CYPRESS : Targets of Recall Drive Defend Votes for Project

Two council members who have been targeted for recall issued their formal statements Monday concerning the drive against them.

Both Mayor Cecilia L. Age and Councilwoman Gail H. Kerry defended their September action in voting in favor of a controversial carpet-distribution warehouse, which led to the recalleffort.

The rebuttals will be part of any petitions circulated for voter signatures. State law allows elected officials such a rebuttal.

The newly formed Cypress Recall Committee is seeking to recall Age and Kerry, accusing them of “arrogance” and failing “to respond to the issues raised by the citizens” in connection with the warehouse controversy.

At issue is a proposed 439,650-square-foot warehouse to be built in a business park at 11400 Valley View. The building would allow 24-hour trucking and would be a distribution center for Shaw Industries.

Nearby residents have charged that traffic and noise would ruin homes and the general environment. Work on the proposed warehouse was halted after a residents’ group filed a civil suit challenging the building. The suit is pending. In the meantime, a recall effort began against Age and Kerry.

Age, in her formal response, said: “I have listened to the citizens of Cypress and have a proven record of protecting the quality of life that we all enjoy. With your support, I will continue to work to keep our community financially sound.”

Kerry’s response said: “The council vote regarding this (warehouse) issue was based on the benefits to the whole community.” She said the warehouse would bring tax revenue to the city. “A special (recall) election will cost more than $30,000 and will send a message to revenue-producing businesses to stay out of Cypress. A recall is destructive to your city.”