In my 18 years of life, I have been taught numerous life lessons. I have been taught to be a man of my word, stand up for what I believe in and to do the right thing, no matter what.
In the short amount of time I have heard about Measure F, I have not seen a single trait that I have described above be represented by “F” opponents. I have heard slanderous lies about numerous Brentwood figureheads, including that of my own stepfather, Emil Geddes. I have heard the lies about what the chief goal of Measure F is.
Most importantly, I have seen how far the average citizen of a very nice community will stoop in order to be heard.
I have been at Heritage for my entire time within high school. For about two years or so, I rode my bike roughly four miles each way, two times a day in American Avenue traffic. Now that I drive myself and my sister, who is a freshman, to school, I watch as those horrors I faced are passed down to our future. I have heard numerous stories, even seen for myself, the accidents that can happen, including small fender benders too. As a student and a young adult, a brother of a younger sibling and a friend to numerous underclassmen, Measure F means that safety will be given to those who need it most, the children.
I have been involved with the Yes on F campaign for a month now, and I have thoroughly enjoyed it. I have met many more great people, people I would look up to.
These people have gone far past the campaign. For those of us Heritage High School students, both current and past, who are working with these people, they have put life lessons into this election. They want us to work, not because we are getting paid, but because we believe in the cause. They want us to give the people of Brentwood not some speech of why they should vote “Yes,” but instead, the facts of what Measure F will do for their community and give the people of Brentwood the choice to make their vote.
Do we encourage a yes vote? Absolutely. However, if we are told that someone is against it, that is their decision and their right as an American citizen. I wholeheartedly believe in Measure F. It is the morally right thing to do for our community.
I have lived in Brentwood for only about five years now, but I came from Antioch, and should Brentwood not get that land, and should Antioch take it down the road, it would be a travesty that will shake the very foundation of Brentwood. That is what I believe the F is for: Yes on Foundation, Yes on Family, and Yes on future. Please, vote Yes on Measure F.
Brian Kiar, Brentwood
We are stating the facts of Measure F. Over and over again because the Yes on F group keep calling us liars and naive and underhanded.
We have said the land will go up on value if the ULL is broken and moved by Measure F and that will benefit the landowners. That is a fact. Call the Contra Costa County Assessor's office and ask.
We don't argue with people voting Yes on F. We respect differing viewpoint, but we are allowed to disagree. We don't yell at people during community debates.
The morally right thing to do for the community is to follow the General Plan and not endorse urban sprawl.
I was also taught to stand up for what I believe and just because I believe in something different does not make me immoral or underhanded.
I don't come from a family that would sell land to LUSD for one amount and then turn around and sue for a higher purchase price. I must have missed that lesson from my parents. And that is not libel, that story was in the Brentwood Press on April 15, 2010
What is the purpose of Measure F? To fix American Avenue? That can be done without 1,300 more houses and 35 acres of commercial development. Those are the facts.
Vote NO on Measure F on June 8th.