Opinion: Speaking the truth will empower the people
March 3, 2006 7:59 AM
Joe Guzzardi's true comments in the paper about Mr. Berkus along with
the News-Press' lead editorial on Wednesday titled: "Joe Guzzardi's
honest bluntness,'' ending with "Good for Joe Guzzardi. Please don't
stop speaking up."The
truth will empower the people who live in Santa Barbara. It will help
them to see clearer, and they will continue to fight for what is best
for the whole.The simple reason we chose to leave Santa Barbara after living there 40 plus years. Excess traffic and noise.Barry
Berkus and others like him who are well-connected have had a free reign
for years, and they are finally being reined in. It is disingenuous for
Steve Cushman, who is with the Chamber of Commerce, to push for Mr.
Berkus' project by saying, "We think it is a gift to the community.
Most communities in the world would like to have a Barry Berkus
project.''Most communities are not unique as Santa Barbara is
and Mr. Cushman knows it. This is all about Mr. Berkus lining his
pockets and not about his concern about what is best for Santa Barbara.Does
anyone believe Mr. Berkus' spin when he says he is concerned about the
diversity and believes in the social benefits of mixing market-rate and
affordable units? Does anyone believe as he says that his project would
help prevent people from fleeing the city because of high housing costs?Who
would be able to afford one of the 38 $1 million condos? Not the police
officers, not the firefighters, not the teachers and nurses, not the
young singles and retirees that he suggests. Even the 17 one-bedroom
units below market rate would be a far reach for the above listed.The Santa Barbara people see right through Mr. Berkus' spin, and that is why they are fighting so hard.Shortly
after moving to Santa Ynez, my husband and I attended a meeting held by
VPAC, with Gail Marshall and other county employees in regards to
building high-density housing in many parts of Santa Ynez. They were
hoping and pushing for a green light. But the meeting room was packed
with local residents, with many people standing for several hours, all
prepared to fight for the valley and all the residents.The
county employees tried to put fear in our minds and convince us as that
we had no choice but to accept the state's mandate because if we did
not the area would lose a lot of money. Many people spoke as I did, and
I suggested we should do what Carpinteria did back in the early 1990s
when it told the state to take a hike and turned the money down because
it was concerned about what over-building would do to Carpinteria.A
county employee at the meeting spoke out in an irritated manner and
said that is not true, that I was wrong, that it never happened. I knew
I was right, but chose to get the exact details and present them at the
next meeting with the truth.It is good to see that the Santa Barbara residents are finally standing up and fighting for their city. Don't stop fighting.
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