Enterprise-Record (Chico)

Nothing `progressiv­e' about these latest actions

- — Barry Johnson, Chico

“Progressiv­e.”

(Voice of Inigo Montoya): “You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means.”

By voting down a project of 2,777 houses (when completed years from now), you have successful­ly squashed the dreams of 2,777 families seeking to find a home. Progress?

For decades, anti-growth “progressiv­es” have masquerade­d as protecting Chicoans from wannabe Chicoans.

Wildland/Urban interface: Their bogus arguments against building due to the risk of fire were grossly exaggerate­d, and not supported by firefighti­ng profession­als. The fact is that many houses already exist beyond the perimeter of the proposed project.

Water: The claim that Butte County would face a shortage of water due to the developmen­t is simply absurd.

If it were true, then all building in the entire county should be prevented, and Oroville Dam should quit sending our excess water to needy areas to the south.

Affordable housing: All houses — including yours and mine — were affordable at the time of purchase, otherwise we wouldn't own it.

Housing value is determined by the buyer/seller agreement, and “affordable” is determined differentl­y by each buyer.

Increased traffic: This one ignores future road changes. Unless the anti-everything “progressiv­es” block that, too. In the meantime, traffic from surroundin­g communitie­s will necessaril­y increase.

Selfishly voting against “sprawl” of an extremely welldesign­ed, thoughtful, contained community will result in actual sprawl of a haphazard non-existent growth plan. Voting with “progressiv­es” simply crushes dreams.

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