What's wrong with reason?

C'mon, folks. Let's all step back for a minute and take a deep breath. This is the San Mateo County coastside in California, in 2004 - not some 1904 coal mining company battling the union at its gates. For good reasons, we coastsiders - including hundreds of us who happen to make a living as Realtors in the county - take pride in the fiercely independent and democratic spirit on which our communities are built. Based on that, I strongly believe we all can do better than resorting to ancient demagogy.

So, what's this all about? The facts are pretty straightforward: as part of their Coastside Protection Plan, the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District (MPROSD) wants to expand its borders to include the San Mateo County coast. Many residents are wary of the proposed annexation. Some are outright opposed. Others are in favor. Recent petition efforts by opponents and proponents of the annexation provided a great exhibition of the democratic process at work.

Local Realtors have been prominently active in both camps - and a voice of reason. My local trade association, the San Mateo County Association of Realtors, believes strongly in the democratic process and has encouraged its many coastside members to actively participate in this discussion. Realtors have contributed many hard facts to a lively debate and participated in a thorough examination of the MPROSD annexation issue in our communities.

A few weeks ago, an annexation activist was quoted in a local newspaper, wildcatting on the Realtor's position on this issue: "I speculate that their interest is …" Let's stop the fear-mongering and speculating. Simply asking any Realtor familiar with the issue would have been sufficient to get the facts straight.

It's been this newspaper, the San Mateo Daily Journal, which has accurately described one proponent for the Coastal Space Alliance as "an advocate of seeing the final [annexation] plan pushed through without another vote." Can you see why this has me concerned? Many fellow Realtors on the coast, but also many other people I talk to on a daily basis, feel like I do: this kind of "pushy" attitude does not reflect the civic and democratic spirit which is so characteristic of our coastside communities.

Recently there was a community petition drive regarding this issue, and a large number of our residents signed it - asking for the chance to decide at the polls whether or not the MPROSD should extend its boundaries to include the San Mateo County coast. I think that the affected residents, and no one else, should be able to decide this issue. Coastside residents have had more than five years to evaluate the pros and cons of an annexation. Personally, I feel very comfortable letting us decide for ourselves.

If you agree, you can help us to strengthen the voice of reason in our communities. Next time you get handed an inflammatory flier concerning the annexation issue, just ask a simple question: "What's wrong with making an educated decision?"

Donna Tramontozzi is a Realtor with RE/MAX Dolphin in Half Moon Bay. She also heads the Coastside Legislative Committee for her local trade association, the San Mateo County Association of Realtors (SAMCAR), which represents more than 3,000 members in the county.