Calabasas conflict

It was extremely disturbing to read in The Acorn last week of the intent of the entire Calabasas City Council to approve by 5-0 a loan, or grant to each top city staff member of $150,000 toward the purchase of a house in Calabasas to be forgiven if the member is on the payroll after four years.

The justification of such a questionable benefit, given that housing is expensive in Calabasas, was stated to be that in case of an emergency the staff person would be available.

There seems to be a conflict of interest in the position of the City Council, in effect buying good behavior of top city staff members with a promise of $150,000 to each as long as a staff member remains in the proper graces of the City Council and does not offend or is otherwise so displeasing that the City Council terminates the staff member prior to four years service.

The proposed City Council action undermines the independent judgment of city staff members with respect to their duties and substitutes a "do as we like and we will pay you off" management style which discredits both the City Council and the city staff officials who would be involved.

Money sometimes has an unpleasant and unhealthy influence which should not be structured or incorporated into a standard payoff for cooperation in the administration of our Calabasas city government to the benefit of a few individuals.

Such a proposal has been recognized as graft in the past and is an outrageous and unacceptable misuse of the public trust by the City Council.

There are many uses for funds by the City Council which would not be viewed as a betrayal of accountability or compromising or an unnecessary and extraordinary indulgence which in this case, if put to the voters, would certainly not be supported.
Leon Koziewicz
Calabasas