SOAR Ballot Measures

I have resided in Ventura County since 1965 and have owned my home in East Ventura since 1979. I enjoy the fields and orchards, the open space and the green patches that enhance this beautiful county. I am saddened when I see trees and plants replaced by buildings, and I would prefer that no more acres be lost to development.

But although they are beautiful and I enjoy them, those acres are not mine. They are not my livelihood, not my children’s inheritance. I have not planted, watered, tended, reaped nor worried over soil conditions, weather, taxes, labor costs, market conditions and competition from imports.

In short, I have no right to decide what others should be forced to do with their property.

The various SOAR proposals are not about “saving” agriculture; they are about the selfishness of city dwellers, all of whom live and work on land that was once open space, coveting that which they do not own and reaping the benefits of agriculture without paying for it.

If you are truly interested in “saving” agriculture, how about paying something for the pleasure of living with all that greenery? Vote for a bond to buy development rights, agree to subsidize water costs (recently defeated in Camarillo), quit complaining about slow farm machinery on the roads or noise or dust, and quit demanding “perfect” fruits and vegetables.

In short, do something positive to help agriculture stay viable. Your first opportunity for a positive step comes in November: Vote “no” on SOAR!

KAREN A. KURTA

Ventura

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I’m sick and tired of the way opponents of Save Open Space and Agricultural Resources try to portray supporters of SOAR as nothing more than NIMBY whiners. I believe that SOAR is an idea that’s time has finally come.

Let’s look at a few numbers. According to the U.S. Census Bureau (estimate), the population of the United States (as of September 1998) is a little over 270,000,000. The California Department of Finance (as of January 1998) shows that our state has a population of over 33,000,000. That’s a little over 1 out of every 8 people in the entire country living in California. Add to that the number of people that do not show up on the census, and the figure is most likely closer to 1 out of 7. Take into account how many of those live in Southern vs. Northern California, and well, you get the idea.

The profiteers of continued urbanization like to cite that “growth is inevitable” and that the communities in Ventura County will be shirking their duty if they don’t allow for the expansion of their towns. What is inevitable is that developers will continue to want to build, and by building, create a vacuum that will draw yet more people in. We “the irresponsible ones” will be left living in communities that look more and more like those of the San Fernando Valley, with all the related problems, while these big developers move on to the next county.

Those for and against SOAR can argue endlessly about how growth should occur and who the winners and losers are, but one fact remains constant--we have too many people. And I, for one, don’t want to see Southern California become the people “warehouse” of the country.

CHERYL SANTOR

Simi Valley

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As 40-year farmers in the Las Posas Valley, we are deeply concerned about the SOAR land-use initiatives that have been drafted by anti-growth activists.

We still farm and anticipate doing so for many more years, and we do not believe that every voter in the county should be making zoning decisions on our behalf. We have elected officials who study zoning laws to see how they will affect the county as a whole, and we believe this process should continue. Especially since the farmers who own the land, whom the initiative claims to protect, did not have any input into the initiatives.

Yes, we need to control growth, but the plan needs to be one that treats all people fairly.

We ask that you support us and other farmers who want to make Ventura County a place for all citizens to live, to enjoy the freedoms that our forefathers fought so hard for, by studying the issues and then making an informed vote in November.

AL and ELAINE CAVALETTO

Somis

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Re “SOAR Battle Could Change Political Landscape,” Oct. 4.

The Times is to be commended for covering the important ballot initiative, SOAR, which will be before the voters next month. However, you got off the track by printing unsupported personal attacks by the anti-SOAR contingent. The legitimate role of The Times is to investigate how SOAR would affect Ventura County and how voters stand on the issue. You do a disservice to your readers by allowing those who profit handsomely from urban sprawl to slander the personal motivations of community leaders without a shred of evidence. Something is backward here.

SOAR has attracted hundreds of volunteers and tens of thousands of signatures because elected officials have shown that they hear the money of land developers much more clearly than the desires of voters.

Nearly everybody on both sides of SOAR agrees that the county general plan is a well-thought-out document that allows reasonable growth while limiting sprawl. The question is how to protect the integrity of the county plan, by A) having elected representatives decide if exceptions will be made to the plan or B) having the voters make that decision? Your poll shows that most people support B.

BILL and KATE FAULKNER

Ventura