Letters to the Editor

Monterey County Weekly
Posted on March 17, 2006

Faction's actions shameful

As the fiasco surrounding the general plan update and initiative escalates, I continue to shake my head at the words emanating from Chris Fitz of LandWatch and other Community Plan supporters. I am also amazed, though not shocked, that The Herald continually leads front pages with his inflated rhetoric, as if there is an effort to promote his viewpoint over others.

The worst of numerous examples appeared in the March 1 edition, wherein Mr. Fitz trumpeted, "Three votes on the Board of Supervisors hijacked democracy."

I am compelled to ask: who is really hijacking whom here?

This faction is tearing this county apart simply because the majority of supervisors do not agree with the LandWatch agenda. It is nothing short of shameful. The last time I checked, the broadest number of voters were engaged to the process while voting for their supervisors. What (LandWatch is) attempting is a clear subversion of that process and the de facto removal of my elected representative.

If the principles of governance are so violated in their minds, LandWatch and its supporters should instead present an initiative to change the basic structure of elections and management for the county.

Chris Weidemann
Salinas