Affordable housing is bad for the city

I have lived in Moorpark for about a year. I read the Moorpark Acorn and have noticed the Sheriff's Blotter growing in length and substance. I know others have noticed the increase also because I have read their comments in the opinion section.

In early August, there was a feature article about additional "affordable housing" coming to Moorpark. At the risk of being called a slew of names, I would like everyone to know that as long as "affordable housing" is a priority in our city or any other city, we can expect the Blotter to take up more and more space in the paper. Call me what you want, but it is a harsh reality.

How do I know this? I moved to Ventura County five years ago from Palmdale, a place which used to be a lot like Moorpark. Today, it is one of the most crime-stricken places in Southern California along with its neighbor, Lancaster. Their sheriff's stations are busier than Compton, East L.A., Carson or Lennox.

How do I know this? I grew up there and eventually worked there as a deputy sheriff. I watched a sleepy family town evolve into a place I had to get away from before my kids started school because it was really that bad.

What do I believe was one of the biggest contributors to that evolution? Affordable housing. The Antelope Valley has become a state leader in welcoming affordable housing. And now they have the distinction of annually having two of the cities with the worst crime stats in L.A. County. Try finding them on the FBI's safest cities to live. You can't.

That is why I came here. A place where crime is low and the median income is twice as high. Was it and is it expensive? And is it sometimes difficult? Of course, but it is worth the sacrifice. No one offered my family any discounts. There is no constitutional right to own property or live in the city we want to live in. We live in and where we can afford to do so. It's that simple.

Do I believe Moorpark, Thousand Oaks or Simi Valley are headed in the same direction Palmdale and Lancaster have gone? I sure hope not. But keep your eye on the Blotter and what economic decisions are happening in your city. Small leaks can turn into floods faster than you think. Chad Goodwin Moorpark