New Towns Bill

I would like to set the record straight regarding a comment in John Balzar’s article on the Democratic gubernatorial primary race (Feb. 27), relative to a very important bill I am carrying designed to help plan and manage growth in California.

One of the candidates for governor, John Van de Kamp, chose to attack my efforts as being “special-interest legislation” which would be amended at the last minute to allow developers to build new towns exempt from local growth and planning restrictions. Your reporter, however, was responsible enough to investigate the allegation and raise a contradiction.

I am committed only to moving a bill that will help local entities cope with growth and its related impacts. I have held a series of committee hearings on this issue over the past year and a half and am very familiar with the dilemmas local governments face in dealing with growth--the state’s No. 1 problem.

My legislation (AB 2879) declares legislative support for creation of new towns which are consistent with local plans and address social, financial, and environmental concerns. It will not move through the Legislature without the support of local governments and environmentalists.

I hope, and expect, this measure to be scrutinized at every step of the way. But I refuse to abdicate my responsibilities as chair of the Assembly Local Government Committee just because Van de Kamp feels he can improve his standing in the polls by attacking others through pure innuendo. He has done this to candidate Dianne Feinstein, and many others.

DOMINIC L. CORTESE

D-San Jose