One Man’s Grief From Anti-Business Climate

I am writing in response to the article on an alleged backlash against complaints about business conditions in California, “Firms’ Gripes About State Stir Backlash” (March 8).

I own a small real estate development firm that is developing two industrial parks in Ventura County. My clientele, or what is left of it, primarily consists of small- and medium-size firms. Business is off 90% from three years ago.

Just last week, another firm that was planning to build in my Oxnard park decided to move to Las Vegas instead--in part because the city’s development impact fees are the highest in the nation. The non-business view usually is “people will always want to move to California, this downturn is only temporary.”

I am now helping some businesses move to other states. The attractions of places such as Phoenix, Salt Lake City and Las Vegas are enormous and government officials there are not hostile to business.

ROBERT F. GOETSCH

Los Angeles