Ted Rosenfeldt, San Juan Capistrano
Our newly elected City Council ran on the promise that they would base their leadership decisions on the will of the people—not small special interest groups. Last week, in their first full meeting as a new council, they had the opportunity to demonstrate their commitment to this principle.
Signature collectors who stood in front of our grocery stores promised, when I spoke with them, that if residents signed the petition regarding the recently approved Spieker retirement community, they would have the opportunity to learn about the project and vote on it in a public election.
Now some activists who live close to the new project are asking the new council to break that promise and cancel the project’s approvals without letting city residents vote at all.
Our family business has been in San Juan Capistrano for 38 years. During that time, our community has seen more than its share of petitions and referendums, but never in our history has a City Council had the audacity to block the public’s vote on a referendum issue. It would be tragic if our new council made their first significant action an unprecedented disregard for the public’s input.
I think the Spieker project is a great opportunity for our town. Like many who signed the petition, I want my voice heard in an election, not silenced by a city council that thinks they know better. Please do the right thing and let the city residents decide. Put it to a vote.
