Seal Beach’s Ballot Measure on Growth

The proliferation of slow-growth initiatives in Orange County should surprise no one today. The need for these initiatives has arisen because development interests have invaded every level of city and county government and these bodies are no longer representative of the average citizen who works and lives in Orange County.

In Seal Beach, we have a slow-growth measure that will be on the ballot March 29. Measure A was necessary because the City Council continued to favor out-of-town developers over the residents.

Gregory Weiler, the Seal Beach Parks and Recreation commissioner, has come out against the initiative. This is rather strange, as the initiative protects any land currently zoned public, quasi-public, open space or parkland from being changed to another land-use category, such as commercial, without a vote of the people.

I found the answer to this puzzle in the Feb. 25 edition of The Times in an article headlined “Developer Turns to Legislators in Fight Over School Fees.” The article stated that Assemblyman Dennis Brown (R-Long Reach) “introduced the bill at the request of Newport Beach attorney Gregory N. Weiler, who represents the developers and lives in Seal Beach.”

This sounds like a wolf in sheep’s clothing to me. The protector of our parks is really an attorney for developers. This is why people don’t trust their government today. Residents of Seal Beach, join me and vote “yes” on Measure A and protect our city from overdevelopment.

MICHELLE A. BRENDEL

Seal Beach