Mountain Views News, Combined Edition Saturday, April 29, 2023

SPECIAL MAY 9th ELECTION SUPPLEMENT

 
SATURDAY, APRIL 29, 2023 

SECTION BSECTION B


SIERRA MADRE VOTE CENTERS OPEN – 

So Will it be 42 or 50 Houses?

Eligible voters in Sierra Madre have 10 days left to cast a vote on one of the most controversial 
issues in recent times. The issue of whether or not the Passionist Fathers 
will be allowed to build on their property at 700 N Sunnyside (commonly known as 
the Monastery), will be decided once and for all on May 9th. At that time, votes will 
be cast either for or against Measure M. 

A Yes Vote on the measure would uphold Ordinance 1461 and confirm the city council’s 
prior approval of the original Meadows at Bailey Canyon project. 



A No vote would overturn the Ordinance and stop the project of 42 homes from being 
built. It will not stop the alternative project of 50 homes from moving forward.

 Bottom line, regardless of how the votes come in, a housing project will still be built 
on that property. Actually, if No on Measure M is successful, a larger project with 
minimal input from Sierra Madre residents and without any benefits such as a new 
park, funds for the new police station and almost a million dollars for a water conservation 
program will be constructed.

When speaking with residents who are confused about the Yes and No of it all, to the 
person they ask the question, “if we are going to get 42 or 50 new homes regardless, 
why bother?” And more recently, concerns are growing as to the wisdom of forcing 
this vote in light of the fact that the city is desperately in need of meeting the growing 
needs of the Sierra Madre Fire Department.

The cost of this special election according to Deputy City Manager Laura Aguilar, 
who also serves as City Clerk and the City’s Elections Officer, is “between $300 - 
$400,000.” And that is just the cost of the actual election.

Supporters of Yes on Measure M point out that the $1 million plus in additional revenue 
from the original The Meadows at Bailey Canyon Project negotiated by the City 
and residents will be lost if opponents of Measure M are successful. The alternative 
project, submitted by the same developer last year, is protected under SB 330, California’s 
Housing Crisis Act of 2019 and can be built as submitted with minimal local 
influence. Should voters prevail with No on Measure M, there is nothing that can be 
done to stop the larger, less attractive, ‘perkless’ project under SB330.

Opponents – No on Measure M, cite in their literature, “We believe developers must 
adhere to our General Plan and residential zoning rules….”, two areas that SB330 is 
very clear that that local government lost its jurisdiction of such matters.

The fact is that SB 330 ‘preempts even local voter measures, extending the law to apply 
to the initiative and referendum power’. However, since the implementation of 
SB 330, there have been several failed legal challenges to overturn the state’s authority. 
Oceanside, Antioch and most recently Huntington Beach to name a few, all lost their 
bids to challenge the measure. SB330 is the law of the land, whether local governments 
and their citizens like it or not.

In the end, the voters choice really comes down to a really expensive outcome. 

42 or 50?Susan Henderson, Mountain Views News


The City of Sierra Madre reminds residents to 
protect the integrity of our election:

WARNING:

ELECTIONEERING PROHIBITED!

Violations can lead to fines and/or imprisonment.

WHERE:

Within the immediate vicinity of a person in line to cast their ballot or within 100 
feet of the entrance of a polling place, curbside voting or drop box the following activities 
are prohibited.

WHAT ACTIVITIES ARE PROHIBITED:

DO NOT ask a person to vote for or against any candidate or ballot measure.

DO NOT display a candidate’s name, image, or logo.

DO NOT block access to or loiter near any ballot drop boxes.

DO NOT provide any material or audible information for or against any candidate or 
ballot measure near any polling place, vote center, or ballot drop box.

DO NOT circulate any petitions, including for initiatives, referenda, recall, or candidate 
nominations.

DO NOT distribute, display, or wear any clothing (hats, shirts, signs, buttons, stickers) 
that include a candidate’s name, image, logo, and/or support or oppose any candidate 
or ballot measure.

DO NOT display information or speak to a voter about the voter’s eligibility to vote.

The electioneering prohibitions summarized above are set forth in Article 7 of Chapter 
4 of Division 18 of the California Elections Code.”

InSIDE THIS SECTION

YES TO MEASURE M Page 2,10

NO TO MEASURE M Page 3

CONVERSATIONS Pages 4-5

IMPARTIAL ANALYSIS OF MEASURE M Page 5

OPINION Page 6

LEGAL NOTICES Page 6-9