Dear Editor:
The editorial about the county Supervisors vote to enact the proposed growth control initiative without a vote of the people was soft but on point.
Clearly, the initiative which negatively impacts the majority of revenue producing ranchers and farmers was not, even by definition of county staff, thoroughly researched and studied with respect to the local economy. San Benito County is now uniquely poised to suffer from diminishing tax revenue due to its own poor leadership and lack of planning.
Every citizen in the county will be impacted by fewer services and decreased government resources if the proposed initiative is enacted.
In response, opponents of the initiative including the Farm Bureau, Chamber of Commerce, Board of Realtors, and other responsible citizens, will be gathering signatures to petition the county for a referendum to the March 2004 election. They will be asking fellow San Benito County citizens to support the democratic process of the right to vote on this and other important issues. Please sign the petition when asked.
The county Supervisors who voted to enact the measure did so with the knowledge that they were pushing through a controversial ordinance against the will of the majority of farmers and ranchers whom effectively lobbied against the proposed initiative at the April 1 board meeting. The Supervisors, on cue, voted as a majority against their most affluent constituents… April Fools day was never more appropriately executed.
Your right as a citizen to be properly informed of critical issues that affect our community and the local economy has been trampled by local government. And your right to cast your vote accordingly has been circumvented as well.
Unpaid volunteers, your neighbors in the community, will be posted outside major shopping centers and post offices asking for your signature as a registered voter. There are only about two weeks to gather a goal of 2,000-plus signatures. Please support your right to vote on important issues and take the time to sign this petition.
Mike Smith
Hollister
