Stop the development

After going to many San Mateo Planning Commission meetings and speaking out against all the high-density developments near our beautiful (for now) Sunnybrae neighborhood, there’s been a cold chill up my spine with the uptick of apparent shills for the developers.

From our local Nextdoor group, to the Planning Commission and City Council meetings I had the feeling of “dirty dollars” somehow being involved. Thinking that the shills were just homegrown 25-year-old trolls, living with mommy and daddy with nary a clue of the hard work we’ve invested into our homes and neighborhood didn’t sit well. The idea of an outside San Francisco tech company’s money (or from anywhere outside of San Mateo) influencing our local planning is truly disturbing and reminds me of the “unbridled greed” of Putin, Trump and all of their corporate overlords (think mafia) that has influenced (infected) our nation and the world.

What happened in our recent citywide election with much more campaign money spent by real estate companies and their ilk on the politicians of their choice was the first sign of influence peddling, telling us to follow the money! To repeat your great question Lisa: “Who is backing the resident taxpayers and listening to their wishes?”

So, every registered San Mateo voter should sign the petition to put Measure P on the November ballot and remember to vote.

Mike Manely        

San Mateo