Review Lowe's

I watched the Westlake Village City Council debate the viability of the Lowe's initiative on public access television with rapt interest.

I have closely followed the progress of this development and was relieved when the 2-2 council vote meant the issue was put to rest. When the bubbly young woman came strolling down my street with an opportunity for me to participate in local government by putting an initiative on the ballot, I agreed to sign. A few weeks later, another, even perkier young woman came to my door to thank me for being a supporter of the Lowe's project. That's when I realized, I was duped. I informed Miss Sparkle that under no circumstances was I a supporter of the development, but of the initiative process.

Unfortunately, as is often the case with initiatives, the public is rarely informed about who is backing it.

Land use issues should only be brought to citizen vote if they are informed about the pros and cons about a particular development.

If Mark Rutherford and Philippa Klessig get their way, and the city attorney does not review this initiative and report on its future impact to this city, then they should be voted out of office.

Every resident of Westlake Village must inform themselves on this development in our community. We are quickly losing the village part of our name. Soon we will look like just another ho-hum suburban community, sold out to developers for a few extra bucks in our city coffers.

What a terrible shame. Valerie Herman-Rodriguez Westlake Village