I was sent a copy of the Claremont Currier newspaper today and I read an amazing "Letter to the Editor". I want to share it with you.

"We need an explanation"

"Dear Editor: I’m aware that we’re in one of the worst droughts in history. I’ve been conserving water long before I was ever mandated to do so in the 30 years that I’ve lived here. The city reminds us, at every turn, how we need to conserve. With that being said, how is it that in this critical time, the city made the decision to allow not one, not three, but several new high-density housing projects to be built? How do we not have enough water to keep our parks green and our beautiful trees alive, but we have enough water for this incredible increase in population? I was sent a letter and given the opportunity to “protest” the trash hike. How was I not sent a similar letter to “protest” the decision for these housing projects? How were there not town hall meetings to get opinions and input from the Claremont residents? Someone from the city needs to explain the “logic” and process, (in a written submission to the COURIER), that went into this illogical decision that was made FOR us.

Carolyn Zimmerman
Claremont"

Doesn't this sound just like our letters and comments to the City Council and Planning Commission in Upland? These are the same comments I heard at a water meeting in Rancho Cucamonga! The same has been heard in Fontana, Murrieta and West Covina with no truthful explanations to residents. NO ONE IS LISTENING and if they do, they answer with forked-tongues and half-truths.

How has every City Council in Southern California become deaf and mute all at the same time?

What is driving them all to fast-track high density housing right now and of all times in a drought?

The first thing that comes to my mind is pensions. The cities all around California and even the country are being strangled by "unfunded liabilities" or aka pensions. The unions are turning local governments into money machines to fund the pensions.

Cities must fight back and work to reduce those liabilities. Citizens need to back their elected officials when they do make a stand.

Citizens must seek through petitions to put land use issues on the ballots and take the decisions out of the hands of councils, commissions and staff. Maybe if they cannot work deals with developers, City Councils will have to face the issue head on and not commit our lands and taxes to unions.

I may be missing something else, but it is just outrageous that EVERY single city is charging ahead with "Smart Growth" aka "High-Density Transit Oriented Development". Tell me what you think the reason is. Post something on this site. I would like to know what you think. This needs to come to the surface so we can fight it head on.

Stand up and join the fight. Watch for a petition coming to your Upland neighborhood.