Initiative Signature Drive Takes Off

Ginny Wilson signs off on another completed page of signatures at the Safeway in Half Moon Bay.

Three months into the effort to collect 32,000 signatures, the Tunnel Initiative petition drive is on target and picking up momentum. Setting up tables and educational displays throughout the county, signature gatherers are being pleasantly surprised at the supportive and encouraging response of San Mateo residents.

"We have volunteers signed up working tables at over 20 locations throughout the county," said John Lynch, Coastside signature coordinator, "and we plan to get more locations going this month, especially in the North County areas. In addition, we have a large number of people working on their own, collecting signatures at their work place and amongst their friends and neighbors."

Impressive Level of Professionalism

Marty Kingshill, of Citizens for the Tunnel, has been working tunnel information tables for over a year. He's now transferring the expertise developed on the Coastside to county bayside locations. "The level of professionalism is just great." he said after a recent weekend. "The people at the tables are doing a tremendous job." He takes care that the table volunteers are fully trained and are well versed in the issues. "We team up new volunteers with experienced tablers," he explained, "so the new people can learn what we have learned about presenting this to the public. We have excellent background materials, graphics, and new table-sized scale models accurately depicting the proposed bypass and the tunnel. We also have voter registration material at the tables, for new registrations and changes of address."

Wide Range of Support

Wally Simonson and Susan Goldberg collect signatures at the Linda Mar Shopping Center in Pacifica.

The petition is attracting support from a wide range of county voters. "I think it's a very good thing to get this situation out for public debate and resolution by ballot." said one recent signer at the Moss Beach Post Office. "I've supported the bypass, but I never felt that all the alternatives were fully studied. This is the best way I can see to have that happen."

Wally Simonson, who along with Linda Bilodeau coordinates the signature gathering in Pacifica, also noted the range of support. "The response has been very positive; we've had very little negative reaction. The work done in the past by PTA-1 in Pacifica and all the groups involved throughout the county has really educated people."

Support has also come from others concerned with the tunnel initiative. A number of individuals and businesses have offered 'incentives' for volunteers collecting certain numbers of signatures. "The community wants to help with this issue" said Kingshill, "and they want the volunteers to know their work is appreciated by the citizens of this county. We'll have some great prizes for the volunteers collecting signatures by the end of the drive; for all the hard work and enthusiasm they've shown, they certainly deserve them."

SOC/CATS has until May 23rd to collect 22,019 valid signatures from registered voters in San Mateo County to qualify the initiative for the November 1996 ballot. The measure would amend the San Mateo County Local Coastal Plan to specify a tunnel as the preferred alternative for Highway 1 at Devil's Slide rather than the Caltrans-proposed 4.5-mile highway bypass; any other option, except for repair or reconstruction of the existing alignment, would require a vote by the citizens of the county. The measure also specifies bicycle and pedestrian lanes outside the tunnel.

How Can You Help?

Those wishing to help can contact county-wide signature coordinator Jason Hatch at 415/641-0249 or SOC/CATS at 415/737-1813 to find out where and when signature collecting is happening, to receive training and to get materials. Or attend any of the meetings and events listed on the back page of this newsletter. Marty Kingshill adds: "We always need more volunteers. Get some petitions from SOC/CATS and get your family, friends, neighbors, and co-workers to sign them. And come on out to the tables. We have a lot of fun!"

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