Santa Paula’s Leaders Living in the ‘60s

As a lifelong resident of Santa Paula (47 years), I have watched my town die because of no growth, poor planning and poor leadership from Councilman John Melton and his type.

In The Times of July 17, he states, in part, “Since 1967, the greenbelt agreement has been respected.”

Wake up, councilman, this is 1997! One of the main reasons Santa Paula is in a financial quandary is because too many of our past leaders and Melton are living in the ‘60s.

His concerns regarding the greenbelt are personal, and show that he can’t or won’t make a compromise regarding Santa Paula’s future.

No growth and controlled growth are two separate ideas. I agree that growth needs to be watched, controlled and managed. Nevertheless, because of our city’s financial dilemma, I would believe that if anyone would just look at the history of Santa Paula, they would see what no growth does to a city and its economy.

No, I don’t want Santa Paula to abut up to Ventura or Fillmore, but I do want to see Santa Paula be allowed to flourish in the future as Ventura, Oxnard, Thousand Oaks, Simi and Camarillo have.

These cities had the leadership and vision to see that if they didn’t expand they would die. Their expansion was well-planned and thought out, taking into consideration where their cities would be in the year 2000. Santa Paula has always wanted to keep the small-town atmosphere, which I have grown to love. Nonetheless, this love is now fading along with our township.

When you look at Santa Paula you can see where the no-growth stand our city fathers and mothers have taken over the last 20 years has taken our city: empty buildings, no housing, no jobs and a high crime rate.

If you as an official would read, understand and realize the plans, reports and hard work that have gone into the General Plan update, you would see that very little usable farmland is being lost. You would also see that this plan is for the best interest for our city’s survival.

How can we attract businesses if there is no place for them?

How can we attract employees for these jobs if there aren’t any?

How can we attract shoppers to our downtown business district if the stores are empty.

How can we pay for youth centers, teen programs, job training and street cleaning if there isn’t any money?

Whose jobs do you suggest get cut? What other projects do you suggest get cut to help keep the city afloat?

As you can see there are many questions that go along with your no-growth strategy. As your record reflects, you were one of several who was able to manage a city well when the city had money, a great reserve along with a booming oil industry, four packing houses and a small population.

Please walk Main Street someday with both eyes open, you may be surprised at what you see. If not, then I apologize to you and any other person this letter may offend. Because I see, as many others do, a Main Street that is dead, a town that is broke and a leader who wants us to live as he did 30 years ago, with no money or guidance.

RICK COOK

Santa Paula