Lack of Sites for Schools

* This letter does not reflect the thoughts or concerns of anyone other than myself.

Recently, the Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO) denied the annexation of land for the Emerson Avenue school site.

The direction of LAFCO caused a division in our community.

Either you were on the school district’s side or you were on the other side.

At the end, feelings of anger, sorrow and sadness settled in for many people on both sides of the aisle.

Regardless of one’s position on the annexation, the outcome was the same: the Oxnard Elementary School District was left without a new school site.

The fact is simple: Everyone needs to support efforts to find a new site quickly. But the acquisition of a campus will not be successful unless leaders on both sides come together. There is simply no room for political nonsense or political disputes.

We must put aside what has taken place and work together for the children of Oxnard.

Ideally, it would have been appropriate if someone had stepped forward and offered to mediate this crisis. Unfortunately, this did not happen.

Therefore, I offer the following suggestions to the city and the school district:

* Immediately call a special public meeting involving the two elected bodies and address the crisis concerning the lack of school sites.

* Impose a citywide suspension of all projects and building permits so an evaluation of land inventory can take place.

I am sure some may say the city cannot take such an action. But state statutes allow for cities to impose such moratoriums if they are deemed necessary for public health, safety and the general welfare of the community.

There is no doubt that this crisis affects the general welfare of our community--the children of Oxnard. I ask those who worked the endless hours concerning the annexation to redirect their energy and passion toward a new school site. But this time, let’s all work on the same team.

EDWARD CASTILLO

Oxnard

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Editor’s note: The writer is an Oxnard planning commissioner.