Theater issue takes the spotlight
      In order to set the record straight in response to the letter written in The Acorn on Feb. 22. Spotlight The Arts Board would like to inform the community that neither Toby Keeler nor Spotlight The Arts Foundation ever asked the city of Calabasas to fund $10 million to build a "community theater.
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One developer speaks out
      I am a developer who works and resides in the city of Calabasas. I am extremely resentful that Toby Keeler has chosen to hinge his campaign strategy on vilifying me and my colleagues. Every development goes through a process; the end result is always a compromise between owner and neighbors. It is never one-sided.
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Quality of life undermined
      The current Calabasas City Council has allowed a pattern of development that has seriously eroded the quality of life for us in the Calabasas highlands. Its willingness to approve any project, no matter how unsuitable for our rural community, is unconscionable.
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Let the record show
      As a longtime member and three-term chairperson of the Calabasas Planning Commission, I have been disturbed by serious misstatements of fact made in the City Council race. I want to set the record straight. Toby Keeler criticizes the current City Council for the Shea Homes project on Las Virgenes Road, calling it an "urban blight.
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Let the record show, part 2
      Toby Keeler can't seem to keep his stories straight. He accuses the Calabasas City Council of defacing our scenic hillsides with inappropriate developments. He cites the Shea Homes project on Las Virgenes Road as a prime example of the "urban blight" our city never should have approved.
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Due diligence?
      The Shea Homes project concept approved so long ago was approved because it was a far better alternative to the big box commercial development that was initially proposed. The development that got built, however, is very different from what was initially approved. It's not just what was built though; it's how poorly the construction was supervised by the city.
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Bozajian speaks
      Some campaign materials generated by the challengers in this year's Calabasas municipal election charge that the current City Council is beholden to developers and unprotective of the city's natural resources. There have also been implications that the Council votes in lock-step with little debate and without regard to its constituents' needs. These assertions are untrue.
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A final word about Shea Homes
      As a former member of the Calabasas Planning Commission, I wish to clarify certain misinformation surrounding the 2001 approval of the Shea Homes development on Las Virgenes Road.
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. . . And another thing about Shea Homes
      I chuckled when I read the letters in last week's Acorn from the Calabasas "environmental community" praising the deeds of candidate Toby Keeler. While Mr. Keeler served on the planning commission twice, it should be noted that he was not reappointed by two different councils when he applied. Why?
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Incumbents, yes
      Watching from the sidelines, it is interesting to see the exaggerated claims and promises of those who wish to replace Barry Groveman and Dennis Washburn on the Calabasas City Council. As is typical of so many challengers, their rhetoric may be strong but their track record is weak.
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Likes Groveman
      While Barry Groveman was mayor, the city of Calabasas passed Measure D. It allows the citizens of our city to have the final say in keeping or losing open space. That's what I call listening to the public. If you really care about open space, traffic, schools and financial stability to this city, reelect Barry Groveman.
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Barry Groveman, Dennis Washburn
      I have never been prouder to be a resident of Calabasas. Barry Groveman and Dennis Washburn and our other City Council members put on the ballot the successful initiative to permanently protect open space in Calabasas. They also followed the lead of UCLA and have banned the toxic polystyrene "to go" containers that pollute our streams, creeks and local beaches.
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Candidate respects historical vision
      For those of you who don't yet have a favorite candidate for March 6 election for Calabasas City Council, do this: Go to the Albertsons parking lot on Agoura Road and Las Virgenes and look toward the freeway. You'll see a large canister very high up on the ridgeline. This is a sure sign of something ugly to come.
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Consider city's General Plan
      When the tenets of our General Plan are being ignored, when a campaigning City Council member takes thousands of dollars from developers, when the City Council member claiming to be the one to solve our traffic problems goes out of his way to support a proposed 750-student private
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SOS for Keeler
      Save Open Space/Santa Monica Mountains endorses Toby Keeler for Calabasas City Council. Toby Keeler has been an advocate for the residents and the Santa Monica Mountains for many years.
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Vote for Keeler
      I have been a longtime resident in Calabasas. I have been a big supporter of preserving the natural beauty of Calabasas. I have participated in the growth of the arts in the community. I have attended City Council meetings on several occasions.
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Endorsement is under question
      Fred Gaines appears to be blissfully ignorant of the fact that the express purpose of Spotlight the Arts, a nonprofit organization, is dedicated to bringing a performing arts venue here by raising necessary funds through private means, not
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Need Keeler on City Council
      Last week's attempt at the candidates' forum to thread Toby Keeler, of all people in this city, to development is almost comical. Chances are that Toby had a hand in preserving the open space in your neighborhood or unfettered ridgeline or a hundred other things that you have come to appreciate and admire about this city.
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Voter grateful for Groveman and Washburn
      I am pleased to endorse Barry Groveman and Dennis Washburn to be reelected to the City Council. Both men have made public service a priority. One example that stands out is when Barry and Dennis worked tirelessly to ensure not one home in Calabasas was destroyed during the wildfires that ravaged our hillsides for hundreds of miles.
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Spotlight on Toby Keeler
      Toby Keeler is here for the people of Calabasas. For years, Toby has immersed himself in matters of importance concerning Calabasas. Having volunteered countless hours serving our community in many different capacities, Toby has had plentiful opportunities to interact with the people of Calabasas.
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Keeler for City Council
      I am so glad Toby Keeler is running for City Council. We now have the chance to restore the ideals of nature to the city, ideals which have in the past set us apart and made us unique. Toby will be our soaring hawk, advocating once again for clean water, clean air, parklands and peace.
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Challenge the incumbents
      I am delighted to see a serious challenge to Barry Groveman's efforts to be reelected to Calabasas City Council. I was an early supporter of Groveman, but was totally turned off by the draconian, antismoking ordinance he promoted, which in my opinion was of the sole purpose of garnering media attention to his ill-fated run for state office.
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Costly campaigner
      Barry Groveman's a professional politician whose campaign slogan "promised and delivered" should make voters think twice about supporting him. The questions it raises are "promised to whom?" and "delivered what?" Barry Groveman has changed the way our city is run and not for the better.
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