'Serious Public Policy Problems' of Sears Point Track Expansion
17 August 1998
Sears Point Yellow Flag Alliance Says Raceway's Personal Attack Seeks to Divert Attention from "Serious Public Policy Problems" of Track Expansion
SONOMA, Calif.--Aug. 17, 1998--In response to press inquiries, the Sears Point Yellow Flag Alliance, a non-profit citizens group committed to preserving the quality of life in the Sonoma Valley, today responded to statements made last Thursday by Steve Page, president of Sears Point Raceway.
Mr. Page charged that Marvin Krasnansky, co-chairman of the Alliance, had made misstatements about the raceway in a press release.
In response, the Alliance said: "It is unfortunate that Mr. Page, apparently seeking to divert public attention from the serious public policy problems associated with the proposed expansion of Sears Point Raceway from the current 25,000 permanent seating capacity to 110,000, has chosen to personalize the debate by attacking Mr. Krasnansky."
Mr. Page charged Mr. Krasnansky with "distortions (and) misstatements," resorting to "scare tactics" and misleading the public, and claimed that Mr. Krasnansky has "excused (himself) from the obligation to tell the truth." Mr. Page further charged that Mr. Krasnansky misquoted the Alliance's own attorney's letter to the County "so as to make it appear that Sears Point was about to be shut down."
FACT: The portion of the Alliance's press release to which Mr. Page referred reads as follows: "Sears Point Raceway 'could be shut down under existing conditions for violations' of the noise element of Sonoma County's General Plan and its use permit revoked, an attorney retained by opponents of the track's expansion plans has told the County Zoning Board of Adjustments."
NOWHERE does the release say -- or even suggest -- that Sears Point "was about to be shut down," as asserted by Mr. Page.
The following is the entire text of the section of the letter dealing with the "Noise Impact Analysis" sent to the Sonoma County Zoning Board of Adjustments by Rachel Sater, an attorney with Brandt-Hawley & Zoia, representing the Sears Point Yellow Flag Alliance:
"The Project's noise impacts remain significant and substantially unmitigated. EIR at 1-44. The EIR fails to explain that noise levels associated with current operations violate the Raceway's existing use permit, which states that '(n)oise levels shall be controlled in accordance with the Noise Element of the Sonoma County General Plan,' and further that violations of that condition can constitute grounds for revocation of the use permit.
"BZA Resolution 92-007, Exhibit 'A,' Conditions 4 and 20. The EIR must explain that the Raceway could be shut down under existing conditions for violations of the Noise Element.
"The EIR must discuss mitigation measures that would bring the Raceway, under existing and Project conditions, into compliance with the Noise Element."
In response to the Raceway's press release, the Sears Point Yellow Flag Alliance stated: "The public is free to decide who is guilty of distortions, misstatements and tinkering with the truth."
Sears Point Raceway is owned by Speedway Motorsports , which also operates racetracks and entertainment complexes in Charlotte, N.C.; Atlanta; Ft. Worth, Texas and Bristol, Tenn.
For additional information contact Marvin Krasnansky by fax at 707/996-2349 or by email at mkras@yellowflag.org.