Time to Halt Growth

Enough is enough. We just received our water bill, which tells me that I still have to decrease water use based on our use in 1986.

Over the years we have tried to improve the appearance of our property by putting in a lawn and planting oxygen-producing plants. So what happens? “Oh my!” say the politicians. “We have a shortage of water!”

I’m not surprised that there’s a limited amount of water. After all, we live in a desert climate. But I don’t for a minute believe the shortage is solely because of the lack of rain.

I see more new homes and multiple-family dwellings being built every day. Each of those residential units will require much more water than I am expected to cut back.

And what do we as a community get in return? More traffic, increased crime, less water, and barren lawns so that developers’ greed can be satisfied.

Find me a politician who has the guts to say, “No more growth.” Local government can no longer provide optimum service, or water, to this already-overcrowded community. The “drought” is not a natural calamity; it is result of overburdening a resource that we have known to be limited for a long time.

ROBERT SHALLENBERGER

Granada Hills