I am a sixth-generation Oregonian. My family has lived in and loved this state for over 155 years. If Measure 49 does not pass, the changes that are on our doorstep with the trashing of our land use planning laws is disheartening.

The Six Nations Iroquois Confederacy declared: “In our every deliberation we must consider the impact of our decisions on the next seven generations.” I hope we can be as wise. Vote Yes on Measure 49.

When I see a “No on 49” sign on the highway here in Hood River County, I can squint my eyes and see so clearly acres of future tract houses just behind it.

After we vote yes on 49 and defeat the forces that tricked us with Measure 37, we should remember who of our “neighbors” tried to fix the defeat.

If 37 had been allowed to stand, our counties would have gone bankrupt trying to prevent the resulting sprawl that nobody but a developer could love.

No thought was given to the harm that would have been done to schools and other public services as our pro-37/anti-Measure 49 “neighbors” rushed to grab the gold they saw just in reach.

“Pears, Not Pavement,” one sign for Measure 49 says. I hope more pear farmers actually agree with this fine sentiment this time around as we try to allow families to build for each other while turning away the greedy few who have shown they care more for their personal treasury than for the well-being of their fellow citizens.

What is the difference, by the way, between a California and an Oregon developer?

The California developer sys, “Let’s cut these trees down and build a subdivision.”

But the Oregon developer says, “This land is magnificent. Let’s cut these trees down and build a subdivision.”

I say, what is great in this county is still capable of being preserved. Let’s pass Measure 49 and by a big vote.

I moved here close to four years ago, from the most densely populated state in the nation. One of the main reasons for making the move was to live in an area that had good land preservation and planning regulations and an understanding of the benefits we all derive from close access to beautiful open areas and proximity to sources of local food.

In New Jersey, the “Garden State,” the closest you come to local food is the occasional farm stand you may pass driving through certain areas of the state where there is still farmland left. The vast majority of farmland in New Jersey has gone the way of developments and malls or huge agribusiness. There is little opportunity for farmers to grow local produce in New Jersey now, or for people to purchase fresh local foods.

I can appreciate that some people in Oregon may have become dissatisfied with their level of success as farmers and feel now entitled to reap the benefits of their long years of unrewarded hard work by cashing in their land as payment. Although it is their land and it may appear only fair that they can do anything they want with it, I think it is important to consider another perspective. These people all chose to be farmers and bought prime farm land decades ago and allowed them to fulfill their dreams at that time. Now the dream has faded for them and they want to deprive other potential farmers with a dream, the opportunity to buy prime farm land to realize it. And there are plenty of people out there who still want to farm. They had their opportunity when their needed it; why should they deprive others of the same chance?

Once the farm land is gone, it’s a lot harder to reclaim it if there is a housing development on top of it. If they want to live surrounded by vast developments and malls, I can recommend a number of places in New Jersey.

Please stop Measure 49. It is not about greed, farms, pears or parking, apples or asphalt. It’s more about what your parents taught you: respect other people’s property, and don’t take something if it is not yours.

How would you feel, if the government said one day, you can only use half of your house; but you still pay the mortgage and you still pay us taxes?

If you believe that you should have property rights, if you believe you got a bundle of rights when you bought your property, and you should get to keep them, then vote no on 49.

If you believe that bureaucrats, government, and special interest groups should be able to tell you that you don’t have those property rights anymore, and take those rights away, then vote yes on 49. It’s that simple.

Please don’t let 49 pass and erode your property rights. Don’t let them take away, little by little, what you have worked hard for and deserve.

Oregon, it’s your chance. Vote no on 49.

When we read about the proponents of Measure 49 “fixing” Measure 37, it reminds of when we say we going to “fix” the family house cat.

For those of you who are satisfied with the “Yes on 49” action, I urge you to get a good understanding of that measure before you vote. To understand the gravity of this measure, let me give you just one example of something that could happen:

Let’s say that you buy 2.5 acres zoned Rural Residential 2.5 acres. It stays vacant for a few years while you save enough money to build a home on the property. In the meantime, the government decides that your property and the surrounding property would be better for the community if it were zoned into Open Space.

Later you apply for your building permit and find that the property has been rezoned and you cannot build on it, and you decide to fight the ruling.

M49 will make you follow this maze of bureaucratic garbage until somewhere down the road of litigation, your monetary resources are exhausted because not only do you pay for your own legal bills, but the government’s legal costs to fight against you.

Eventually, your will to fight dwindles and you take your losses. M49 is designed for that outcome.

When the LCDC came into existence and the original zoning rules were adopted, the property owners at that time were treated like the above example. Their property values went south in a hurry. Measure 37 was an attempt to make things right with those folks, and 61 percent of the voting public thought it was the right thing to do.

Granted, Measure 37 needed some minor clarifications, but not the draconian actions of Measure 49 which claims to do what voters really intended. Measure 49 will reduce property rights even further than the original rules set out by the LCDC.

Keep in mind, owning property and the right to do as you please with that property goes to the very core of our way of life in this country.

We all understand that with the ever-increasing population, we need to have local rules and regulations concerning our property and the way it affects our neighbors.

With a little common sense, based upon fairness, we can get the job done without layer upon layer of government regulations. Measure 37 provides that fairness with a minimum of government interference. For more information on the Stop 49 campaign go to: www.stop49.com.

Measure 49 is a dishonest and misleading measure that should be voted down.

When you negate all existing claims as Measure 49 does, this is no fix. It repeals Measure 37 and leaves us with the old land use laws, that a supermajority of voters said needs fixing; plus deceptively sneaks in more restriction on commercial/industrial land and adds restrictions to city property owners.

Private property rights have been the engine of prosperity for this great nation. Measure 49 destroys your rights and is a deceptive, dishonest, heavy-handed blight on the Oregon experience. Vote no on 49.