Letter: Match actions to words

EDITOR,
Mayor Jim Reed speaks of “constitutionally protected rights,” “due process” and “ensuring everyone equitable treatment” in his latest Press-Banner letter (“City proceeds with legal threats in mind,” Dec. 23). It would be nice to see the City Council’s actions match Reed’s words.
The city ignored repeated citizen requests for copies of a preliminary traffic report for the Gateway South Retail Project, despite having shared that report with proponents of the project months before releasing it to the public. The final report for this project fails to follow the city’s own guidelines for traffic studies. The property owner seeks a 90 percent variance to the city’s Gateway South Specific Plan and ignores the city’s “responsible hillside development” policy.
Reed’s hand-picked economic consultant delivered a glowing report about this project with assumptions so ludicrous, the report is unbelievable. That report completely ignores an earlier Bay Area Economic Forum-sponsored study that concludes superstores bring in no new net sales tax revenue where they locate. In fact, retail operations this large have a net negative economic impact on the local economy and government. Reed has yet to explain why he believes the citizens of Scotts Valley should subsidize big-box stores.
Despite the fact that the property owner owes the city hundreds of thousands of dollars in back property taxes, the City Council last year granted a one-year extension of a previously approved office building for this site. The city also accepted partial payment of back taxes, removing this property from foreclosure proceedings — something the county, as a general rule, does not do.
The mayor, it would appear, believes some are more equal than others.
One City Council duty is ensuring responsible development. With appropriate development of this parcel, everyone wins. The currently proposed project is inappropriate.
Accountable, responsible government would be refreshing.