I’ve been thinking a lot about how best to express my strong belief in the value of preserving working lands and open space here in San Benito County and, ultimately, to express my conviction that Measure A is right for San Benito County.
I have been working in agriculture here in California for the past 48 years as a farmer, ag educator and ag consultant. My wife and I have been managing our own small farm here in San Benito County for the past 14 years.
I have come to deeply appreciate what we have here. We are blessed with an amazing climate, highly productive agricultural soils and adequate groundwater supplies. All one needs to do is read through the annual San Benito County crop report to get an idea of the range of crops that can be produced here. Long-term thinking confirms that we absolutely need to protect and preserve our working lands.
The California Air Resources Board website, under the heading “Natural and Working Lands” does an excellent job of describing the benefits of working lands as follows:
“California’s natural and working lands are home to the most diverse sources of food, fiber and renewable energy in the country. They underpin the state’s water supply and support clean air, wildlife habitat and local and regional economies. They are also the frontiers of climate change. They are often the first to experience the impacts of climate change, and they must be part of the solution to addressing climate change and its impacts. In short, in order to achieve our long-term climate goals, natural and working lands must play a key role.”
It is clear that development pressure in our county is at an all-time high. The proposed Strada Verde Project stands as an excellent example of both sprawl development and the types of misinformation proponents are capable of. That proposed project, if allowed to proceed, will reduce our county’s potential agricultural productivity by roughly 2,000 acres. It is this project that got my attention a few years back and highlighted the need for residents to stand up for working lands in our county.
The conservationist Laurance Rockefeller once said, “How we treat our land, how we build upon it, how we act towards our air and water, in the long run, will tell what kind of people we really are.”
In 2020, concerned residents in this county voted against Measure N to stop the Strada Verde project. The measure was rejected by 60% of the voters. Following the defeat of Measure N, the board of supervisors allowed the developer to submit another request ignoring the will of the voters. It is for this reason that Measure A is so important.
Measure A simply requires a vote of the public if agricultural, rural or range land is rezoned to residential, commercial or industrial use. Similar measures have been successfully passed in Sonoma, Napa, Ventura and Stanislaus counties.
Please consider a Yes vote on Measure A.
Jim Leap
Hollister
