Jon Edwards: How a ‘yes’ vote turned into a ‘no’ vote

Measure I did not need to fail.

At least one yes vote turned into a no vote. Let’s see, if a home is in Modesto’s city limits the residents get to vote on Measure I. But neighbors who live on McDonald Avenue do not have a vote. So why would an orchard owner on McDonald take out an orchard and burn the brush shortly before the vote on Measure I when he could have chipped the brush? Not very neighborly.

The next day another legal brush fire was started on Shoemake Avenue, filling Symphony Place with smoke and ash. Not very neighborly. The week before ballots were cast, gunfire could be heard from McDonald on Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday. Not very neighborly.

This is how a “yes” vote turned into a “no” vote. Also, supporters of Measure I need to drop the, “I was born in Modesto.” While there is not a race problem in Modesto there is a divide depending on place of birth. At one time, everyone in Modesto could be described as a newcomer. So being neighborly is vital when an election is held.

This story was originally published November 19, 2015 at 6:30 PM with the headline "Jon Edwards: How a ‘yes’ vote turned into a ‘no’ vote."