City councilwoman revisits proposed annexation

I want to thank The Acorn for letting the community know that talks with L.A. about changing the Old Town jurisdiction from Los Angeles to Calabasas are continuing. The main motivation is historical. The Leonis Adobe is the birthplace of Calabasas and should have the ongoing protection for its unique educational services that only Calabasas will provide. Plus it is bizarre to have a border that separates Old Town along one edge of the sidewalk.

In fact, please invite all to attend the free Cultural Fair from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sat., Oct. 4 at the Leonis Adobe, 23537 Calabasas Road, Calabasas, put on by the city of Calabasas. There will be free museum tours, live music, chil-dren’s activities and more. Plus you get to see these awkward "city borders" for yourself.

After an extensive financial review by respected economists, we all learned last year that the net tax income to Los Angeles from the Adobe and its renter the Sagebrush Cantina totaled only under $30,000 per year. Hardly the "sales tax revenue goldmine" characterized by your news article.

Further, now that the state has taken away half the sales tax revenues from all cities, that amount drops even lower. The article also carried unfounded fears of huge sheriff costs to Calabasas if this change took place, without counting that Calabasas already serves all traffic needs along that road, answers police service calls from those properties and that the Sagebrush Cantina has its own on-site security services. Another mountain over a molehill.

L.A. Councilman Zine has consistently been gracious and open to discussion, in fact laying the basis for a "revenue neutral" swap.

I enjoyed my meetings with him last year as mayor and a few months ago. The details need working out in a constructive manner which I am confident our present mayor can accomplish.

All we really need is a cohesive community that has the will to put our historical roots and area back together again.

Lesley Devine,

Councilmember

City of Calabasas