As founder and president of the Catalysts for Local Control group, I am taking the opportunity to respond to the IJ’s editorial published Nov. 4 and sharing information about an upcoming event.
The headline of the editorial read, “Novato is stuck with bad rules from the state.” Some will nod in sympathy. They think about being “stuck” as burdened, baffled or in a fixed position and unable to move.
Others don’t feel sympathy, but anger. Rightly so. Elected officials have pandered to Sacramento lawmakers and succumbed to threats from legislators and staff. In many cases, they’ve abandoned the well-being of constituents.
Hardworking Novato Councilmember Pat Eklund is quoted in the IJ saying, “If we vote no, we put the city in jeopardy.” But where does the city stand now, if not in jeopardy? Neighborhoods and taxpayers everywhere are burdened with high-density housing based on unproven claims about the housing crisis.
And at what cost? Across the state, housing costs go up. Residents endure reduced parking, increased congestion, destroyed vistas, financial burdens for infrastructure and increased risk of fire and flooding. And still the state promise of “affordable housing” goes unmet.
Eklund fears the city can’t afford a legal fight with the state. But state housing policy is out of control. It benefits out-of-town, for-profit developers, not residents.
Residents in five Southern California charter cities banded together to reduce legal fees and fight against Senate Bill 9. They worked with attorney Pam Lee, Aleshire and Wynder and won.
Stuck means not progressing or changing. But, of course, we must find the courage to challenge and the means to change. We must stand up to state encroachment.
Catalysts for Local Control is hosting a meeting with the victorious law firm on Nov. 21 at 5 p.m. Hear the latest options for using legal means to protect local control. Register at the CatalystsCA.org website to get the Zoom link.
— Susan Kirsch, Mill Valley
Marin can do more to fight housing mandates
