The 5th District Supervisor race is a critical one. I’ve worked with Eric Hammer for years on local issues; my vote for him is one of the proudest I’ll ever make. Eric was raised protecting our unique, fragile ecosystem. He was the first person there building a teen center and nonprofit for our youth. He chaired Mountain Community Resources, navigating adoption by Community Bridges to save MCR. The Boulder Creek Recreation and Park District board was publicly dysfunctional until Eric and others were elected; it recently was honored as the best small district in California. In local forums, Eric, hands down, has demonstrated that he, more than any of his older opponents, grasps our transportation, funding, social service and environmental concerns. He listens, has the skills to find the core of issues quickly and the energy to work effectively on many fronts. We need him. Let’s elect him.
Barbara Sprenger, Felton
"He was the first person there building..."
lol
Why the need to pave over SLV? We're a forest dude.
Nepotism abounds. Hiring and purchasing policies are ignored. Bids for services and materials are not solicited. Employee turnover increased, 5 managers quit since Eric arrived. 4 elected board members resigned. One former board member, Thetis Sammons, stated in the Valley Press 2005 that she “felt physically threatened by Eric”. Violence at the parks increased resulting in meetings with disgruntled neighbors and the sheriff.
Eric claims to favor government transparency, yet Boulder Creek Rec has a policy requiring any questions from citizens to be presented under a Freedom of Information Act request form prepared by Boulder Creek Rec.
Favoritism is general practice. Rental fees are charged at the whim of the board ignoring the adopted fee schedule. Unequal treatment is the norm.
Eric led the way spending over $30,000 for a consultant to pursue a $5 million grant to build a Rec Center and destroy an historic neighborhood in the process against the will of the people. He kept secret a survey done by the Boulder Creek Rec District because 80% of those surveyed did not favor a new facility.
Boulder Creek Bulletin 3/12 - 4/16 2012 Eric noted that “the department had previously spent $35,000 to have plans drawn up to rebuild the dam, these plans were never used and the parks sit quietly”. Eric continued, “the park is not safe the way it is now, someone is going to get hurt”. Eric ignored a secured grant in 2005 of $25,000 which would have enabled Boulder Creek Rec to install the dam. But he let it expire.
All statements are documented.
Is this what we want at the county supervisor level?
What happened to the youth center funds?
The "best small district" award was given by their insurance company. Multiple members of the insurance company won awards for being members of the insurance company. Which is kind of silly.