No on Measure P

Editor,

Measure P asks voters to approve a $90 million bond to fund construction to raise the levee so that Foster City will not be designated by FEMA as a flood zone. Taxpayers are being asked to assume the entire cost of this bond, while the city holds excess reserves of more than $20 million with an additional $37 million in a separate fund. The City Council has refused to touch this money to share the cost of the levee bond. Meanwhile, $300,000 has been spent on plans to replace our recreation center with a huge $45 million “destination” center which will impact much of Leo Ryan Park. There are also plans for additional residential development with a developer partnership at Pilgrim Triton that will cost taxpayers another $6 million. This, despite 2015 campaign promises that the impact of what is currently under construction would be studied before any new projects would be considered. Funding these projects seems to be the motivation behind the City Council’s unwillingness to contribute toward the costs of the levee. FEMA will not begin remapping until after October. The city has time to put another bond on the ballot in November with a contribution of our tax dollars. Excess reserves money needs to be spent where it is needed, to repair the levee.