Save Cupertino from Aggressive Development

The Issue

Cupertino is at risk again for having development/financial interests put above your welfare, the residents. By responding to this petition, you can help!

In less than three months, the 2023 Cupertino City Council majority has moved swiftly to promote their aggressive growth agenda:

  1. Pushed for more housing in the city’s housing element than the required 4,588 units.
  2. Eliminated commissions and committees that promote dialog and public input about development policies and that audit city activity.
  3. Created new council policies that significantly reduce opportunities for public input and public discussion among council members.
  4. Attempted and in some cases succeeded in removing resident-focused committee and commission members. 
  5. Suggested a new, luxury city hall that contains a 500 seat event center without sufficient parking spaces, whose cost would be close to $100 million. Although the council majority cites earthquake safety as a prime reason for the new city hall, the previous city council already passed a $27M renovation plan in 2022 to address the safety issue. 

The new council majority is trying to gain an aggressive-development majority on the Planning Commission by removing commissioners who are fighting for your best interests as residents. When the new council majority tried to remove former mayor Steve Scharf in the middle of his term by creating a new policy, the City Attorney warned that the policy could not be retroactive.  Now the council majority’s allies are attempting to discredit and remove commissioner Ray Wang in the middle of his term. 

Tell Cupertino City Council to keep R “Ray” Wang on the job! 

Ray Wang has a history of standing with residents and standing up to development/financial interests:

  • Organized residents to challenge Redwood City’s use of secondary water (treated wastewater) in parks and residences ~20 years ago. The challenge threatened the aggressive growth industry, who attempted to scare Ray by framing him with a complaint that was never proven. Ray suffered personally and professionally from the attacks, but he persevered and his effort to protect residents was successful. Check here for more information.  
  • Represented residents’ rights when the 2018 Vallco project brought out-of-town and out-of-state union-hired agitators to harass the residents who were peacefully campaigning for a better Vallco project.
  • Brought the approval of two large projects that exemplify sensible growth in Cupertino. Westport Cupertino (previously The Oaks) and the new Marina project provide housing that is required by the State of California (HCD requires Cupertino to build 4,588 housing units in the next cycle) After bargaining with developer, the final Westport projects size decreased about 1/3, more commercial spaces, senior housing and assisted living units were added to alleviate traffic and parking burden.
  • Didn't support radical State Housing Bill like SB9, SB10, which may destroy California Single Family Zoning.  


Ray has served twice as Chair and once as Vice- Chair over his two terms on the Planning Commission.

Stop the obstruction of democratic processes in Cupertino.

Tell Cupertino City Council to keep R “Ray” Wang on the job!

As soon as you can and before March 7 City Council Meeting: 

What else can we do to protect our community?

Tell the city council that we want sensible growth that is the result of public participation in democratic city government. 

March 7th city council meeting agenda can be found here. This is the link to join the meeting.

avatar of the starter
Better CupertinoPetition StarterBetter Cupertino is a group of concerned residents who act together for a more responsive and responsible Cupertino government. Our focus is engaging residents and city government to balance growth and quality of life. Website: bettercupertino.org

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The Issue

Cupertino is at risk again for having development/financial interests put above your welfare, the residents. By responding to this petition, you can help!

In less than three months, the 2023 Cupertino City Council majority has moved swiftly to promote their aggressive growth agenda:

  1. Pushed for more housing in the city’s housing element than the required 4,588 units.
  2. Eliminated commissions and committees that promote dialog and public input about development policies and that audit city activity.
  3. Created new council policies that significantly reduce opportunities for public input and public discussion among council members.
  4. Attempted and in some cases succeeded in removing resident-focused committee and commission members. 
  5. Suggested a new, luxury city hall that contains a 500 seat event center without sufficient parking spaces, whose cost would be close to $100 million. Although the council majority cites earthquake safety as a prime reason for the new city hall, the previous city council already passed a $27M renovation plan in 2022 to address the safety issue. 

The new council majority is trying to gain an aggressive-development majority on the Planning Commission by removing commissioners who are fighting for your best interests as residents. When the new council majority tried to remove former mayor Steve Scharf in the middle of his term by creating a new policy, the City Attorney warned that the policy could not be retroactive.  Now the council majority’s allies are attempting to discredit and remove commissioner Ray Wang in the middle of his term. 

Tell Cupertino City Council to keep R “Ray” Wang on the job! 

Ray Wang has a history of standing with residents and standing up to development/financial interests:

  • Organized residents to challenge Redwood City’s use of secondary water (treated wastewater) in parks and residences ~20 years ago. The challenge threatened the aggressive growth industry, who attempted to scare Ray by framing him with a complaint that was never proven. Ray suffered personally and professionally from the attacks, but he persevered and his effort to protect residents was successful. Check here for more information.  
  • Represented residents’ rights when the 2018 Vallco project brought out-of-town and out-of-state union-hired agitators to harass the residents who were peacefully campaigning for a better Vallco project.
  • Brought the approval of two large projects that exemplify sensible growth in Cupertino. Westport Cupertino (previously The Oaks) and the new Marina project provide housing that is required by the State of California (HCD requires Cupertino to build 4,588 housing units in the next cycle) After bargaining with developer, the final Westport projects size decreased about 1/3, more commercial spaces, senior housing and assisted living units were added to alleviate traffic and parking burden.
  • Didn't support radical State Housing Bill like SB9, SB10, which may destroy California Single Family Zoning.  


Ray has served twice as Chair and once as Vice- Chair over his two terms on the Planning Commission.

Stop the obstruction of democratic processes in Cupertino.

Tell Cupertino City Council to keep R “Ray” Wang on the job!

As soon as you can and before March 7 City Council Meeting: 

What else can we do to protect our community?

Tell the city council that we want sensible growth that is the result of public participation in democratic city government. 

March 7th city council meeting agenda can be found here. This is the link to join the meeting.

avatar of the starter
Better CupertinoPetition StarterBetter Cupertino is a group of concerned residents who act together for a more responsive and responsible Cupertino government. Our focus is engaging residents and city government to balance growth and quality of life. Website: bettercupertino.org

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Petition created on March 2, 2023