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Ten years ago, immediately after the Loma Prieta earthquake, our city leaders decided they no longer wanted small, cozy buildings downtown. Instead, they wanted large-frontaged buildings, preferably three stories high.

With that plan in mind, my husband and I, who lost our two small downtown buildings in the earthquake, were forced to sell both of our parcels, one to the next door neighbor and one to the city through eminent domain.

Now, our City Council wants only small businesses downtown in order to maintain the pre-earthquake sort of cozy look. What a cruel joke Tell me, what is small about the many large three-story buildings which now cover downtown. Most are beautiful, but small and cozy? I don’t think so.

The sad truth is, the City Council is manufacturing ordinances so that it can selectively control our free enterprise system of government. Never mind that it will stifle the rest of the downtown business community.

The sad truth is, the City Council does not want another large bookstore downtown, only because it wants to protect one politically correct local individual.

One thing about the politically correct: they are very protective of their own. They will fight to the death to protect their own, even if the larger community suffers for it. To them I say “This is wrong. This is manipulative. This is controlling.”

Borders Bookstore should be welcomed downtown. Borders’ taxes should be welcomed also.

To the members of the City Council, I say “Do not tamper with the free market. Let it prevail. It worked with Crown Books. Now, let it work equally with Borders.”

There must never be permitted exclusivity or favoritism in a free democratic society. If we allow that to happen, we will become a fascist society. And, to the voters of Santa Cruz, I say “Now is the time to speak out. Stop this transparent assault on our free trade system from happening.” We know from history that bad things happen when good people do nothing. It is called the Sin Of Omission.