HomeMy WebLinkAbout2/3/2026 Item 7a, Names
Jim Names <
To:E-mail Council Website; Council_All; Boswell, Mike; Stewart, Erica A; Marx, Jan
Subject:Strong Opposition to the Plan to Remove Laguna Lake Golf Course
Dear SLO City Councel Members and Counsel member Jan Marx
I am writing to express my strong opposition to Councilwoman Jan Marz's continued efforts to remove
the San Luis Obispo Laguna Lake Municipal Golf Course. For over 20 years, Councilwoman Marz has
sought to dismantle this community asset, the city golf course and despite her repeated attempts over
the years, she continues to persists in pushing for its removal. As a resident who has lived in this city for
over 50 years, I find it deeply frustrating and disturbing that she continues to pursue this agenda without
regard for the overwhelming public support for keeping the golf course open. The last three times in last
20 years the public spoke that they want the golf course open and Jan Marz just does not want to give it
up, she just will not let it go and here we are again all over again.
What is even more troubling is the apparent behind-the-scenes collaboration between Councilwoman
Marz and the SLO Tenants Union. The recent email from the SLO Tenants Union indicates a concerted
effort to push this agenda forward, yet it fails to mention a key point: the City has purposely neglected to
maintain the golf course, creating conditions that can later be blamed for its deterioration. It seems that
this was part of a calculated strategy to underfund the course and, when infrastructure fails, use those
failures as an excuse to argue that the course is too costly to maintain.
It is clear to me that this situation was not natural, nor was it simply a result of the course's age or recent
damage. The lack of maintenance over the years, coupled with the flood damage, seems to have been
part of a plan to make the golf course look unviable. This kind of political maneuvering is dishonest, and
it’s shameful that a public official like Councilwoman Marz would be involved in such actions. The
community deserves better than this, and it’s especially disheartening to see someone who has never
expressed support for the golf course, who has not acknowledged the public good it serves continued to
push an agenda that disregards the voices of the people who use it.
The Laguna Lake Golf Course has been an essential part of this community for over 70 years, serving not
only long-time residents but also students from Cal Poly and Cuesta College, families, and local schools
like San Luis Obispo High School and Laguna Junior High who use it. It provides a vital recreational space
that cannot be easily replaced. To tear it down for housing, when there are already other housing projects
underway in the city, would be a huge loss. It's clear that Councilwoman Marz’s stance is rooted in her
own personal bias against the golf course, and her refusal to listen to the public only makes matters
worse.
This is a matter of honesty and integrity. The public deserves transparency and representation that
reflects the needs and desires of the community. What we’re witnessing, instead, is bad politics and a
disregard for the public good. This is not how our city should be governed, and it’s not how we should
treat a beloved community space that has served so many for decades.
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I urge the other members of the City Council to listen to the overwhelming public opinion, there are only
two comments supporting affordable housing in the area, while nearly all others want the golf course to
remain open. The Laguna Lake Golf Course is not something that can be replaced once it’s gone. It
serves a unique and irreplaceable purpose for the community.
Please, Councilmembers, protect this space for future generations. Do not let behind-the-scenes
politics and hidden agendas tear down something that has been an integral part of this city for over seven
decades. The SLO City Golf Course is a living, breathing part of this town's community, and we cannot
afford to lose it. I urge you to vote to keep it open and ensure it continues to serve the public as it should.
Sincerely,
Jim Names
San Luis Obispo resident
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