Letters to the Editor
Opinion
Published: July 18, 2008
SCAG wrong number
To the Editor:
Friday, last, a nice lady, also an A.I.C.P., which is a “planning degree”, tried in about 40 column inches to flame my letter of a couple of weeks ago about SCAG (Southern California Assn. of Governments). Many, many words. Numbers too! Her instructions: go to a web site, click here and click there at such and such a place. Honk! Honk! Honk! ( reader: imagine sound of DefCom 5 blaster siren): “Information overload” - “Information Overload”. Sorry to say it, but the A.I.C. P. letter was typical bureaucratic gobbledygook. But here’s the point: (and A.I.C.P agrees!) First, yes SCAG is voluntary and two, neither SCAG nor any other Agency can force Santa Paula to accept SCAG RHNA numbers, or build even one “low income” dwelling. Now that’s where the rubber meets the road, folks. The “law” has no teeth! “Don’t build it - and they won’t come”.
And reflect on this for a moment. Wouldn’t we all like to live by the beach? How about Tiburon, Belvedere, Sausalito, Pebble Beach, Pismo Beach, Montecito, Malibu, Newport Beach, Balboa Island, Corona del Mar, Laguna Beach, Del Mar, La Jolla or Indian Wells, La Quinta out in the desert? What are their RHNA numbers? How come these cities and areas don’t worry about building “low income” subsidized housing? Answer: Because their residents won’t stand for it and no one can make them, that’s why.
I rest my case.
Richard Main, B.A, LL.B, J.D. (XYZ-II)
Santa Paula
Me thinks that thou dost protest too much……
To the Editor:
The following is with reference to Mary Ann Krause’s letter of July 10 that addresses Richard Main’s letter of a week or so ago describing what SCAG is, and what SCAG is not. I would summarize Mary Ann’s lengthy letter as saying: SCAG is too - important!! Of course, Mary Ann would have a bias toward SCAG. In my opinion, during her time with our city government, she made a major contribution toward even further increasing our housing imbalance toward the low end. A lot of low-end housing projects seemed to get approved by flying under the radar, or at least it seemed that way to me. Also, it is my understanding that Mary Ann is still some sort of a member of SCAG, even though to the best of my knowledge, she does not represent any sort of governance at this time. Personally, I find this a bit strange, don’t you?
In my mind, Mary Ann does not disprove even a single point that Richard made in his letter. To the contrary, she agrees with Main on the point that SCAG membership is voluntary. During Krause’s term with our city government, inferences were made that led me to believe that SCAG had powers rivaled only by our Supreme Court. Thanks to Main, I no longer believe this to be the case. We, the voters, do have a major say in what we want as a housing mix for Santa Paula now and in the future, and don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. I would call on the Santa Paula Times to reprint Main’s letter as I think that it provided valuable educational and voting information. Thank you, Richard.
On another, but related note, everyone who is interested in getting a housing balance here in Santa Paula should attend the City Council meeting of July 28. At this meeting the Council will discuss a Moratorium petition that was signed by hundreds of Santa Paula’s registered voters. In my opinion, the economic future of our town will be impacted by what happens at this meeting. This is a test to see whether or not SCAG, RHNA and the like will be given priority over the economic viability of Santa Paula. I encourage our Council to question those that say that you must do thus and so; it’s the law. Make them prove their position. I encourage our City Attorney to look for ways that we can remain economically viable as opposed to finding or agreeing with laws that will stop our Council from doing their job. First year law students can do that. Finding a solution to our housing balance is crucial to our future.
Larry S. Sagely
Santa Paula
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