The legendary investigative journalist from the 20th century, I.F. Stone, coined the phrase describing our pollical system: All governments lie!

He was prophetic when it comes to the Johnson Drive EDZ and Costco. The city has been misleading you about this project: its costs both monetarily and in terms of your quality of life, the perversion of the democratic approval process, and its true benefits to the community.

They have been dishonest about the $20 million in subsidies – all public funds – handed over to a multi-billion-dollar corporation. They have been dishonest about how many years it will take to pay back the public in sales tax revenue. They have been dishonest about the true traffic impacts from the project and the necessary mitigations that may not be built for 20 years. They have been dishonest about the air quality impacts from the project and its effect on your health. They have been dishonest about the process used by the city to approve the project and their intention to subvert your rights. You don’t have to take my word for it. Reams of information and independent analysis and facts have provided to the to the city and the press that proves this. It’s all been ignored.

What is true, is that there is a Growth Coalition made up of the city, the Chamber of Commerce, developers, and the press that sets the agenda and sells it to you with propaganda and outright lies. It’s like a cancer, and it feeds off never ending development and growth to provide the money to keep it growing. But there is no such thing as never-ending growth. But Sustainability is not in their vocabulary.

This is the state of our so-called democracy. And many of you accept it or ignore it because it gets you the dollar-fifty hot dogs and crates of toilet paper you so desperately desire. The City Council doesn’t represent you, it represents the Growth Coalition and they get away with it because enough people want Costco at any price so that it insulates them from the opposition that puts their jobs at risk.

Is this really the society and form of government we want? There’s another famous quote, this one misattributed to Alexis de Tocqueville, but nevertheless true: “We get the government we deserve”.

The majority of voters in Pleasanton approved the Costco build.
Why do you continue to claim subterfuge when the majority asked
their elected officials to proceed with Costco build?

Exactly my point! Subterfuge was used to get the outcome the city wants. Voting for something under deceitful conditions doesn't make it legitimate, no matter how bad YOU want Costco.

Thanks Matt for telling it like it is!

It makes me really sad that we would want Costco to come to Pleasanton. We don't need it.

Matt, you're going to give yourself a stroke. You might consider moving to a quiet town in the sierra foothills. Relax. Pleasanton has moved on without you and 1975 isn't coming back.

Pleasanton population high school grads is 98%.
Pleasanton population with bachelor degree or higher is 65%.

Matt, what education level did you achieve?

The majority of educated voters in Pleasanton approved Costco build.
Matt, explain how this highly educated majority was swindled?

Or better yet, explain how you and your supporters tried to swindle this
highly educated voting majority?

.....but Valero and black tie were completely honest and transparent with their opposition?

....and the traffic thing is laughable as we've paid taxpayer dollars to decrease traffic flow in busy areas (bart/Owens).

So now we are mad when money will be used to improve it?

Matt: Oh, u r back. Great for us. Why do you fail to describe what the 'public' funds are you speak of? That they were developer dollars paid into THAT fund for this very type of project? What exactly do you want to happen in that area? You don't seem to provide any alternatives? How come with all your hot air you can't provide a developer that will do your bidding and not cost the City any funds?? Hot air.
You whine about elected officials....a lot... Yet they were elected and re-elected by what margins? Face it, you are a minority. A very loud minority, but one the same.
Build a Costco and shoppers will come; but not you. You can parade outside (by yourself) protesting.

Yippee, Costco coming to town! No more highway trips to Danville or the insanely packed Livermore store! Tilt those concrete slabs up and fill it with decent paying jobs, quality products we need and inexpensive gasoline. The vast majority of Pleasantonians voted for it, build it.

Be careful what you wish for.

I am careful, and I wish for this. This is a good thing. Start the tractors and hand out the shovels.

All the nay sayers that continually come out to express fear mongering about Costco will be shopping and filling their cars with gas at Costco after it is completed. You all know this is true.