Dear Editor:
The LAFCO meeting on April 24 was a travesty for several reasons. Not the least of which was the rudeness and disrespect with which Commissioner Bob Cruz treated City Attorney Elaine Cass and almost everyone else who spoke in favor of the project.
Ms. Cass was representing the city and spoke very elegantly in support of the Annotti senior project. She said that the development of the senior project was a top priority for the city and implored the commission to allow the Annotti property to be annexed into the city.
Annexation would allow the city and the developers to begin an 18-month planning process that is necessary before an construction can start.
Ms. Cass pointed out that the city has no intention of permitting the construction of homes to begin until the city’s sewer capacity can support it. However, annexation will allow the project’s planning to move forward so that construction could start immediately when sewer service is available.
In response, Commissioner Cruz went into a verbal tirade, shouting at Ms. Cass that the reason the project could not move forward was the city’s fault and he saw no reason to be helpful and approve annexation.
Commissioner Cruz also said that he wanted all his senior friends in the audience to know that the city, not LAFCO, is the problem.
I think it is high time Mr. Cruz started working with city officials instead of pointing fingers at them. We need people in elected positions who can be part of the solution instead of being part of the problem.
Jeannette DeRoza
Hollister
