Last year, the Crystal Springs Uplands School's (CSUS) proposal to locate a new campus in Belmont was hotly debated within the community and I wrote in support of the project. Last week, I received a Belmont City Council campaign letter from Ms. Kristin Mercer. In this letter, Ms. Mercer wrote that as Chair of the Belmont Planning Commission she "voted to recommend acceptance of the school." She also included what appeared to be a hand written note to me that said "Thanks for writing to support CSUS”. As her letter suggested strong support of the CSUS project, I looked up the minutes of the meeting where the Belmont Planning Commission formulated its recommendations to the City Council (July 17, 2012).
At the meeting, several votes related to the project were taken. With respect to the Mitigated Negative Declaration of Environmental Significance, the General Plan Amendment and the Planned Development Rezoning, Ms. Mercer voted to recommend the project. But on two other items, she voted no. Here are notes from the meeting (in quotes). With respect to the Conceptual Development Plan "she could not recommend it in its current form.” With respect to the Development Agreement “Chair Mercer wanted it clear that she believes it is consistent with the GP but she would not recommend it."
I find it dishonest to claim “voted to recommend acceptance of the school” having voted against both the project’s concept and agreement and I feel that the note at the bottom thanking me for my CSUS support personalized the lie. I get that the issue is complex and the electorate wants simplicity, but to stretch (and in my opinion break) the truth in this manner runs counter to the meaning and spirit of Ms. Mercer’s tag line of "Act with integrity".
