. . . No, it’s the Chamber’s fault





Congratulations to our new mayor, John Edelston, and to the mayor of 2007, Dan Kuperberg, on their overwhelming reelection last month. Agoura Hills remains in very steady and capable hands.

I would also like to comment on the Acorn’s editorial last week on the city’s “refusal” to fund our Chamber of Commerce. It was not a result of “personality conflicts” or “ego clashes.” In fact, the city subsidized the Chamber for many years when I served on the council when the Chamber was struggling to survive.

Each year at budget time, they would come to us with a request for an increase, often substantial. At the time that they made their last request, we asked thenChamber President Alex Soteras to open their books to the city to disclose how the taxypayer subsidy was being used.

Mr. Soteras and his board refused to do so in the face of repeated requests from City Manager Dave Adams over a period of many months. Given the Chamber’s unwillingness to provide any accountability to the city of how they were using these public funds, the council could not responsibly continue writing blank checks, and the subsidy was stopped.

I commend the City Council for forming a new business roundtable to work directly with local businesses. The membership of this committee is an impressive array of people and I am confident that it will be a very successful way for city government and our valued businesses to collaborate in keeping the Agoura Hills economy vibrant and our businesses successful. Louise Rishoff former Agoura Hills mayor


Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *