‘Quality of Life’

I was shocked to discover in an article by Leonard Bernstein (“Citizens Group Rejected in Attempt to Alter Growth Measures on Ballot,” Aug. 26) that the city attorney’s office has removed the “Quality of Life” title from the citizens growth initiative and that reference to the various elements that make up the standards by which the building cap is set have also been virtually ignored in the ballot summary.

This is an obvious move on the part of the city to obfuscate the issue and confuse the voters. The city has clearly tilted the playing field in favor of the measure written by the City Council.

The very reason that I signed the initiative was because it will protect San Diego’s “Quality of Life,” as it was titled on the initiative petition. To remove the very name under which more than 80,000 signatures were obtained is absolutely despicable and totally unfair.

In addition, I resent the fact that nearly all the newspaper reporters refer to the ultimate number of homes allowable under the citizens initiative as 4,000 units by 1991. This would only happen if the city failed to meet the five quality-of-life criteria, which are: water quality, sewage system, air quality, solid waste disposal and traffic. These items are central to the citizens initiative and are absolutely essential for voters to clearly understand in order to make a knowledgeable decision.

Another factor that I feel has been unfairly described as part of the citizens initiative is in the area of commercial development. It merely states that the City Council shall develop a plan that creates a “balance between housing, industrial and commercial stock.”

It is obvious that the closer you read the “Quality of Life” initiative, the more you realize that it is the most reasonable plan for growth in San Diego and that one can only hope that, despite all the efforts on the part of the City Council, the building industry and the other pro-growth forces, the people will be smart enough to see through their desperate attempts to cloud the real issue, which is: Do we want to become another Los Angeles?

BYRON SLATER

San Diego