Ahmanson Ranch Development

I can’t say that I’m surprised but I certainly am discouraged to hear of the continuing opposition to the Ahmanson Ranch development.

Enough is enough--it should be built without further delay.

As a former home builder and real estate developer, I am all too familiar with the NIMBY “Not In My Backyard” syndrome.

But lately that has turned BANANAs--”Build Absolutely Nothing, Absolutely Nowhere, Any Time.” Where do all these project opponents expect people to live?

Shop?

Play?

Why was it fine for them to come in and buy their homes, but then close the door on those who come later?

It’s certainly reasonable to expect housing developers to comply with all the legal requirements, from planning codes to environmental laws.

But once that has been done, the developer should be able to proceed--and not have to face an endless stream of legal challenges and NIMBY/BANANA protests.

Southern California needs the housing that the Ahmanson project and other developers are trying to provide, and we do our larger community a disservice by respecting everyone else’s “rights” first.

Eric M. Bender

Oak Park