Letters to the editor: Farmworkers get a voice; general plan needs transparency
Farmworkers will now get a say
I am a community leader with CAUSE and a resident of Santa Paula. I want to start off by thanking the Santa Paula City Council for going through the process to transition to district-based elections.
As a retired farmworker who started working at the age of 13, I have experienced physical and emotional abuse, as well as underrepresentation in our communities.
In our workplace we didn’t have clean water, restrooms, nor shade for workers. Everything was extremely inhumane. I faced many health problems while working. My husband also suffered from lung problems due to exposure to unknown pesticides. There are so many untold stories but due to continuous retaliation, discrimination, and abuse that happens in the fields most folks don’t speak out.
Because of this, I strongly advocate for farmworkers to have a voice in Santa Paula’s local government.
I am grateful to be living in farmworker housing, it’s a huge help for myself and my husband whom I take care of. Santa Paula is a farmworkers community that needs the support from the city such as more affordable farmworker housing. I am excited that now there is a district for the area of the city where affordable housing is concentrated and needed.
Farmworkers need protection from rent increases as well; rent is 10 times higher than our wage increases. I am excited for district-based elections, which will provide much-needed representation and protection for farm workers like me. These positive changes are exciting for our community, and I’d like to thank the city council for supporting district elections.
Amalia Mendoza, Santa Paula
Transparency for general plan
Re: your March 13 story, “Oil firms in settlement talks with county over general plan”:
After reading the article on the oil interests’ lawsuits against Ventura County’s 2040 General Plan, you should question if it “could be good news for taxpayers?”
The Ventura County General Plan public input process was conducted over a four-year period, providing numerous opportunities for citizens and special interest groups to provide their input. As a part of the public process, the Ventura County Board of Supervisors conducted public hearings and then voted to approve the General Plan and Climate Action Plan in 2020.
Now it seems like those who have the financial resources to hire law firms to file lawsuits are tampering with the county’s General Plan without providing the opportunity for public participation. Isn’t the county required to have a public process for citizens to comment on any revisions that are made to our county’s General Plan and the Climate Action Plan?
If revisions to our county’s Climate Action Plan are weakened, can the county keep its commitment to GHG emissions reductions identified in the plan? Our county’s Climate Action Plan has identified specific actions to reduce GHG emissions and save on the costs of environmental and public health impacts from pollution.
Jeremy Symons’ Oct. 9, 2021, article in The Hill revealed that “American taxpayers are paying a hidden climate tax as the government shoulders huge costs of recovery from climate disasters.” As climate change accelerates, delaying action is far more expensive than effective carbon emissions reduction and simply grows the price tag for future generations of taxpayers.
Contact the Board of Supervisors and representatives on the VC Climate Emergency Council and let them know you expect transparency and express your support for Ventura County’s 2040 General Plan and Climate Action Plan as adopted in 2020.
David Gilbertson, Camarillo
This article originally appeared on Ventura County Star: Letters: Farmworkers get a voice; general plan needs transparency
