Conflict of Interest Builds in Moorpark

This time last year Moorpark was in the middle of an election campaign. Just who were the real winners?

We have Debbie Rodgers-Teasley, who describes herself as a “business woman” on the election ballot. As it turns out, she is district manager of Moorpark’s largest real estate firm. No big deal, you might say? Well, consider that this month while other cities are celebrating Oktoberfest, Moorpark will be hosting “Developerfest.” That’s right, this city will be deciding on the single largest project (Messenger/Hidden Creek) in the county’s history, worth over $1 billion.

Rodgers-Teasley’s record speaks for itself. In 1995, she acted as a consultant to Paul Bollinger by performing a market analysis of his development, which was later used in a prospectus to lure investors via the Internet. In 1996, as a council member, she not only voted for his ill-fated project, but lobbied hard in the process.

Also, you may have noticed Rodgers-Teasley’s photo on a real estate sign placed on a particular downtown building awhile back. While standing to reap financial gain, she voted for redevelopment funds that benefited this building. To quote PBS’ Mr. Rogers, “Can you say ‘conflict of interest’?”

All I say is our Chamber of Concrete (sorry, Commerce) put its money on the right horse.

Whoever the winners were in last year’s election, they most certainly were not the citizens of Moorpark.

ROGER MORTARA

Moorpark

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Currently before the Moorpark City Council for approval is the largest residential development in Ventura County’s history, worth over $1 billion.

The land in question includes Happy Camp Regional Park. This property contains a small watershed and is the habitat for a bear, golden eagles, owls, bats, roadrunners, hawks, condors, coyotes, rabbits and numerous small prey, and is a layover point for American bald eagles migrating from Lake Cachuma. It is also the natural ecological barrier between our city and the cities north of us.

I mention the ecological barrier because I firmly believe these, like the rain forests, are essential to the environment.

Our planet is threatened by rupture of the ozone layer, and global warming. Forests and other natural open spaces are the healing cushions between cities, the places where the Earth regenerates, absorbs carbon dioxide and maintains ecological balances.

It’s been so easy for people to allow cities to be just as disposable as their trash. First, residents of small towns like Moorpark are lured in by the building of shopping conveniences. But commercial growth drives residential growth, and the next thing you know, merchants are lobbying city governments for more residents to support their businesses, and new housing projects are consuming open space, running city up against city. Then people want to move away because the area has become over-crowded, polluted, crime-ridden. I’ll bet most residents of Ventura County moved here to escape urban sprawl in Los Angeles County. They move here for the open space, clean air and low crime rate. But these attributes are rapidly disappearing.

Please join me and other concerned citizens at the public hearings to discuss the Hidden Creek Ranch project on Wednesday and Oct. 22 and 29 at City Hall. A rally and teach-in will be held in the park next to the library from 6 to 7 p.m. Bring your family and a picnic dinner if you like. The hearings begin at 7 p.m.

For more information call the Environmental Action Hotline (800) 808-3989.

SUSIE ULMER

Moorpark

Ventura County Letters