Keep local control for Marin housing projects

Is it too late to rescue California and our country in order to rekindle a memory of American ideals?

On what basis have we stripped local jurisdictions of much of their discretion, power and authority to review and approve residential housing projects? We are American citizens born with certain inalienable rights. How did we surrender these rights to the greater power of Sacramento?

Are we providing for our children’s future by trading off local self-determination for the supposed security of addressing the housing crisis? Is the experiment in life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness over now? Have we achieved some higher wisdom or practicality?

There is a corruption of our ideals making its way through American culture and California is leading the way. It is deceptively packaged in what seems a noble sentiment, that we are an improved people when we relinquish individual rights for the greater good. This is not a sound philosophy. This does not improve the spiritual, intellectual well-being of citizens. It is contrary to what American ideals have striven to uphold over generations.

Communities are enriched when the population is made up of educated responsible citizens who exercise their full powers to affect change and to protect what they love. Mandates from Sacramento or Washington,

D.C. (or Beijing or Moscow) diminish the spirit, independence and creativity of their people.

No one knows more of what’s best for your community than your community. There is no one who knows what’s best for you but you. It’s not necessarily easy but we must stand up on behalf of our communities and our civil rights.

— Guy Meyer, San Anselmo