Council Needs to Listen

Log Bumps

Dear Editor,

What has happened to our town? I’m deeply concerned about the decisions made by our “bump on the log” City Council regarding housing development in our community. I came to Dixon when I was 7 yrs old, 60 years later I am still here. And NO, I am not part of the “who is who in Dixon.”  We all have seen significant changes that have negatively impacted on our small-town character.

Measure B, that was approved by the voters twice, was thrown out of the window. Under what authority does the communistic government ignore the will of the people and throws out elections? Because that’s what happened with Measure B.

It is obvious our city council caterers to the developers, not the citizens they supposedly represent. This is the worse city council we ever had. Are they bought by the developers?  Developers have donated to their campaigns, but did they “donate” more under the table? If not, why the council is catering to them? Why do they impose special fees for the future residents instead of demanding the developers to pay for their impact to our community?  

The rapid increase in housing projects has led to the loss of our town’s unique charm. People driving on I-80 didn’t even know there was a town  here. The way we go now we may build homes on the freeway. 

I remember a vibrant downtown with good restaurants, grocery, jewelry, cloth stores and other. What we have now is bars, we may even get a brothel, if it’s not already here. The bad ancient history of Dixon is coming back. Our once-quaint streets are now crowded with houses, excess traffic and drunks.  Green spaces are disappearing.

It’s disheartening that the City Council has not actively engaged with the community during the decision-making process. Residents deserve a voice in shaping the future of our town. Oh, they may talk to the “bad old boys” in town but not to the real people.

We need transparency from our elected officials. The City Council should provide clear information about the rationale behind their stupid decisions. Additionally, campaign finance statements and economic interests should be readily accessible to the public. Instead of worrying about raising fees they should look at cutting salaries and out of control expenses at city hall. Hire competent city staff to do the work of the people that are paying their salaries.

Dixon’s small-town character is gone due to unchecked development. I urge the City Council to prioritize community input, environmental stewardship, and transparency. Let’s work together to ensure that Dixon remains a place we can all be proud of.

Rolando