Don’t say ‘poor Ernie’

October 12, 2006 – Letters to the Editor – New Times

The issue is not whether Ernie Dalidio is a nice guy. The issue, in fact, is only partly over Measure J (aka the Dalidio “Ranch”). The bottom line is what we want for our county in this generation, and what we will bequeath to the next generation, and the one after that.

The new shopping malls sprouting throughout the county will give us more big-box stores. Again, is that what we want? Isn’t it time to think outside the box? For those in San Luis Obispo, it’s what our city will morph into in the years ahead. For those in the North County, it’s the threat of a Wal-Mart Super Center in Atascadero. And for those in the southern part of our county, it’s projects such as the Canada “Ranch” property, which calls for 30 acres of a mega-mall named Crystal Oaks (as with Dalidio “Ranch,” note the quaint title).

It didn’t have to come to this. Attempts were made to enter into discussions with Mr. Dalidio regarding the purchase of the land. None got anywhere. About three years ago, after a particularly contentious San Luis Obispo City Council meeting on what was then called The Marketplace, I personally approached Mr. Dalidio and threw out the possibility of raising money to buy the property. I remember his reply as if it were yesterday.”Over my dead body,” he intoned thus keeping the land in agriculture or making it into a regional park never got off the ground. If Measure J is defeated, however, a greener future for most or all of the 131 acres is likely.

The urban pressures on our county are huge. Los Angelesization looms from the south and San Jose rushes down from the north. Developer money from L.A. and Texas is involved in the Measure J campaign, though we aren’t told how much.

It’s not “poor Ernie.” It’s “poor people of San Luis Obispo County, present and future” if Measure J and other similar projects are approved throughout the county. It’s up to us to decide.

Richard Kranzdorf, San Luis Obispo

 

Imagine Strip Malls Over Open Space

October 12, 2006 – Letters to the Editor – New Times

It is absolutely imperative that Measure J go down in flames on Nov. 7. The premise itself is absurd: that massive, community-altering developments can bypass planning and environmental review, with their approval dependent on how many millions of dollars land speculators can raise to manipulate the public.

The one high point of this campaign is the throng of “Yes on J” signs the land speculators have slathered around the county, which help us comprehend the implications of this vote. Everywhere you see a “Yes on J” sign in front of open space, take a moment to visualize that grazing or farmland buried beneath acres of asphalt, strip malls, and tract homes. That is surely our future if this measure is approved.

“J” stands for joke, right?

Kathy Price, Arroyo Grande

 

Dalidio Article was Unfortunate

October 12, 2006 – Letters to the Editor – New Times

Regarding the Sept. 28 article on Measure J (”How does Measure J measure up?”), it is unfortunate that the front-page caption cast the issue in terms of “whether you love or hate Ernie Dalidio.” Measure J presents serious land-use and development-approval process issues. To suggest the measure has anything to do with liking or disliking the developer trivializes the important issues.

It is also unfortunate that the article fails to discuss the logical provision of services to the property if it is ever developed. The City of San Luis Obispo is adjacent with services and utilities immediately available. Instead, Dalidio proposes a large urban development using well water and a package treatment plant for sewer services. Sounds like Los Osos all over again.

Dalidio’s architect claims there was plenty of precedent for a developer-instigated vote like Measure J, pointing to a grocery store vote in Paso Robles in 1980. There is a big difference between having all the voters of a city vote on a city project versus having all the voters of the county voting on a city project. The missing ingredient in Measure J is “community of interest.” Voters in Creston and Oceano have nothing in common with SLO City voters when it comes to dealing with the impacts of Dalidio’s project.

Kent Taylor, San Luis Obispo