To the editor: One dimension doesn’t match all communities. What works in Merced might not be acceptable for Santa Monica or El Centro. Native communities know native points higher than Sacramento.
The California Environmental High quality Act offers on a regular basis residents a voice in creating thriving communities. Proposition 45 would take that away and make it simpler for polluting industries to construct no matter they need with minimal oversight (“Californians have a rare chance to rein in CEQA and support housing,” July 22).
Communities may have little to no probability to weigh in when industrial amenities resembling knowledge facilities, battery farms and fossil gasoline refineries are constructed subsequent to colleges or when freeways run by current neighborhoods. As everyone knows, it gained’t be the residents of Beverly Hills that get polluting industries of their communities; it will likely be our neighbors in Watts and Southeast L.A. who get displaced.
CEQA has been amended to exempt or streamline a variety of housing tasks 21 times since 2023. There are exemptions for housing constructed close to transit stops, low-income and supportive housing, farmworker housing in some counties and scholar housing.
The pressured fast-tracking of challenge evaluation on cash-strapped cities is designed to get tasks accepted earlier than our nice metropolis planners have time to do a correct evaluation. Proposition 45 places extra burdens on our native cities. Who pays for it? I do, as do all taxpayers in California.
Simply say no to poor planning and say sure to wholesome communities. Vote no on Proposition 45.
Karin Zirk, San Diego
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To the editor: Whereas the author had some factors proper about CEQA getting used for causes apart from initially meant, he missed the purpose on many ranges.
California is exclusive in that it has CEQA, its premier environmental safety regulation. Different states, and nations for that matter, don’t have that.
Have you ever ever walked the paths and loved the pure open areas in California? Has your youngster ever explored a free-flowing stream? And have you ever ever checked out that high of the hillside and puzzled which path the mountain lion is perhaps touring after we’re not trying? You’ll be able to thank CEQA for a lot of of these experiences.
CEQA gives a crucial software for cities, counties and state companies to work with challenge proponents, together with housing builders, to make sure they’re setting apart open house and offering passive leisure alternatives when warranted. Humanity, not simply environmentalists, advantages when CEQA is protected and strengthened.
Judi Tamasi, Burbank
