We kept control
of our city

I’m baffled by the "No on Measure H" proponents’ slogan "Don’t Lose Control of Your City." How do you lose control of a city by allowing her residents to make a decision? You don’t. That is the way to found a city—just ask the founders of Agoura Hills.

While studying for my master’s degree in urban and regional planning, I read the books of many planning theorists.

One theorist highly praised by my professors was Bruce W. McClendon. In his book titled "Customer Service: A New Philosophy Towards Effective City Planning," McClendon spoke about planning as part of a political process, a process that entailed a shift from a representative democracy (i.e., city council, county board of supervisors) to a participatory, collaborative democracy (i.e., Citizens for Responsible Growth, residents seeking to incorporate).

The public should be the primary arbitrator of what constitutes the public interest, stressed McClendon.

Our city founders appeared to have embraced McClendon’s philosophy. Disgusted by the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors’ total disregard of the interests (i.e., local control over development decisions) of the public in Agoura, Agoura residents sought incorporation. Dec. 8, 2002 will be Agoura Hills’ 20th anniversary––20 years of keeping control of our city––20 years of making decisions about the destiny of Agoura Hills and of our own lives.

Laurie Gooch

Agoura Hills