in Mission Hills to Protest SB 10 Implementation

Continued from page 2 without any attention being paid to these infrastructure needs, or the ones that are going to come when they build an eight-story, fifty-unit highrise with no parking.”

It was not only long-time residents of Mission Hills who came out for the rally. Twelve-year-old Alana Rosengrant, who attended with her father and her friend Jade Borgerding, cheered and chanted along with the rest of the participants. Asked what her thoughts were about SB 10, she said, “We should stop the process of SB 10 because it could affect many people, and that they shouldn’t build highrises because it ruins the vibe of the area.”

Several participants voiced how their concerns seemed to fall on deaf ears at City Hall, in contrast to the wishes of big developers. They are not against development, per se, but what they are concerned about is development that does not take current residents and the “vibe” of a neighborhood into consideration. “Everybody has emailed and talked, and it’s ignored,” said Harrigan. “They are not listening, they have a focus on an agenda, and that’s all they can see.”

“I want to put a halt to the free pass the developers are getting to build without any attention to infrastructure or paying the fees that previously were paid for planning, etc.,” said Casavilla. “And to stop building without any attention to parking problems.”

As many see it, the City Council’s focus on higher density housing is actually making it less affordable, causing a net out-migration. “A lot of people are moving out,” real estate agent Mortensen pointed out. “With uncontrolled utility and water rates, people cannot budget their household expenses. We believe in housing; we do not believe the path they are taking at City Hall is the correct path.”

“I don’t know how we got on this track,” said Casavilla, “but it’s the wrong track and it needs to be corrected.”