Instead of common sense protections, what we have is an institutionalized form of economic racism with the California Environmental Quality Act.

Why is it racism? Because the working class in California is primarily Latino.

Every significant and insignificant project derailed by wealthy, white, San Francisco elitists destroys economic opportunity for Latinos and working-class people across California. Witness MARG, a

San Francisco-based organization concerned with "responsible growth" ... in Merced.

Last time I checked, runaway growth is not exactly a real concern for a community with real unemployment and underemployment surpassing Appalachia.

EFRAIN ROJAS

Los Banos