The reason why we support Our Neighbor Voices is simple. If we don’t, our home values will be decimated by SB9, SB10, and politicians in Sacramento who care nothing for local governments and local Single Family Residence neighborhoods. Their vision of equity versus equality should sicken every American.
An example of this appeared in a Los Angeles Times editorial on December 5, 2021. It begins “…most L.A. County residents support new laws that allow for denser neighborhoods.” Really?
They cite a poll the Times did with the Los Angeles Business Council Institute where 55% of voters in Los Angeles County supported Senate Bill-9 (SB-9). That appears to be all the data they used to conclude what the voters support.
What the Times chose not to cite is the David Binder Research (DBR) poll conducted in July 2021 where Californians were given arguments for and against SB-9 and SB-10. 71% of respondents opposed SB-9 with 19% in favor and 10% had no opinion.
75% opposed SB-10 with 15% in favor and 10% had no opinion. DBR has conducted polls to determine public opinion for over 25 years for clients, including Barack Obama's White House.
The editorial critically describes the Our Neighborhood Voices Initiative (in my previous blog referred to as the Stop the Sacramento Land Grab) as “…a measure that would not just overturn Senate Bills 9 and 10 but would prohibit the state from overriding local regulations again.” Exactly what we need and NOW!
The Times once again cites their poll but ignores the results of a statewide poll taken by Probolsky Research published in November 2021. This recent gauge of public opinion shows that 64.8% of the registered voters they contacted favor the Our Neighborhood Voices Initiative, while 22.7 % oppose it and 12.6% are undecided.
WHAT THE LA TIMES DID NOT DO
What the Times did not mention is that California Cities for Local Control has on its website, www.localcontrolca.com, a list of 79 cities that have submitted resolutions condemning Sacramento’s attempt to usurp land control and zoning issues from municipalities. The same website has the names of 528 locally elected officials from throughout the state who have similar sentiments.
The Times chose to ignore that the League of California Cities sent a letter to Governor Gavin Newsom urging him to veto SB-9 that was signed by 241 cities, large and small, from all parts of the state.
The Times did not mention the two-minute plea on www.unitedneighbors.net by Lynetta McElroy where she explains why SB-9 and SB-10 will be so destructive to her neighborhood in Los Angeles, Leimert Park.
The Times also seems to forget that we have seen, due to the pandemic, a large displacement of employees from office buildings, retail shops and other venues. Many of these will now be re-purposed to perhaps accommodate much of the housing discussed in the Times editorial. Until it is determined how these properties will be used in the future PVP Watch thinks it is a radical decision to eliminate single-family home zoning in the entire state.
It appears the Los Angeles Times does not care what most residents throughout the state want, they have a narrative that fits with what the Sacramento politicians are pushing and that is what they will preach from now until election day.
However, as indicated by the statewide polling and other cited methodology the citizens in the 482 cities and countless neighborhoods throughout the state treasure the unique characteristics of the places where they live.
That is a natural and a good thing since so much individual and collective time, talent and treasure has been invested where we live.
ACTION NEEDED TO PRESERVE OUR NEIGHBORHOODS
Now WE must do what our elected assemblywomen/men, state senators and the governor will not do for us and that is fight for what is right
Supporting the Our Neighborhood Voices Initiative (www.ourneighborhoodvoices.com) is the way to do that. This is the Initiative that was initially referred to as the Stop the Sacramento Land Grab initiative but has a new name since emerging from the attorney general’s office.
There were 45 initiatives filed with the attorney general to receive a title and approval for the November 8, 2022, ballot. Chances are not all of them will collect the needed 997,139 valid signatures to qualify for the ballot, but many will. There are other important initiatives and all that qualify for the ballot will be discussed in this newsletter as the election draws closer.
However, none will be more important to residents of neighborhoods around California than the Our Neighborhood Voices Initiative.
If it does not pass the very fabric of all our neighborhoods is potentially in jeopardy. Our neighborhoods are where our families spend most of our time and densifying them will stress our aging and tired infrastructure, compromise our safety and undermine our investments.
None of the other initiatives will have as much personal and future effect on us and our children.
ALL OF US NEED TO ACT NOW! Everyone is urged to do the following regarding this Initiative.
Forward this blog post to neighbors, friends, and relatives throughout the state. It is important that voters know about this for once they do, as the polls show, they tend to support it. But they must learn about it first!
Visit Our Neighborhood Voices website at www.ourneighborhoodvoices.com. It has interesting information including the text of the Initiative, which is readable and not long; the results of the previously mentioned Probolsky Research poll, and other press items; a frequently asked questions tab; and perhaps most importantly it offers a place to volunteer and contribute funds to the effort to put this Initiative on the ballot.
Sign the petition! Signatures are now being collected in shopping centers and other venues throughout the state. There will be many initiatives collecting signatures, so make sure what is being signed and sign the Our Neighborhood Voices petition.
Visit websites like www.pvpwatch.com, www.unitedneighbors.net, www.localcontrolca.com, www.livablecalifornia.org, and www.catalystsca.org to learn more about this important issue and why these organizations are supporting it.
YOUR NEIGHBORING COMMUNITIES SUPPORT THIS INITIATIVE
As Bill Brand, the mayor of Redondo Beach and a leading Initiative sponsor said, “Voters strongly oppose the new state laws that strip our ability to speak out about what is happening right next door to our homes. Californians want to bring back their ability to shape and improve what is being built in their neighborhoods.” Well stated.
And qualifying the Our Neighborhood Voices Initiative for the ballot and then passing it will do exactly that. Local ordinances passed by local elected officials will negate the onerous laws passed by Sacramento legislators who more than likely have never heard of your town, much less visited it.
Finally, we wholeheartedly believe that oversight of our communities must be vested with our local governments not the State.
