Argument Against:

Measure 24-33 PROHIBITS voting
on most annexations.

MEASURE 24-33, the developers’ measure, IS THE LARGEST LAND GRAB IN THE HISTORY OF THE CITY OF SALEM. IT ACTUALLY PROHIBITS VOTING ON ALMOST EVERY ANNEXATION THAT WILL EVER BE PROPOSED IN SALEM. IT WILL CONTINUE TO CREATE SPRAWL.

The developers are on record throughout the state opposing our democratic right to vote on annexations. They don’t want us to know what growth is costing us, or to decide where growth in our community should happen.

Why then would they file an “annexation vote” measure? Read their cleverly written list of “exceptions”. Their measure actually PROHIBITS voter approval of almost all annexations. It protects the millions of dollars in subsidies they’ve been getting from taxpayers for decades.

Their measure (24-33) says we won’t be able to vote on annexations within Urban Service Areas. That means that EVERY DEVELOPMENT THAT THEY ARE LIKELY TO PROPOSE WILL BE AUTOMATICALLY APPROVED WITHOUT A VOTE OF THE PEOPLE! And that’s exactly what has been creating sprawl and wrecking our community. Their measure continues the process under which EVERY ANNEXATION BUT ONE, PROPOSED IN THE LAST 30 YEARS, HAS BEEN APPROVED.

Measure 24-33 is a special interest measure; it excludes the taxpayers from the process of deciding on how our city will grow, or how fast, or how much we want to pay for growth.

Before you vote, look carefully. The citizens’ measure (24-34) is
on the ballot because more than 100 citizen volunteers gathered signatures, and nearly 6,000 citizens signed it and want it on the ballot.

The developers’ phony measure, (24-33) sponsored by City Councilor Ann Gavin-Sample, was placed on the ballot by only five people – Gavin-Sample and the other four developers’ representatives on the council.

VOTE NO ON 24-33, THE DEVELOPERS’ PHONY MEASURE:

THEN GO VOTE “YES” ON 24-34,
THE CITIZENS’ GENUINE ANNEXATION VOTE MEASURE!

(This information provided by
Richard Reid, President, CityWatch)