Dear editor,

Why Measure A? What prompted a group of concerned citizens to formulate measure A, and why do you see so many "No on A" signs on huge vineyard and winery properties?

A little story; I own a small parcel of land in this county. In the 1980s our county planners and the board of supervisors decided that my four 20-acre parcels should be merged into one parcel of 80 acres. Was I compensated for this discrimanate action? No, not one cent. They thought it was best. Could I fight it? No, it was their law. Now, some of you may have wanted to buy those smaller 20-acre parcels for you and your kids, but in our county there are mostly huge parcels that only the very rich can afford to buy. Has this answered why you see those "No on A" signs on large vineyard and winery parcels?

A couple of years ago, the county planners and the board of supervisors decided that they wanted larger setbacks from stream channels, so they formulated an ordinance demanding that property owners give up their rights to their property and allow government to decide how that property on streams was used. However, they provided an exemption for the large property owners, vineyards and wineries. They thought it was best. A concerned group of citizens fought that ordinance and all of you defeated it at the voting booth.

Today that same group of citizens is backing Measure A to stop the county government from continuing to take properties away from all of us taxpayers, without due process and compensation.

The opponents of Measure A charge that it will cost millions and take monies away from necessary services. It won't. It will stop an irresponsible government from trying to tell you what is best for your property and then taking it without proper compensation.

Will Rogers once said: "Just be thankful that you don't get all of the government that you pay for." A yes" vote on Measure A is for the ordinary, hard-working people in this county.

Tom Johnson

Napa