Voters enacted the charter amendment part of Measure A in the early 1970's because they felt they could no longer trust their elected officials to govern development within Alameda in accordance with the majority of residents' wishes.

The charter amendment and refinement in Alameda's municipal code built-in structural limitations on development that apply regardless of current seated officials in City Council, Planning Board, Transportation Board etc.

Many people in Alameda feel that there would be a sort of development free-for-all if there were no structural limitations built into our City government. These people feel that land developers would go to great lengths to fund election campaigns for candidates that will provide favorable policy and rulings, thereby allow development to grow faster and bigger than the will of the majority of residents, and to the detriment of those residents. Therefore, these people reason, it is imperative to have growth controls embedded in the cities laws, subject to change only by majority vote.

Is there a fundamental problem or fault with enacting and maintaining these structural limitations - by the will of the people - within the laws of our city?