Although the San Martin Neighborhood Alliance has its detractors as they work to achieve cityhood, support for the group is continuing to pop up, including the recent donation of a "jumping jack" tent trailer by Randy Scianna, owner of See Grins RVs and Horse Trailers.
Scianna, who bought the property that is home to See Grins three years ago, said he has been a part of the alliance since purchasing the property. Even though he is a Morgan Hill resident, as a San Martin property owner, he said, he wanted to get involved in the community. The donation of the trailer was something he felt he could do to contribute.
"See Grins is interested in San Martin fulfilling its destiny, whether that's incorporation or not, we're interested in the future of the community, whatever that turns out to be," he said.
The company has donated the trailer, valued at $4,995, to be raffled by the group to raise money for covering costs incurred during the incorporation process.
Tickets are $20 each, or $55 for three, according to Vicki Whittman, who is coordinating sales.
The alliance, which represents about 6,900 residents and has an active membership of approximately 600, has been planning and working on the incorporation for a decade.
The proposed town's boundaries, which are more than 10,000 acres and 16 square miles, extend from Masten Avenue on the south, to Maple Avenue on the north, to Watsonville Road on the west and to New Avenue on the east.
"It's totally generous," Whittman said of the donation. "We really appreciate the contribution."
According to a South Valley Newspapers full-page ad purchased by See Grins, the company donated the trailer "to help support a non-partisan, independent feasibility study to determine if San Martin has the financial base to be self-reliant."
In April, Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors voted 4-1 to oppose San Martin's incorporation unless the community pays the county nearly $10 million to offset what the county sees as lost revenue as a result of the incorporation.
On Wednesday, members of the Local Agency Formation Commission of Santa Clara County voted 3-2 to accept a staff analysis indicating the county would lose at least $70,000 in revenue a year if San Martin were a city.
The group will host a car show 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Aug. 16, with a raffle and a silent auction, as another fundraiser. Tickets are $5. For more information, visit www.smneighbor.org and click on the event calendar.
The drawing for the trailer will be held Sept. 30 or when 1,000 tickets have been sold. The alliance could raise more than $10,000 from the raffle. To date, the group has raised and paid more than $150,000 but still has bills for attorney fees of $21,000 and for LAFCO staff time spent working on the incorporation of $86,000, so the group still needs to raise approximately $100,000.
Tickets for the trailer raffle may be purchased at See Grins, 13635 Sycamore Ave., San Martin, or call (408) 683-4466.
Marilyn Dubil Marilyn Dubil covered education and law enforcement for The Times.
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