Foisting Problems on Local Bodies

The lead story in March 17’s Ventura County edition concerned intervention by Gov. Pete Wilson and U. S. Interior Secretary Manuel Lujan Jr. on behalf of the Jordan Ranch land deal. To their credit, the Ventura County supervisors are taking the stand that this is a local decision to be made only after very serious consideration of all aspects of the problem.

Much of my personal feelings on the subject were triggered by remarks of Richard P. Sybert, identified as director of Gov. Wilson’s Office of Planning and Research. His various statements about Bob Hope, Pete Wilson and the federal administration were hard to swallow. Regarding the March 6 meeting called by Wilson, Sybert said, “There seemed to be a consensus that the deal as presently structured wasn’t going to fly.”

If that last statement doesn’t sound like a politician sleeping with Madison Avenue hype, I’ve never watched TV commercials. I don’t know what “Office of Planning and Research” is presumed to cover, but perhaps it could help local governments provide more funds for prenatal health, affordable housing and education.

Does it appear to you, as it does to me, that federal and state governments want to foist all problems on local government bodies? Strange, though, that the Jordan Ranch development--truly a local problem--now becomes a situation that requires intervention by Washington and Sacramento.

WILLIAM E. PLUTTE

Ojai