The city wants to let developers run rampant

Are the opponents of Thousand Oaks Measure B really concerned about protecting free enterprise and Home Depot or is it something bigger?

For those who don't know, the City Council can flat out ignore the city's most important governing document, the T.O. General Plan, and approve large development projects which create unacceptable traffic conditions, those below Level C.

Measure B takes away that power and gives it to the voting public, stopping political corruption and back-room dealing dead in its tracks. Who do you think allowed the horrible traffic because of overdevelopment in the San Fernando Valley, voters or corrupt politicians?

The opponents of Measure B are many of the same supporters of grandiose plans to completely redevelop T.O. Boulevard from Duesenberg to Moorpark Road. This proposed project will average 55foothigh four-story buildings, some higher, with retail/commercial on bottom and apartments on top. Its traffic impacts make it subject to Measure B.

Many agree that T.O. Boulevard needs a facelift. However, it's doubtful that most residents would easily approve sweeping changes which would morph our quaint bedroom community into another San Fernando Valley with more congestion, traffic, crime and big-city problems.

This project is so controversial that the T.O. Boulevard Improvement District refuses to release its plan for public review. It may do so by year end after, they hope, Measure B fails at the polls and pro-development Councilmembers Jacqui Irwin and Tom Glancy are reelected in November.

Those who want T.O. Boulevard changed in a big way are the commercial landowners, real estate developers and other business interests who stand to make millions. Others are their friends and those feeding at the public trough.

Do they care more about traffic impacts and quality of life or lining their own pockets?

Since we, the voting public, live and commute here, shouldn't we have the right to reject bad projects unless the traffic impacts are mitigated? If Measure B passes, then I predict that bad projects will become good projects before any public vote.

Measure B is good law.

Let the people decide whether they want to sit in traffic, not a select few. John Fonti Thousand Oaks