Housing Costs, Quality of Life

As I read your article (“A Grim View of Curbing Development” March 1), I became furious. I have lived in Anaheim for 29 of my 31 years. I have watched the quality of my life in Orange County slowly deteriorate, which is why I just purchased my first home in Ontario.

I could have bought a condo here in Orange County, but that is not quality by my definition. Instead, I now happily own a home on a half-acre horse property with a pool.

I feel sorry for the people who read that article and believe that their life here will improve if the politicians and the developers get their way and defeat the (slow-growth) initiative.

The fact is, if people will analyze the figures in the article, it will become apparent that--even if the initiative is defeated--at the projected average income of $33,000, they won’t be able to afford a home in Orange County, because that isn’t enough to qualify at today’s market price of $167,000, let alone the projected price of $320,000.

The truth is, opponents of the initiative define quality of life by how much money lines their pockets, and they just don’t care about the rest of us.

CATHERINE CHERRY

Anaheim