Case for Building Ban in San Gabriel

The letter you recently published from Mary Bertone of San Gabriel in which she doubts the “love and concern” of moratorium backers for their city and warns of “hidden dragons” demands an answer.

I, too, have lived in San Gabriel for 35 years; however I am one of the “ardent supporters of the moratorium.” When I heard of the Citizens for Responsible Development, I attended their meetings to hear what they had to say, and see the statistics proving their claims, before I passed judgment on them.

The moratorium does not forbid the rebuilding of fire stations or businesses damaged or leveled in an earthquake. The whole point of the one-year moratorium is to halt proposed mini-malls, apartment complexes, motels and hotels while the city draws up a sensible plan for development. That plan will keep San Gabriel the “lovely” city of Bertone’s letter, instead of a hodgepodge of cheaply constructed structures and a rush of transients attracted by motels and hotels.

All one has to do is drive around the main streets to see what is happening and to realize that we all owe a vote of thanks to the Citizens for Responsible Development for doing something before our city becomes a victim of real “dragons.”

We property owners have an obligation to each other to shake our complacency and learn what is happening. We can no longer sit back and let city officials sell us out. We are desperately in need of a housecleaning in City Hall.

JOAN KLINKERT

San Gabriel