October 31, 2006 > Local Chambers Oppose Measure A

The Santa Clara County Chambers of Commerce Coalition voiced opposition recently to Measure A, the Santa Clara County Land Use Initiative on the November 7 ballot.

Coalition members have studied the pros and cons of Measure A and concluded that the initiative would severely limit allowed uses on agriculture, ranch lands, and hillsides in the southern portion of the unincorporated areas of Santa Clara Valley. Although the values represented in the Measure have hit home with many leaders from a broad cross-section of the community, its unintended consequences would be a fatal blow to agricultural viability, economic development, the local control and public process of prudent land use planning.

Under Measure A, land use decisions would be made by voters county-wide.  The proposal largely deprives locally elected officials and professional planning staff with the ability of self determination for general plan development, long term community vision, and ability to plan growth and services effectively.  In addition, this Measure risks irreversible damage to the local economy moving to the ballot with no economic impact analysis.

The Santa Clara County Chambers of Commerce Coalition is a 20-member consortium representing business interests in the Silicon Valley.  The consortium takes proactive positions on issues that impact the business community in an effort to keep California viable economically without unnecessary costs or restrictions imposed by government.  Through the involvement of the participating chambers of commerce in Silicon Valley, the Coalition is a representative voice of over 10,000 businesses.  The Chambers in the Coalition which formally opposed Measure A are Milpitas, Los Altos, Sunnyvale, Cupertino, Morgan Hill, Gilroy, Santa Clara, San Jose Silicon Valley, Korean American Silicon Valley, and Campbell

Steve Van Dorn
Santa Clara Chamber of Commerce