Silent majority speaks out





The recent Acorn editorial of Aug. 25, “The Silent Majority,” is journalistic myopia. Although a majority of the citizens of Westlake Village should and will oppose the Lowe’s development, we don’t oppose our city council members as individuals or as a collective body. It’s possible to hold in high esteem a group of representatives and, from time to time, disagree with their collective or individual judgment.

The Lowe’s issue goes far beyond the normal running of Westlake Village affairs. We entrust our city council to act on our behalf and they are responsible, caring individuals. However, the Lowe’s development will change the face of our village forever. Therefore, we the citizens deserve full disclosure, an active opportunity for debate and the right to call for a special vote. The fact that we have never used a referendum neither lessens our right nor diminishes the council’s competency. One might even look at it as the equitable thing to do, as we are all neighbors.

We do not need a development of this type in our village. It will not add to the quality of our daily life. We would all like to have more tax revenue for special projects, but we are not in a fiscal crisis. In fact, we are running a surplus. I’m searching for other cities of our stature that have allowed Lowe’s to build a home improvement center of this type. How about showing us the Lowe’s in Laguna or Del Mar or Beverly Hills or Pacific Palisades or Montecito?

Then there is Costco. Those who favor the massive Lowe’s development never tire of telling us how great Costco is. This reminds me of my old dog Jack. Jack lost an argument with a truck one day and ended up with three legs. Everyone told us how he had adapted and it didn’t seem to bother him at all. I always thought he would have been happier with four legs.

Let’s hear how most Westlake Villagers feel about adapting to a massive 168,000-square-foot Lowe’s and a dubious inducement from the developer of several restaurants.

It’s now up to the city council to publish dates for citizen input and for all of us to come prepared for logical discussion. Alan Cordover Westlake Village High on Lowe’s

My wife and I are extremely confused as to your “The Silent Majority” editorial in last week’s paper. What makes you the jury as to the Silent Majority thinking?

The Lowe’s project is a great addition to the community. It will reduce the travel by over 50 percent for all the Oak Park, Agoura, Thousand Oaks residents to a high quality and very price-efficient home materials store.

Why are you representing only the anti-efficient side of the story?

You need to recognize the huge advantage and benefits of this Lowe’s facility to the community benefit and stop representing the one-sided “Do-it-Center” mentality that advertises in your paper.

The Lowe’s project is a great addition to the community that will provide the residents an excellent local service to us as residents and for employment and tax opportunities. Dick and Joan Venn Oak Park


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