Letters to the editor

The Salinas Californian
Posted on May 13, 2007

No on Measure A

Measure "A" is not a community plan at all. It was written by a couple of out of town attorneys at the direction of LandWatch. LandWatch is an organization
that was started by two former members of the Santa Cruz Board of Supervisors who are not even residents of Monterey County. Measure A has not undergone the normal environmental or economic studies, it did not
include input from all segments of our diverse community interests, and there have been no public hearings. A legal analysis prepared for the county has determined that much of what is in Measure A, if passed, may be tied up in court for years.

The major support for Measure A comes from the Monterey Peninsula, while their property is exempted from the provisions of the plan. I would not presume to stick my nose into planning matters in Carmel Valley, or Pacific Grove and it is unfair for them to dictate planning issues on our side of the valley.

Because of interference in our planning issues by LandWatch and environmental activists, Monterey County is about 11,000 dwelling units behind in providing for our exploding population. There are 2 and 3 families
living in single family dwellings, which is unsafe, unsanitary, and breeds crime. We must not adopt even stricter more onerous regulations that will make our
housing crisis worse.

I strongly urge a No vote on Measure A.

Donna Hollenstain
Salinas