Letters to the editor

The Salinas Californian
Posted on May 17, 2007

Valley Farmers and Ranchers Already Protect Open Land

The two articles on Measure A, written by Eric Johnson and Bradley Zeve, were well worth reading but I felt they failed to mention a few things. Ranchers and farmers are not special interest groups; we are businesses that provide for the economy of the county.

With or without the Monterey County Ag and Historical Conservancy, privately owned family ranches and farms already preserve two-thirds of the ag land for non-development through the Williamson Act, a 20-year revolving contract that disallows development.

I am a fourth-generation cattleman. Eric was right; we do want to be able to have the right to build a house for our children on our own land that we have owned for 100-plus years.

The only reason Ventura and Santa Clara county have lost to urban sprawl is the commodities that they once cultivated could be imported cheaper from out of the state or the US. Apricots from Turkey, avocado from Mexico, oranges from Florida. The Salinas Valley is unique because we are the only ones to grow our particular commodities at this time of year. Value of the land is like beauty in the eye of the beholder.

Finally, no one ever mentions that the GPI, Yes on Measure A, exempts the residents of the Monterey Peninsula and Carmel Valley from its 25-year moratorium on do nothing, but rather stifles private property rights in the rest of Monterey County, where the other people live and provide for the economy.

Scott Violini
Salinas