March 4, 2006

Subject: Community General Plan Initiative

To the Editor:

The guiding principle of the League of Women Voters is informed citizen participation in government. The initiative is one option for that participation. The Board of Supervisors should reverse their action of February 28 and place the Community General Plan Initiative (CGPI) on the June ballot.

The Supervisors ignored recommendations from their own Elections Department and County Counsel and chose a third option not on their agenda: simply refuse to put the CGPI before the voters. This certainly strikes at the heart of citizen participation in government.

The League of Women Voters of the Monterey Peninsula has endorsed the CGPI after participating in the last six years of flawed and failed General Plan Update process. However, we fully respect those who oppose the Initiative. We believe proponents and opponents all have the right to debate and vote on a legally qualified initiative.

The Supervisors have again derailed the process and violated the spirit of public participation, and very likely the letter of the law regarding initiatives. Monterey County voters deserve better. The Supervisors should reverse their decision and place the CGPI on the June 2006 ballot.

League of Women Voters of the Monterey Peninsula