Oxnard’s Problems

* Enough is enough.

After moving to Oxnard in 1996, my husband and I have found it to be the biggest mistake we have ever made.

I am speaking of:

* Decisions by the Oxnard City Council with respect to an onslaught of residential building projects and horrendous traffic problems.

* Schools that don’t provide a quality education. Our family travels 15 miles round-trip every day to ensure that our child gets a quality education.

* The El Rio School District, where small children are warehoused in temporary mobile homes with asphalt for landscaping.

* The demolition of the Esplanade mall, forcing wonderful small-business owners out of business and giving the developer millions of dollars in demolition credits.

* The City Council’s attitude that residents of north Oxnard are a second consideration after the deep-pocketed development companies.

Because 25 acres at Oxnard Boulevard and Gonzales Road that was set aside for a sports park may be taken from us, I started the Defeat Trammell Crow Development Company Neighborhood Task Force. I now spend Saturday afternoons organizing peaceful protests at that intersection.

The city has no focus for the future.

They are approving residential and commercial projects like there is no tomorrow. Oxnard’s city manager, Ed Sotelo, has aged 10 years since he took on this position, trying desperately to bring organization to a chaotic city hall.

SUSIE KOMAR

Oxnard