Letters to the editor

The Salinas Californian
Posted on May 3, 2007

I complained that LandWatch had written ballot arguments that were "false and misleading." One Landwatch statement said "Measure A allows Monterey County residents to vote on big projects - like Rancho San Juan - but does not require a vote of the people on small projects consistent with the common-sense policies in Measure A."

Eliminating "small" made this statement truthful because you are required to vote for everything not in the Landwatch Initiative.

LandWatch's now says developers support 70 to 80 percent of the campaigns of our supervisors. Jaffe Public Strategies, a San Francisco public relations firm, compiled that report and states: "For the purposes of this analysis, we defined "development interest" as those people known to be affiliated with groups opposed to a progressive update to the general plan, plus all agricultural businesses that donated to candidates."

So if you are not for Measure A, you are a "development interest." The list of "developers"
include Monterey County businesses, employers, property owners, farmers, workers, service people and government employees who oppose Measure A.

LandWatch tells the truth, but they are cavalier about misleading voters by framing their statements to confuse the facts.

Richard R. Smith, president
Valley Farm Management