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.

While we do not always agree on the issues which come before the council, never have I felt that either Mayor Dennis Washburn or Councilmember Barry Groveman were influenced in their decision making by anything other than the desire to do what is in our community's best interests.

The important issues of the day are given full and fair public debate. Oftentimes there is unanimity among council members; sometimes there is not. But whatever the outcome of any particular vote, there has been a heightened level of collegiality that allows us to conduct the city's business in an atmosphere conducive to open debate of legitimate policy differences.

It is worth noting that among those items which have met with unanimous council approval are the Open Space Initiative, which passed with overwhelming support form Calabasas voters in 2005, and our long-standing open space acquisitions program.

Washburn and Groveman deserve reelection. James R. Bozajian Mayor pro tem, Calabasas