I have written many columns about issues of importance to
our community. This column is about staying true to your word and honoring the
promises you make - something that goes beyond our community to reflect who we
are as a society.
When Ft. Ord closed we lost a tremendous economic engine
that powered our local economies. To make up for that loss three “E’s” were
promised: Environment, Education and Economic Recovery. Since that time more
than 70% of Ft. Ord lands have been set aside to protect the environment, 8% of
the land was set aside for education (CSUMB, MPC, York, Chartwell and Monterey
College of Law) and 15% was set aside for economic recovery. It is the last
portion that I want to address.
Within the 15% allocation was land promised to our Veteran’s
community for the Central Coast Veteran’s Cemetery and land set aside for
commercial activities to create jobs and housing. For years Veteran’s groups
have been working to make the cemetery a reality while municipalities and
business groups have worked on the economic side of the equation.
Today all that effort is in jeopardy due to a handful of
activist organizations that do not want anything created on these lands (e.g., the
Ft. Ord Access Alliance). They created an initiative designed to confuse and impede
the cemetery and the economic activities so vital to our area’s economy. In
fact, Congressman Sam Farr and State Senator Bill Monning have stated “their representations
to voters remain disingenuous and misleading”.
It is for this reason that the United Veterans Council of
Monterey County (UVC) has created a separate initiative called “Secure the
Promise”. This initiative is designed to
do just that, secure the promise of a veteran’s cemetery where it has been
designed to be from the beginning and to designate land for the economic benefit
of our region. This is the blue initiative that I would urge everyone to sign.
Just to clarify, this initiative does not favor one
development over another. That is the decision of the local land use
jurisdictions. It reads “… designated for planned development mixed use
district and habitat management land uses”. It also “…celebrates the areas
cultural heritage by allowing the integration of the California Central Coast
Veterans Cemetery”. There it is, stated in clear language forever securing the
promises made years ago to our entire community.
Many of you may have already signed the other initiative not
really knowing what it stood for. You may still sign the “Secure the Promise”
initiative. Of course, I would urge you to only sign the blue “Secure the
Promise” initiative that is just now circulating throughout our communities.
Time is limited to qualify for the November ballot with the “Secure
the Promise” initiative so please seek out the petition and sign it today. If
you have difficulty finding it please contact me (emersonformarina@gmail.com or 595-6282)
and you can sign my copy of this important and historic document. Let’s work
together as a community and finally secure the promises we made when Ft. Ord
closed.
More later…
I appreciate very much your writing on behalf of this important initiative! I'm as big a supporter of the environment as I am of the Veterans Cemetery. But it is sad when a large, public on-going effort nears fruition and a small, upstart group of obstructionists shows up shouting half-truths and outright lies yet manages to slow or stop the process. Tyranny by tiny minorities shouting at the top of their lungs shouldn't be allowed to become a governing principle of our cities and counties as it has in D.C.
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