Do you like what you see in Merced County? It turns out, few do. Empty houses, vacant land and stalled development have consumed our farmland. Our cities have suffered for it.
Yet, year after year, we have continued to face opposition from supervisors each time we take a stand to protect our water and farmland.
Change is needed for the health of our communities and the future of agriculture, the No. 1 industry in Merced County. That change is Measure C.
We need Measure C to bridge the wide gap between the citizens, who overwhelmingly support agriculture, and our Board of Supervisors, who have failed to make the right decisions for our county’s future.
The divide between the citizens and supervisors is clear when we look at the general plan update, which guides how we will grow in the future. Citizens spoke overwhelmingly in favor of a plan with increased density for cities and protection of agricultural land. Fresh on the heels of the highly-praised Hilmar plan, a new direction seemed on the horizon for Merced County.
However, Supervisors voted for a “new towns” approach instead, an approach that leads to the kind of urban sprawl that has become Orange County, San Jose and Fresno.
To preserve our farmland, our way of life, and our voice in local government — we need Measure C.
Measure C does only one thing: it gives citizens a voice with a 50 percent majority vote when supervisors approve housing subdivisions that convert the primary land use of Agricultural land to Residential.
Again, Measure C is only for a change from agriculture to residential.
Measure C preserves farmers’ rights and abilities to split their land, sell their land, get loans, build homes and barns and even convert land into commercial or industrial uses. That is why the Merced County Farm Bureau has no fear in supporting Measure C.
Unfortunately, the developer-funded “family farmers” group has used fear to turn the issue of private property rights into a shortsighted debacle.
The opposition to Measure C fails to see the big picture when it comes to property rights. When our wells run dry and we are overrun by houses, we will have lost our most important right of all: the right to farm and have safe access to food for generations to come.
Our groundwater levels are dropping at alarming rates. Water rights on ag land are being bought up for nearby rural developments. Farmers on the fringes would rather cash out than put up with surrounding development.
Even with tens of thousands of foreclosures and thousands of acres of vacant residential land, developers are still buying up farmland.
In fact, Merced County has five major rural developments in the works: Santa Nella — 2,560 acres and 8,250 homes; Villages of Laguna San Luis — 1,700 acres and 16,000 homes; Fox Hills — 1,250 acres and 2,600 homes; Stevinson Ranch — 3,740 acres and 3,880 homes; Turlock Golf Course Community (in Merced County) — 1,200 acres and 3,700 homes.
Each of these developments has major issues: Villages of San Luis lacks adequate water. Fox Hills LLC owes $810,000 in back taxes. Stevinson Ranch is a gated community that would be larger than the town it attaches itself to. Santa Nella and Turlock Golf Course are both on productive ag land.
We cannot afford to allow supervisors to rubber stamp these houses for another 30 years. It is time to hold them up to public scrutiny with a vote under Measure C.
The stakes are clear and supervisors have drawn their lines. Outgoing Supervisor Mike Nelson recently took an end-of-term swipe at the Williamson Act, a vital foundation of support for the ag industry. Supervisor Deidre Kelsey falsely claimed in her Sun-Star commentary that Measure C would be taken to court over “convey-and-combines,” a procedure which the county’s own staff declared illegal. Supervisor John Pedrozo is perpetuating fears instead of talking about facts.
With UC Merced growing and high-speed rail on the way, there are big opportunities in store for Merced County. Measure C will help us ensure that these opportunities serve local citizens not wealthy speculators.
Measure C will protect our farmland for future generations.
Please vote yes on Measure C.
Representing Citizens for Quality Growth, Jean Okuye is a Livingston farmer and Robby Avilla is retired business owner from Stevinson.
