SOAR Initiatives

* I have been a resident of Ventura County since 1968. I have grown oranges in Fillmore and lemons and avocados in Santa Paula. I have essentially put all my investments in this property hoping to retire from my medical practice and do farming full time when that time comes.

When I bought this land, its price was based on the going rate of land in this area, which is much more than farmland in the Central Valley or any other farm area in California, precisely because of the potential growth in this area.

I, as well as most farmers I know, intend to continue farming, but this SOAR initiative will “steal” part of our property rights in the name of preserving agriculture in Ventura County. Just as oil and mineral rights are a part of a property’s value, the ability to determine the use of that property impacts significantly on that property’s value. To disenfranchise someone of an asset without fair compensation is unjust even if done by majority vote.

I fully empathize with the desire to keep Ventura from becoming another Orange County and agree that proper planning and channeling of growth are essential. But to usurp my property rights, for which I have worked most of my life, is not fair or just.

My parents left Romania when it was under Soviet domination for many reasons, but one major reason was that property rights and other personal civil rights were taken away from them by the Communists. I am shocked and dismayed that we so quickly forget that preserving property rights is essential to preserving all of our freedoms.

I especially want to see Ventura stay as green as possible for the remainder of my years and many years thereafter, but SOAR is not the way to do it.

G.W. IWASIUK, M.D.

Santa Paula

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

Referring to the “primary backers” of the SOAR campaign, Supervisor Judy Mikels accuses them of “misleading their supporters,” of being “less than honorable,” of being “two-faced.” She supports these slanderous, inflammatory accusations on the grounds that she just can’t believe that they care so much about agriculture that they’re unable, it seems, to even conceive of sincere dedication to the common good. She predicts that the SOAR effort will backfire and threatens, “I’m going to be there. I’m going to be lying in wait.”

It’s amply clear to me that if the highly competent, talented, energetic people who lead the SOAR campaign were willing to resort to the kind of cynical political manipulation Supervisor Mikels and some of her anti-SOAR associates accuse them of, they would certainly not seek to attain elective office through exhausting years of grass-roots struggle.

Ms. Mikels’ accusations and threats don’t inform me at all about the leaders of SOAR, but tell me a great deal about Ms. Mikels.

WOLF BREIMAN

Ventura, CA

* Like many areas of the state and nation, Ventura County has been transformed by relentless conversion of prime farmland and open space to urban use.

The transformation now is so extensive that many large areas and major routes are nearly unrecognizable to me. Highway 101 from the city of Ventura to the Los Angeles County line is fast approaching build-out to become one continuous urban corridor. Much of the farmland and open space that formerly separated the cities is now urbanized. This is mindless sprawl by any mindful standard.

I believe much of this sprawl would not have occurred (as we were assures by elected officials for years it wouldn’t) if we, the electorate, had exercised authority over farmland and open space zoning rather than having delegated authority to elected representatives.

As proposed by SOAR and already enacted by the city of Ventura, this authority must now be assumed by the electorate of the entire county for all areas of the county. If we wish to preserve what remains of our precious agricultural land and open space, we cannot choose otherwise.

DEBBIE DIAMOND

Ventura

* It is imperative that the SOAR initiative be defeated in order to maintain a vibrant economy that we all depend on. We are not all in the construction industry but many of our customers, neighbors and friends are.

Stopping growth stops the economy. There is an abundance of controls already in place that prevent haphazard development. In fact, Ventura County has some of the most progressive methods in the nation for ensuring an incomparable quality of life. Please vote wisely.

RICK BIANCHI

Agoura

* Re “End Run Against Environment,” Oct. 6.

A healthy society requires a healthy environment! Thank you very much for publishing comments criticizing the attack on our natural environment by Congressional Republicans who have attached numerous anti-environmental riders to appropriations bills.

We urge you to continue reporting this issue as well as the following:

* The money-grabbing, freedom-robbing national forest demonstration fee program being forced down our throats by the U.S. Congress, the U.S. Forest Service and the American Recreation Coalition. There is much to learn about the sleazy commercialization of our public lands and we refer you to www.wildwilderness.org and the local web page www.rain.org/~edc/lpnf.html.

* The incumbency of Elton Gallegly, U.S. representative for the 23rd Congressional District. Perhaps we should say anti-incumbency because we feel he does not represent us. Mr. Gallegly’s voting record is strongly anti-environment, and he voted to extend the demonstration fee program.

ROGER and PAMELA TUCKER

Ventura