Letter to the Editor: Give Measure U a Chance

The following letter was submitted by Watsonville community activist Celia Organista. To submit a letter to the editor, email watsonville@patch.com.

On Feb. 12, the Watsonville City Council voted 5-2 to hold a $65,000+ special election, to change the intent of Measure U, our community’s voter-adopted growth plan.

In essence, the council denied the community an opportunity of an extra five months to become more knowledgeable about the rather radical measure they put on the ballot. The measure this community will vote on proposes to transform some of the best agricultural land in the world to a big-box store and/or shopping mall.

On Feb. 26 the City Council voted 5-2 to maintain misleading language about the intent of the measure. Community members asked the council to exclude the word “jobs” from the ballot language. Councilman Dodge stated that he and the city attorney had met and discussed the language, and that the city attorney said it had to be the same as on the petition.

Mr. Dodge, who circulated the petition and the city attorney should review the petition again, because the wording on the petition said, “Increasing Economic Development Opportunities.” While “increasing Economic Development Opportunities” would certainly increase tax revenue for the city, it does not guarantee an increase in jobs for residents of Watsonville.

Before voting on dismantling Measure U, the community must know that: The council majority has denied the community ample time to discuss and debate the issue of changing Measure U, which took years to develop and find consensus on, and was approved by the voters.

The Council majority has allowed misleading information to be placed on the ballot before the voters of Watsonville.

One has to wonder why.

Do you agree with Celia? Should Measure U remain the same? Tell us in the comments!