are in or represent the construction unions is a way for our residents to retain control of their town. In support of those struggling for housing, I participated in two marches last year - yet I voted against our rent control measure because it was so poorly written. Mr. Rodriguez was wise enough not to jump on that wagon just to find its wheels would fall off a mile down the road. So, it's no surprise to me that realtors are supporting him. But why be so myopic? Let's look at who is contributing to other campaigns, too. Let's look at the train wreck that is our unfunded pensions. Let's look at who listed traffic as a top concern first. The list goes on and on. If you have yet to vote, I recommend deciding on candidates for yourself by seeing how they answer resident questions. You can find such at beresfordhillsdale.org, and also via one of the candidate forums at https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B264ugO635EtUGFmZ1hVZkw4ZjA/view?ts=59c2a49c.

Deacon Blues Oct 24, 2017 11:17am

Lisa - if you think a candidate that is funded by the realtors and construction companies is going to act on reducing traffic (by limiting new construction) ... I have a bridge to sell you

Cindy Cornell Oct 24, 2017 11:23am

A common refrain is that Measure Q was "poorly written," yet no one seems to take the time or spend the energy to back up that claim and explain why they think that. It's just a saying repeated enough, that people start to believe it - kind of our own local version of "fake news."

All should be concerned about who is getting vast amounts of money in local elections - and where it's coming from - and why.

Lisa Oct 24, 2017 11:41am

I was brief because the voting public has already seen the details of the measure when they voted it down. I personally felt it was bad because with the expanded rights given to renters (to be able to sublet at will) and the proposed expenses laid upon the landlords (to pay for renters costs to vacate and more), I felt that a negative backlash would ensue that would not be a benefit to either side. We need both sides at a table when we wit down to write such a measure - otherwise, it's a lot of wasted effort and money for naught. And here we are.

Mike Oct 24, 2017 12:47pm

That is one Big Fat Lie Cindy! The measures Q&R were fully vetted and the just cause eviction language was horrendously in favor of tenants, the independent commission (you salivated to be on) was drafted to be an unregulated entity within the City confines, and oh yes the so called stabilization of rents using the CPI index would have never ever allowed property owners to have rents rise above costs and inflation unless an act of God prevailed. Just Say No to any form of rent control! Eric is a business person, family man, and is a person of high integrity looking for the betterment of all not just the special interest group you and your cronies are members of.

Lisa Oct 24, 2017 11:42am

Correction: Renjit

Deacon Blues Oct 24, 2017 11:14am

To those that actually support the injection of funds from the real estate sector into this race: You have already got one realtor in the White House ... isn't that enough?

Christopher Conway Oct 24, 2017 12:26pm

mnboy Oct 24, 2017 12:45pm

Ironic that Renjit Matthew wants to bash special interests when he himself is the former Communications Director for One San Mateo, which most certainly is a special interest group! Hello Kettle?

(Edited by staff.)

J A Oct 24, 2017 1:53pm

You need to educate yourself and correct your ignorance. One San Mateo is a local, all-volunteer group of a broad cross-section of San Mateo residents. It makes no money, and it defends no moneyed interests. It doesn't get more grassroots and more people-powered than that. So clearly it is not a special interest.

And, frankly, One San Mateo is one of the only things standing between the real special interest groups and their completing their takeover of San Mateo. What I don't get is why anyone would want to lose their city to a small handful of cynical real-estate tycoons hundreds of miles away who basically think San Mateans are idiots who will swallow any candidate or policy they cram down their throats with their unlimited sums of campaign spending.

This is very sad for democracy. We desperately need local residents like One San Mateo who still believe in a city of, by, and for all its people.

Christopher Conway Oct 24, 2017 2:42pm

Doesn't it come down to issues at the end of the day. Money never got me to vote one way or another. If you are easily manipulated I can see where money might influence you but if you are an educated voter, no amount of money is going to change what is important to you. Position on issues will rule the day, not money

J A Oct 24, 2017 4:59pm

The candidate being operated by big-money has done his best to remain wishy-washy and aloof from the issues. That is often the case with these corporately selected candidates. It's branding over substance, ads over authenticity, and this candidate has all the money in the world to buy well-branded ads to effectively deceive voters who have limited opportunities for getting to know the candidates.

John Morris Oct 25, 2017 10:32am

The idea that a group fighting for the underprivileged should be considered a 'special interest' is one of the most ridiculous things I've heard all week. Impressive.

mnboy Oct 24, 2017 1:24pm

So this is where we're at? The Daily Journal is now editing comments, and only posting what they deem appropriate? Scary times we're living in.

J A Oct 24, 2017 1:56pm

I think at this point in time what San Mateo especially needs is a local candidate and not one being run by the nation's biggest real-estate lobbying group from 2000 miles away. This shouldn't even be a left-right issue. It's a matter of common sense and the basic, sacrosanct right of a people to democratically self-determine their own representatives rather than having them picked for them by powerful, out-of-touch, outside interests.

John Morris Oct 25, 2017 10:14am

Good news! That's pretty much every other candidate other than Eric Rodriguez.

vincent wei Oct 24, 2017 7:39pm

Oct 23, 2017 4:10pm
Gee, one can only wonder what the real estate and union groups will want from Goethals, Bonilla and Rodriguez.......after giving them tens of thousands of dollars....

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