Article about

Farmers’ Market was biased

The article announcing the impending return of the Calabasas Farmers’ Market to Old Town is not a balanced "news" report about that issue. It reads more like a press release from Calabasas City Councilman Groveman. He’s a strong proponent for his point of view but not an unbiased source.

Consider speaking with Phyliss Power, the market manager; with the licensing authority; and with some regular participants in the market.

I do a volunteer project at the market and have known Power for the past 10 years (but I am neither involved in the market management nor am I spokesperson for the volunteer group). Power must be heartbroken by this turn of events and may rightly feel slandered by the article. I have enjoyed working with her and am angry at the treatment she’s getting from the city council. I hope all interested Calabasas shoppers and voters will ask questions about it.

Power co-founded and has co-managed the market for eleven years. She was also the director of the Leonis Adobe. She’s received civic awards for that, and recognition in The Acorn.

She is an involved community member, though not a resident of Calabasas. I doubt the market is a big moneymaker. I’ve filled in for her to collect the money Groveman expressed concern about and I know it to be small amounts. The market didn’t pay rent but had expenses.

Please print a balanced article presenting points of view in addition to those of Groveman. He and Councilman Harrison had no prior involvement with the market but suddenly developed an interest. They have made statements at open meetings of the city council that I was shocked to hear. They didn’t consult with the current market managers and apparently said they didn’t have to.

My inference is that the new owner of the Old Town property requested and has been granted a political favor. That’s probably not illegal, but it is news and would be good for the community to know.

Sue Carpenter

Calabasas

The Acorn stands by its stories that said: (1) the Calabasas Farmers’ Market was calling itself nonprofit but couldn’t provide a state license to prove it, (2) the market operated without insurance for eight months, (3) the city reopened the market last Saturday back in Old Town under new management. The only article that we intend to run is in today’s issue about the market reopening in Old Town. It’s on page 8 if you’re interested.