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How much wood would a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wood? That’s a tongue twister. It has no real meaning. Just something we teach young children.

Here’s a society tongue “twister”: How much high density, taxpayer paid for housing can one small corner in Aptos be forced to absorb?

Answer: Plenty! And maybe even more! The Board of Supervisors will decide in early June the fate of Poor Clare’s property. That is the Catholic owned property near the entrance to Sea Cliff beach which currently houses Aptos Four Square Church located at 280 State Park Drive. And what organizations with clout support even more low income, high density housing on the Catholic owned property? COPA is one.

But is it FAIR to jam so many families together without any family resources? No park coming soon! No family resource building planned! No basketball courts or skate park! No sandbox and slides for small children!

Right by the freeway in Aptos, there will be 5 acres of high density family housing with no resources for those families. And now the Board of Supervisors may decide to allow even more high desity housing. And maybe a hotel.

Is COPA a pivotal force behind the scenes influencing government? COPA stands for Community Organized for Relational Power in Action. Locally about 30 + organizations and churches participate. It is based on Saul Alinsky’s social theories. It is my understanding that COPA supports even MORE low cost housing at 280 State Park Dr.

The Episcopal Church of St. John’s will soon occupy a 2 1/2 acre parcel next to the 5 acres of high density low income housing. The church opens its Aptos doors in June, 2009. Just to open its Aptos doors has cost the church roughly $3 million. The existing church structure will be a large area for both worship and community gathering. St. John’s wants to be a “good neighbor”. Is St. John’s acting as a “good neighbor” by seeking even more high density, low income housing on the Poor Clare property?

It is my understanding that COPA – of which the Episcopal Church of St. John’s, Temple Beth El and Resurection Catholic Church are members – supports MORE high density, low cost housing on the Catholic property. I would like to know more who funds COPA and who really “runs” the organizaton.

I wonder if COPA, who ever they are, has thought through the implications. Is it FAIR to crowd so many low income families into one small area of Aptos? Driving by the existing parcel of jammed together, high density housing, you can see teenagers bouncing basket balls on their stairs with no place to go. There is no park for youth within walking distance. The area that was to be a park is walled off.

To qualify for low cost housing, families have less money. They have fewer resources. Why jam even more low income families together in an area LACKING family resources? There is no plan to put in a family resource center such as Live Oak has. There are no parks for mothers with young children such as the Blue Ball park next to Soquel High School.

What if instead of low income families only clean and sober homes were located on those 5 acres next to the freeway in Aptos? Or what if only severely disabled persons could inhabit that area?

It is simply better that we encourage a diverse neighborhood. Before jamming more families into one tiny area of Aptos, the County of Santa Cruz needs to step up to the plate and create parks, tennis courts and family resource centers. And no, just because the beach is close by is not equivalent to a REAL park and REAL resource centers. And REAL basketball courts. All families need resources that allow youth to engage in healthy activities.

It would not be healthy to have one corner of the Santa Cruz County where all the clean and sober homes were located. Nor would society benefit were all the disabled housing located in one tiny area. And it is not healthy to educate largely autistic children in one school classroom. Likewise, it is not healthy to locate huge numbers of low income families jammed together in high density housing. Without family resources. All in one tiny corner of Aptos.

How best to use the Poor Clare property? Let the County buy it and develop it into a resource for the existing 5 acres of high density, low income families. And as a resource for all the families in Aptos, Seacliff and nearby areas. With a REAL park like the BLUE BALL park in Soquel. And basketball courts. How about a public swimming pool! And a skateboard park. And real, organic vegetables growing. And the sound of woodchucks chucking wood! Yes, how much wood can a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wood? Answer: Lots of wood!

written by Cameron Jackson cameronjacks@gmail.com 831 688-6002