" thank you for writing this letter. the children of napa can't be forgotten. we should strive to create and cultivate environments in which children can thrive. "

" I agree the children of Napa cannot be forgotten, but neither can the rest of it's citizens or their ability to afford "improvements".

We must keep our children in mind as we determine the path to the future.

But we must also not lose sight of the needs of the rest of the residents and what we can afford.

It is so very easy to spend someone else's money, or suggest further increases in taxation.

Please remember California is already among the highest taxed in the union.

I do not think the majority of residents will support further taxes.

However there is so much more we can do with the tax money we have already collected, we just need to use it more effectively to serve the children and people of Napa. "

" The great thing about America is you can choose to raise your children wherever you want to.

It's the role of the parent to meet the needs of the child, not the governments. "

" Yes, good point.
Most of our average working citizens in Napa County still believe that:
All of our local elected officials “really do care” about our community and it‘s citizens.
AND
They ALL have character and integrity that will overcome their own wishes for personal and financial gain at our community‘s expense.

I wish this was the “true reality.”
But it appears that currently in Napa, money and connections seem to outweigh character and integrity.

Considering the terroristic-like tactics and feelings of entitlement by big developers these days, it is difficult for some local elected officials to keep a clear view on what is really best for the community;
For our Children and tax paying Adults. "

" Well, won't some of these children need neighborhoods of McMansions and golf courses, just as some will need subsidized housing and every possible combo in between?
Seems to me, LMW, as though local agencies are carrying out your wishes in their headlong rush to develop more and more and more. "

" Cadence,
If you meant “...local agencies" and their headlong rush to develop more and more... to encompass some of our local government's "elected representatives,"
I agree wholeheartedly.

It would be nice if local elected officials could consider what’s best for our children, those who have lived in Napa all their lives, and those that moved to this community because it was not completely built-out and paved over.

This concern is particularly disturbing to ponder over when some of our own local “elected officials” appear to actually be “lobbyist” for big developers, rather than working to keep our community’s long-term quality of life and financial solvency their primary concern.

Many of the recently proposed large developments being considered in Napa County appear to be too depleting for our community’s long-term financial stability.

Should we continue to allow some of our current elected officials “masquerading” as our community’s representatives to decide large development projects?

Are these individuals OUR community’s representative or are they these Big Developer's Lobbyists?

Having shared my concerns on this matter,
I still have faith that some people can change and decide to choose the community’s needs,
as well as character and integrity over money and connections.

Hope springs eternal... "

" LMW
You wrote:
All these concerns can be reviewed and we can make a great difference in our children’s behavior by our choices and standards for their environment.

You lost me on that sentence. It does take a "village" to raise children, but the behavior has to start with parents. They make the "great difference."

Was it your intention to make behavior the reason for concern over environment? Is this the overall theme of your letter? Children's behavior will be better if this concern is applied to the construction of well-planned neighborhoods? Clarification please. "

" YES Alu...!!!!, the design of a neighborhood DOES have a great impact on how children live and it has all to do with behaviors.
Not all folks can vision why, because we have many different types of housing.
Our youth do not just go and start attacking girls of their same age groups because they felt like it, it is built up. Built up from breaking rules after rules and progresses into their adult lives where their behaviors are far gone to improve and who will deal with those behaviors. ASK a victim!
I'm for doing anything in todays planning of residential development to improve how we can live and how we will travel.

Construction? I believe when we build a park, I support a planner that can vision how the park design will be used and what age group in children needs to be targeted and how we can promote a community central point for an atmosphere that anyone could enjoy over and over, relieving stress in our daily lives and today studies how our children have stress too.

A child friendly city offers great
opportunity not just to a family, but to the overall economic development of a community. If you don't have children, I can understand the folks that do not have same views for children, but if your a business owner, folks with children make great customers and so on.... "