Unlikely opposition against Spreckels migrant housing plan
A controversial housing project for migrant farm workers on the Central Coast is one step closer to reality. If approved, the new living facility will be built in Spreckels. But some residents are unhappy with the project and now, some unlikely opponents have surfaced as well.
Janette Camera has lived in Spreckles for 30 years. She loves the town and even sweeps public sidewalks and likes things just the way they are.
“It’s just a perfect place to live and we don’t want any people around,” Camera said.
The people she’s talking about are her potential 800 new neighbors, living in Spreckels and working in the fields for agricultural giant Tanimura & Antle. The housing project is slated to be built very close to where Camera lives.
The Monterey County Planning Commission approved T & A’s project on Wednesday. It will head to the Monterey County Board of Supervisors if there is an appeal. The migrant camp property would have everything from an indoor gym to a convenience store and soccer fields. Workers would be bused between the facility and the fields.
“We’re worried about us who are here to lose our jobs because all of a sudden our bosses could adopt this program,” Cruz Samudio said, with Monterey Mushrooms in Watsonville.
T & A said it plans to contract some workers from out of state and Mexico. While the United Farm Workers of America likes the project, it gives a thumbs down to outsourcing.
“I want the people who are here to keep having job opportunities and of course it would be very important that companies make the effort to provide low income housing for field workers,” Lauro Barrajas with UFW said.
For now, Camera’s little patch of paradise will stay that way.
“It’s just too perfect to, ruin,” Camera said.
But she knows this powerful project is not something she can sweep off the sidewalk. Opponents have ten days from Thursday to file an appeal to the project. If an appeal is filed, then the county has 60 days to set up a public meeting. If there’s no appeal, the project is officially approved.
