I applaud Denise Sacks for pointing out some of the fundamentals of soil agriculture, benefits for children, insect and animal life, in her "final thoughts" about the farm on Grant Road. Denise also addresses some of the political issues dealing with affordable housing, etc.

My family came to this area in the late 1960s, when apricot orchards could still dazzle ones senses on a warm summer day...not to mention how we kids loved running through them. The word that comes to me when I think of what has happened in this area since then is simply, greed! I agree with Denise's assessment that those who purchased their homes next to this farm did so knowingly. I'm guessing many must not be the original homeowners at this point. That farm was a touchstone for our own family, especially during the holiday season and I'm sickened by the progressive move toward acquisition and opulence that this area so stunningly embraces now.

I recently read how the land carries the soul of it's people. This is still honored in many countries, where ancient sites and certainly family lands are NOT for sale. I think we are showing that the soul of our local community is now willing to sell out for anything green (and I don't mean vegetables).

Shame on us!!

The private property component of this has been addressed so thoroughly that Im not going to open that back up. As much as I'll miss the pumpkin patch, I commend the owners for allowing that use to remain as long as it did-- the entire community should acknowledge this.

I would take issue with your comment on affordable housing. Mtn View has done more-- much more-- on this front then the region as a whole, certainly better then its wealthier neighbors that are very good at TALKING about the social problems of the area.

There is a cost to doing these projects-- direct fiscal cost, opportunity cost, infrastructure, etc. How much of its neighbors "share" do you want Mtn View to bear?