City used deceit in preparing the wording for Measure H

City used deceit in preparing the wording for Measure H

On Jan. 10, 2002, regarding Measure H, Los Angeles Superior Court Judge David P. Yaffe took the highly unusual step of lambasting Agoura’s City Attorney Craig Steele, ruling: ". . . The opinion by the City Attorney is not impartial... [his] opinion is highly questionable and probably wrong."

Our city attorney made deliberate attempts to lie and mislead the residents of Agoura Hills!

Mr. Steele could not have done this without the prior knowledge and consent of the city council.

They have made numerous attempts to withhold information, mislead and thwart the interest of the voters.

This is a major violation of their duty and responsibility to us and, one would think, be grounds for the immediate resignation of Agoura’s city attorney and the entire city council.

The city council is obviously in Home Depot’s and the developer’s pockets.

Why else would they vehemently resist the overwhelming voice of the people?

The Acorn’s Jan. 17, 2002 article covering the judge’s order did not relay these important facts:

1. Citizens for Responsible Growth (CRG) is a grassroots organization comprised of small businesses and citizens of Agoura Hills.

You would not find over 500 residents volunteering their time, and donating their money, for a cause that is not of great concern to them personally.

Your leaving them out of the article is a slap in the face to those of us in the community who do not have vested interests in the Home Depot issue, and who care about the quality of our lives here.

2. (City Councilman) Dan Kuperberg filed a personal lawsuit in the Superior Court against his own constituents over Measure H, and his suit was summarily dismissed by the judge.

3. Who was paying for Mr. Kuperberg’s personal lawsuit against the residents of Agoura Hills?

I’ll bet it was Home Depot and the developer—the organizations against Measure H.

On March 5, vote yes on Measure H to preserve our semi-rural community and to keep the "big boxes" out.

Many communities have strong retail establishments, providing millions in tax revenue, without a single store being larger than 60,000 square feet.

We can do it too.

Michael Gallop

Agoura Hills