No secret meetings with Harrison

It has been alleged by Fred Gaines and others that "secret talks" took place between myself and Michael Harrison regarding a new community theater. No such talks ever took place.

Mr. Harrison serves on the Civic Center Task Force, which last October had been deliberating the issue of how to include a multipurpose theater space in the back of the new library building.

It was the task force that came up with the idea to pull the theater element out of the civic center time line, and offer a site adjacent to the center for a community performance playhouse.

Mayor Harrison telephoned to inform me of the task force idea, to see if it was something for which our group, Spotlight the Arts, might wish to raise funds. We jumped at the chance, and the city council has supported our efforts unanimously ever since.

The article in last week’s Acorn did not state the source of Mr. Gaines’ information regarding the alleged "secret talks," perhaps because Mr. Gaines did not disclose the source himself. We think he should.

I am disappointed that a handful of Calabasas citizens have taken something so positive as the creation of a community playhouse, and created a negative spin for apparent political purposes without due regard for the facts.

Some would rather call into question the dedicated efforts of honest, well-intentioned citizens than address important city issues such as traffic and overdevelopment.

Toby Keeler

Calabasas Spotlight the Arts