Allow more families in Riverpark
On Tuesday night, Oxnard’s City Council will decide whether 1,025 families get to live in the Riverpark community. The proposed zoning amendment, which the city’s latest General Plan called for, would allow residential development on three districts currently zoned for commercial use. Two competing amendments would allow housing on only two of the districts, reducing the number of homes to 613.
We should let all 1,025 families live here. Our dire housing shortage is pushing housing costs up, pushing residents away, and pushing commutes outward. Apartments in the walkable Riverpark neighborhood are the ideal form of new housing for costs and the climate. If we prevent these 412 families from living here, they’ll likely have to live in more vehicle-centric areas, further from jobs and services, and in more costly single-family homes.
In normal times, the benefits of allowing dense infill housing like Riverpark apartments are strong, from inclusivity to sustainability to affordability. But today we have a new reason: national security. Our vehicle-centric development increases global demand for fossil fuels, which empowers petrostate autocrats like Vladimir Putin. There’s no single solution to the crisis in Ukraine, but our community can play a small part by legalizing the kind of land use that cuts dependence on violent despots for their oil and gas.
When they cast their votes on Tuesday, I hope Mayor Zaragoza and the councilmembers imagine 412 families in the audience, asking to live in a walkable community of our lovely town — and I hope they say yes.
Max Ghenis, Oxnard
Unpopular stance on gas prices
I would like to offer an unpopular opinion about high gas prices. We as consumers should end our relationship with SUVs and pickup trucks and embrace smaller cars. Do the majority of us consider fuel efficiency before buying a vehicle?
The truth is gas prices have been rising steadily before Putin’s invasion of Ukraine. If we are really so upset about gas prices, why aren’t we changing our habits? Let’s crunch some numbers: the average SUV gets 25 miles per gallon, and gas is approaching six dollars a gallon. At that rate, one could drive 250 miles on $60 of gas. For the same amount spent, a sedan that gets 30 miles to the gallon would yield 300 miles. Those extra 50 miles would save the SUV driver 2 gallons of gas, or $12. Assuming the average driver fills their tank once a week, that’s a savings of $48 per month — not exactly chump change. It is doubtful that gas will ever be cheap again. Until electric cars are affordable for all, we can bemoan the situation, or we can adapt to it by embracing fuel efficiency.
Kristen Kessler, Ventura
Trump can’t even condemn Putin
Former President Trump just can’t find it in his heart to say something bad about Putin. He calls what is going on in Ukraine an atrocity but can’t bring himself to condemn Putin who is ultimately responsible for the atrocities. But Trump wants us all to believe he would be tough on Russia and that none of this would have happened if he were president. He has stated he never would have allowed it. Really? Please. He praises Putin as “smart” and “savvy” and being a “genius” for invading Ukraine while at the same time calling our leaders “dumb.” It just boggles my mind how people can still support him.
David Pray, Moorpark
This article originally appeared on Ventura County Star: Letters: More families in Riverpark; gas prices; Trump and Putin
