Don't cave in, supervisors

Re "County housing retreat?" May 29: The Bee is absolutely correct on both counts: Sacramento County should not cave in to the Northern California Building Industry Association, and any discussion of the mixed income housing ordinance should be done in public.
The League of Women Voters of Sacramento County is appalled that the county supervisors are allowing staff to negotiate the Mixed Income Ordinance lawsuit brought by the BIA against the county. This ordinance was supported by the league and many other community organizations. It implements a portion of the county's housing element of the County General Plan and is critical in providing housing for many citizens of the county.
For the county to proceed to negotiate to settle this lawsuit when it has already prevailed at the lower court level is a mistake. It should protect its interest in facilitating housing opportunities for low-income people and proceed to defend the ordinance.
The league is also concerned that in negotiating a settlement, hard-fought provisions of the ordinance are being altered without public scrutiny. An ordinance that was adopted with full public participation should not be amended without open discussion.
- Roseanna Torretto, Sacramento
President, League of Women Voters of Sacramento County