Complaint PDFS
Three - Bar
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 7, 2008
Contact:
Ron Swift, President
WS-PACE.org
(209) 892-6355
Grassroots Activist Group Files Complaints Against PCCP West Park LLC Associates
PATTERSON, CA – Three formal complains against proponents of the controversial PCCP West Park LLC project in western Stanislaus County were filed this week by a grassroots organization formed to protect the future of that area.
WS-PACE.org, a growing organization that has over 400 members, has registered two complaints with the state Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC) and one with the State Bar of California.
At issue is a massive industrial development project of 4,800 acres proposed by West Park’s Gerry Kamilos for the retired Crows Landing air base and surrounding property just south of Patterson.
WS-PACE contends the Stockton law firm Neumiller & Beardslee has an obvious conflict of interest.
The firm represents both the Stanislaus Council of Governments (StanCOG) and the San Joaquin Council of Governments, and also is listed as the legal representative for West Park.
At the Nov. 14 StanCOG meeting, Neumiller & Beardslee representatives attended as the agency’s attorneys. “It was at this meeting that StanCOG considered whether to support a proposal to seek state bond funding for the West Park project from the Trade Corridor improvement funds of proposition 1B,” commented Ron Swift, president of WS-PACE.
“At no time did Neumiller & Beardslee disclose the obvious conflict of interest of serving both the governmental agency and the project proponent – West Park – or excuse itself from the meeting and discussions,” he continued.
Neumiller & Beardslee’s alleged conflict of interest also is the subject of WS-PACE.org’s complaint to the State Bar of California.
A second complaint to the FPPC involves D.J. Smith, a consultant-lobbyist for the San Joaquin Council of Governments which also is seeking money from the Trade Corridor bond funding for various San Joaquin County projects. His Smith Watts & Co. also is listed as a transportation logistics consultant for West Park, which is seeking funding from the same source.
The formal complaint charges are the latest firestorm surrounding West Park and its “inland shipping port” plans for the 1,527-acre former air base, property now owned by Stanislaus County. The inland port concept is not being supported by the Port of Oakland. The controversial plan, which is opposed by a host of community groups including the Patterson and Newman city councils, school district, health care boards and fire projection district, was selected by the Modesto Bee as its No. 4 top story for 2007.
Kamilos has previously been in the center of a conflict of interest allegation. He donated $28,000 to a group that sent fliers attacking a candidate running against Stanislaus County Supervisor Jeff Grover, a strong supporter of the West Park project. Grover subsequently was re-elected and later voted in favor of exploring the Kamilos plan over that of a second developer.
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Note: WS-PACE.org goes only by this name.