Brad Barker: Mayors out of step if they fight preserving ag land

Coming out of the recession, the next year or two will be crucial. Will we return to pre-recession land-use policies that drained public revenues, spread services too thin and fueled a real estate bubble that burst into disaster? Or, will we develop policies that ensure smart growth while protecting important resources? An upcoming mayors meeting could be a turning point.

Hughson Mayor Matt Beekman is smart about growth. His city adopted a model farmland protection policy. He is a member of Stanislaus LAFCO, an agency charged with preserving agricultural resources and discouraging sprawl. He also serves as on CaLAFCo, which supports local LAFCos throughout California. He is exactly the kind of thoughtful, conscientious public official we need.

Yet in a bizarrely aggressive maneuver, six mayors are moving to replace Beekman on Stanislaus LAFCO because Beekman supported an amendment that clarifies one option cities can use in following LAFCO’s farmland preservation policy.

The mayors seem to be saying, “Majority rules! If 6 of 9 mayors want to cave in to the building industry, that’s the American way.” But it’s fuzzy math. They’re ignoring the majority of the 525,000 people in Stanislaus County who want smart planning. The mayors meet May 13 at 6 p.m. at Turlock City Hall, 156 S. Broadway Ave.

This story was originally published May 4, 2015 at 2:31 PM with the headline "Brad Barker: Mayors out of step if they fight preserving ag land."