Municipal Endorsements

* Re “City Endorsements,” Ventura County editorial, Oct. 29.

Your Thousand Oaks City Council endorsement was disenchanting. Surely you recognize that, even if our city is “within a few thousand homes of its intended maximum,” many of those few thousand homes represent a threat to our remaining open space.

Apparently you have forgotten that the City Council majority, including Mike Markey, has in the past conveniently amended the General Plan to suit its development proclivities. It is quite capable of doing so again, leaving the fear of growth very much a current issue now and for at least the next four years.

Councilwoman Linda Parks has also, like Dan Del Campo, suggested “creative ways to increase the city’s endowment of open space while providing the homes needed by a growing population,” but has maintained the position of not providing homes to the point of compromising our open space.

Because of the fine quality of life in Thousand Oaks, one may easily predict that ultimately more people will want to live here than our available space can support. This eventually must be solved by their finding homes elsewhere, not by reducing our open space until we become another Valley disaster.

Ed Masry has indicated his support for Parks’ positions, and they both deserve our wholehearted support. Without their presence on the City Council, we stand to lose a great deal, including much of our remaining open space.

JOAN A. ISSARI

Thousand Oaks

*

I have never been questioned by the editorial board of The Times regarding “the Wall” in Port Hueneme.

If I had, I could have assured you that I have addressed the Surfside One homeowners’ annual meeting in 1999 and 2000, specifically to address the wall. I have been in contact with many of my constituents living at the beach and discussed the wall more than once.

I have earned regional and statewide recognition for my work in solid waste, and water and storm water runoff.

I have done all of this to inform staff of what is happening so they don’t have to wait for the sword of Damocles to fall upon their heads.

TONI YOUNG

City Council member,

Port Hueneme