EDITOR,

The Let Children Play Now! lawn signs are cute, but what are they asking me to do Build it

These signs concern the building of the sports fields at the old antenna farm, yet Tracy citizens don’t have a vote on whether to build the fields; the Tracy City Council does. If organizers want the fields built, their signs should be proclaiming, “Vote for Brent Ives, Suzanne Tucker and Evelyn Tolbert.” They are the council members who will ultimately decide to build the fields and aquatics center.

If Celeste Garamendi and her slate are voted to the council in November, say goodbye to all amenities for Tracy citizens. Regardless of what these candidates say, the city does not have the money or expertise to build these amenities. The city has money, but like any fiscally minded body, it has dedicated the money to specific concerns and needs. New council members can’t say, “Give me $40 million to build an aquatics center and sports fields.”

I understand how longtime residents feel about uncontrolled growth. That is why Measure A was passed to slow housing development to 600 homes per year. However, Tracy is stuck with zero growth for six years, and it is stifling the quality of life.

Tracy needs to keep up with progress. If the city doesn’t move outward and instead tries to concentrate everything in one area, that area will be so overcrowded and overgrown, no one will be able to drive or walk there.

If you want your children to swim and play ball, don’t design signs. Instead, vote for the three people on the City Council who also want that for Tracy residents.

Sue Rainey, Tracy