Grassroots movement wins

The Westlake Village voters have defeated the Lowe's-sponsored Measure Z. The grassroots movement mobilized public opinion to defeat the corporate giant.

Although both sides employed PR firms and young, non-resident flier deliverers, the "no" side was blessed with a small group of dedicated, unpaid residents who tirelessly walked door-to-door offering help to voters who were confused from the conflicting spin each side placed on their weekly postcards and ads.

Throughout October these "undecideds" were engaged daily by Mayor Pro Tem Jim Bruno, Jon Greenspan, Cheryl Tabbi, Mike Edelstein, Barbara Erickson, Ray and Carol Kirschbaum, Ladan and Ila Najad and myself.

Although many voters were able to independently evaluate the proposal, the undecideds heard and felt our passionate commitment to the community as well as the likely impact of the two options on them. This is what I believe caused the 368-vote victory margin.

Passionate grassroots movements should always be respected as a powerful aegis to overcome the temptation to cave in to the cynicism that big corporate money will always prevail.

So how do we move forward?

Ironically, both sides want many of the same things. We both want "upscale restaurants and shops." The voters simply believed that this was more likely in a business park than a Lowe's parking lot.

Our City Council will be speaking with the developers to whom the Lowe's corporation sells the land. Tell them what you want. They just may be able to negotiate with the developers to provide it. Robert Fox Azzarello Westlake Village