HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 02091993 - 1.53 RECEIVED
JAN 2 81993
CLERK BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
CONTRA COSTA CO.
Michael Ullman
Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences
Massachussetts Institute of Technology
E10-104A
Cambridge, Mass 02144
phone: (617)253=5764
January 22, 1993
Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors
651 Pine Street
Room 106
Martinez, CA 94553
Copies for Gayle Bishop, Sunne Wright McPeak, Tom Powers, Jeff' Smith, Thomas
A. Torlakson
Dear Supervisors,
I am a native of the Bay Area currently and temporarily living in Boston, where I
do research at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. During a recent visit back
home I had the opportunity to do a lot of hiking, especially around Mount Diablo
and elsewhere in the East Bay. And while this experience on the one hand made
me realize how much I love and miss California, on the other hand it sickened me
to see how much and how quickly my state is changing for the worse. Everywhere
where I used to hike and fish there are now houses, streets, parking lots and shopping
centers. Those areas which used to be far away from urban areas are now within
sight, smell and sound of cars and houses.
This rampant and destructive development must stop. I respectfully and strongly
encourage you to support legislation to severely limit the East Bay's
growth, leaving a maximum of wild and open space left for all to en-
joy.
In particular, I would like to voice my strong opposition to two projects which
would result in further development and destruction of open and wild
lands: the Mid State Toll Road and the Tri Valley Wastewater Authority.
Both of these projects will result in the destruction of huge areas of open space, with
the concomitant loss of wild habitat and recreation areas for everyone.
cc: BOARD MEMBERS (Provided
Rather than encouraging development in open areas, thereby decreasing the quality
of life of all Contra Costa, Alameda,and other Bay Area residents, it would make far
more sense to encourage development in existing urban areas — while discouraging
wild and open space development. Such a two-pronged policy would have several
advantages. In addition to preserving open space for wildlife and recreation, it would
revitalize decaying urban areas, and create a situation in which more efficient and
less polluting transportation systems could be put in place — ie, mass transport
systems which require a relatively dense populations.
Thank you very much for your attention,
Sincerely,
Michael Ullman
Department of Brain and Cognitive
Sciences
MIT
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