MAY 7, 2010
Letters from page 20A Measure F is urban sprawl Editor: As a resident of Brentwood, California, I am strongly opposed to Measure F. The proponents of Measure F want to develop pristine farmland west of American Avenue to build 1,300 new homes. They believe that the City of Brentwood needs 1,300 new homes to extend American Avenue to make it safer for the students who attend both Heritage High School and Adams Middle School. They also believe that Balfour would need to be widened between American Avenue and Deer Valley Road and that, with the 1,300 new homes, the Highway 4 Bypass would be completed. Lastly, they believe that currently the residents of Brentwood represent only 5 percent of the vote on matters regarding our county urban limit line. Children and families can be made safe with the expansion of American Avenue without 1,300 new homes. Balfour could be widened. If it is widened because of 1,300 new homes, our traffic congestion will continue to worsen exponentially. Additionally, the Highway 4 Bypass is funded incrementally with federal dollars. If we, as voters, were concerned that we represent only 5 percent of the vote as it relates to the urban limit line, that logic would encourage us to never vote for a member of the Board of Supervisors, members of Congress and the Senate, the governor, or state legislators because our percentage as voters diminishes when the
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pool of voters becomes larger. Bottom line: A vote is a vote … and everyone should vote. Currently, the City of Brentwood has 4,153 parcels available for development. There is no need for urban sprawl. Measure F is environmentally destructive, as it would create a financial windfall for developers and pure misery for the residents of Brentwood. If the supporters of Measure F were alive when Golden Gate Park or Central Park was being considered, neither of those parks would exist today and would, instead, be filled with overcrowded housing. Let’s protect our open space – Brentwood doesn’t need to become another example of urban sprawl. Vote no on Measure F. Dr. Joseph Ovick County Superintendent of Schools Brentwood Resident
sure F is that plan for future development to fund and fix these problems. We can’t afford to wait on those who think no is planning policy for our future. Alex Sanabria Brentwood
Hidden thorns on primrose path Editor: Measure F is full of deceptions. Brentwood residents, beware! Here are a few things for residents to consider when they receive their ballots: One, the enormous amount of money being poured in to “Yes on F” – why are they bulldozing you with glossy fliers heavy on feel-good promises but silent on a home building project 1½ times the size of Shadow Lakes (and the
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traffic that brings)? Two, how will all of the wonderful projects be funded? By a heinous tax on the homebuyers, that’s how. Anyone who has experienced the harm of Antioch’s Mello Roos taxation fiasco can give you an earful about that. Remember the glowing promises of Prewett Water Park, which was to be accompanied by a gorgeous new library, state-of-the-art community center, and acres of park land? Mello Roos taxpayers were promised all sorts of things, including free or reduced price access to those amenities. Not only did that never happen, but now Antioch residents sit 16 years later with no new library, no park and the prospect of a see Letters page 24A
‘No’ is no plan Editor: In reading the arguments for and against Measure F, it is sad to see that the voices and politics of “no” have come to dominate the debate. To my fellow Brentwood residents: it is very easy to vote no because no is short for nothing! To address those challenges of tomorrow, Brentwood must begin planning for today. That is why I am voting yes on Measure F. Let’s face it: the country is broke and will be strapped for cash for the foreseeable future and will put off for decades (or never) the infrastructure needs we have for today. A yes on Mea-
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