No on Measure T (part 2)

Daniel Dodge’s comparison of Santa Cruz and Watsonville is laughable (Register-Pajaronian Opinion, May 18, 2013). The two cities may be similar in population but that’s just about where the similarities end. Of course Santa Cruz receives more in property tax revenue, there are more high-end homes and neighborhoods, buildable land is more expensive and people actually want to live there. Watsonville, while home values are beginning to rise again, has an overabundance of high-density, low-income housing and not many outside of town want to live here. Santa Cruz caters to and attracts an educated and more affluent demographic, while Watsonville repels that same demographic. Santa Cruz makes more in sales tax because there are a large variety of places to shop, dine, and play; Watsonville has nothing to compare. Santa Cruz brings in more in hotel tax because they actually have hotels. Santa Cruz is a “destination” city. People come from all over the world to vacation and spend lots of money! Santa Cruz also has a forward-thinking city council, though not perfect, at least not one with a militant “take California back” and “Latino-centric” attitude.

Santa Cruz is currently recruiting Police Officers and even offering hiring bonuses, while Watsonville city leaders are using scare tactics, threatening to cut vital city services like police and fire if residents do not vote for “big box” stores. The current Watsonville City Council needs to collectively grow some “brass” and start cleaning house on the 4th floor of City Hall. How about replacing and/or cutting the salaries, benefits, and perks of those at the top rather than picking on Library Assistants? Haven’t the lowest paid employees suffered enough?

Steve DuFour correctly observed that (Register-Pajaronian Opinion, May 18, 2013) Salinas hasn’t yet cured its problems of crime and unemployment with big box stores and I would add that Salinas has a beautiful downtown that is also drying up because of it. Salinas does have the National Steinbeck Center and draws visitors from all over the world as well as the Salinas Sports Complex that not only hosts the Rodeo every year but is a hub of activity year round. Watsonville would do well to learn from that example.

According to Mr. Dodge, Watsonville’s economy is “out of balance” because of low tax revenues and high unemployment. I say horse pucky! It’s because of decades of incompetency, blatant mismanagement, and lack of vision; no amount of farmland annexation out on the highway will change that fact. Voting no on Measure T is not “doing nothing.” The Pajaro Valley Chamber of Commerce, Watsonville Wetlands Watch, Santa Cruz County Farm Bureau, and The Santa Cruz Sentinel Editorial Board support a No vote on Measure T. Voting No on Measure T demands that city leaders concentrate on development within existing city limits and on properties already approved by voters. Please vote No on Measure T.