Argument for Measure A
Measure A asks a simple question. If the Board of Supervisors takes our property for public benefit, shouldn’t we be compensated? If our answer is YES, then we must Vote YES on Measure A.
Under current Napa County policy, just three Supervisors can wipe out 95% of our property value with new regulations and owe us nothing. Under Measure A, that cannot happen without voter approval.
New regulations that take away our existing property rights are regulatory takings. Regulatory takings have gone out of control. Government thinks it can take anything it wants, anytime, for any reason. Measure A will give control of regulatory takings back to the voters.
Property taken through regulation should be treated like property taken through eminent domain. We should pay for what we take. If the County were to demand most of our retirement funds, what would be our answer? Why should it be different for the value of our property?
The Supreme Court has abandoned us. We must now protect our property locally, but Napa County currently has no protections against takings abuse. Measure A will protect our property from being taken by the County without compensation unless voters approve the taking.
The County has always focused on just the benefits of new regulations, and ignored the financial harm they cause, because it hasn’t been held accountable. By making the County accountable for the damage it does, Measure A will force the County to consider the costs of new regulations as well as the benefits, and whether or not the benefits justify the costs.
Measure A embodies a basic American principle: Private property shall not be taken for public benefit without just compensation.
Warning: If we don’t vote YES on Measure A, we will be giving government our permission to take our property without compensation.
Rebuttal to the Argument Against Measure A
The campaign against Measure A is intentional distortion designed to distract us from the central question.
Measure A has essentially been in effect for 16 months, with no negative impacts.
By holding them accountable, Measure A will help our Supervisors do a better job.
Supervisors will:
• Tailor any new land use restrictions to minimize financial damage.
• Make better decisions based on cost/benefit analyses.
Measure A will not cost the County anything if voters approve damaging new restrictions, because voter actions are exempt. (If voters won’t approve them, then the Supervisors shouldn’t, either.)
Measure A protects our Ag Preserve, our quality of life, and the environment.
Measure A avoids the problems of Oregon’s Measure 37 by exempting all existing land use regulations.
Measure A DOES NOT:
• Change any existing land use regulations or zoning.
• Allow any new uses or encourage development.
• Threaten Measure J or the Ag Preserve.
• Apply to spraying pests, raising traffic mitigation fees, or regulating nuisances.
• Impede the enactment of regulations that treat everyone fairly. (If Supervisors want to treat someone unfairly, they will have to get voters’ approval).
Nothing in Measure A requires negotiations behind closed doors. There will be no litigation if the County administers Measure A honestly.
Opponents’ “independent analysis” is biased, inaccurate, and misleading. A complete rebuttal is posted at www.landstewards.org.
Measure A puts common sense, fairness, and balance back into land use regulation.
We all benefit from secure property rights.
Vote YES on Measure A.