GROWTH

By Bart Anthony Colucci

MEASURE D ASKS THE VOTERS TO REDUCE GROWTH FROM 3% TO 1%. WHY NOT .5%?. WHY NOT 0%?. GROWTH WILL HAPPEN. IT MUST BE MANAGED EFFECTIVELY. HALF MOON BAY IS THE CARETAKER OF OUR COASTLINE, IT BELONGS TO EVERYONE. WE MUST ACCOMMODATE OUR VISITORS ACCORDINGLY, STRIVE FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND LISTEN TO THE CONCERNS OF THE SENIOR CITIZEN. I WILL VOTE FOR MEASURE D.

THE 30-PAGE, RECENTLY RELEASED, SILICON VALLEY PROJECTION 99 IS FRIGHTENING.

NO GROWTH ADVOCATES ARGUE CONGESTION, OVER CROWDED SCHOOLS, GRIDLOCK ON THE HIGHWAYS, WETLANDS, DESTRUCTION OF THE ENVIRONMENT, ETC.

GROWTH, ON THE OTHER HAND, IS A RESULT OF SATISFYING A PERCEIVED NEED ALBEIT, HOUSING, COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT, ETC.

THE CONCERN FOR OUR ENVIRONMENT IS SHARED AND RESPECTED BY BOTH FACTIONS.

IT HAS POLARIZED HALF MOON BAY TO THE EXTEND OF CREATING A DANGEROUS SITUATION WHERE THE PROCESS OF GOVERNING A CITY STAGNATES, THE INFRASTRUCTURE ERODES CAUSING THE QUALITY OF LIFE TO DISSIPATE.

ONE CANNOT IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE, PROVIDE ADEQUATE AFFORDABLE HOUSING, IMPROVE OUR SCHOOLS AND PROTECT OUR SENIOR POPULATION UNLESS WE CAN ACCOMMODATE THEIR HOUSING NEEDS.

RAISING THE INCOME LEVEL OF SERVICE ORIENTED CITIZENS TO AFFORD ADEQUATE HOUSING IS NOT A SOLUTION. DISPLACING SENIORS ON A FIXED INCOME IS REPUGNANT. ASKING TEACHERS TO EFFECTIVELY COMMUNICATE WITH CHILDREN WHOSE ALLOWANCES ARE LARGER IN SOME INSTANCES, THAN THEIR SALARIES, WHO DRESS IN DESIGNER CLOTHES, ETC., DOESN'T "GET IT DONE".

AS DID THE IMMIGRANTS COME TO AMERICA WITH A GLEAM IN THEIR EYE AND A DREAM IN THEIR HEART, WE MUST, AS AMERICANS, NOT ALLOW THIS DREAM TO FADE. YOU CANNOT LOCK THE DOOR. YOU CANNOT RETARD GROWTH. IT WILL HAPPEN. YOU MUST HOWEVER MANAGE THE GROWTH IN A CONCERTED EFFORT WITH PARTICIPATION FROM ALL THE CITIZENS.

THE BEACH, THE WHALE, THE RED LEGGED FROG, THE COASTAL BLUFFS, THE TIDE POOLS, THE SCENIC DRIVE ALONG HIGHWAY ONE BELONG TO EVERYONE. NOT JUST HALF MOON BAY. SAN MATEO COUNTY RESIDENTS PAY TAX, CALIFORNIA RESIDENTS PAY TAX, AMERICANS PAY TAX. TO COIN A PHRASE "THIS LAND IS OUR LAND" .

MANAGED GROWTH IS A HERCULEAN EFFORT AND REQUIRES TOTAL COOPERATION WITHIN THE COMMUNITY. THE COAST BELONGS TO EVERYONE AND HALF MOON BAY IS THE CARETAKER. WE HAVE TO ACCOMMODATE OUR VISITORS, PROVIDE AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND PROTECT OUR SENIOR CITIZENS.

I WILL WORK TO COMMUNICATE THIS MESSAGE AND SUPPORT EVERY EFFORT TO ADDRESS THESE IMPORTANT ISSUES.