Judge not on words, but actions

Since all 12 candidates running for City Council say they are opposed to Ahmanson Ranch, judge not on their words, judge on their actions. Candidate Dan Del Campo got elected in 1998 saying he thought the city was wasting tax dollars and overdeveloping. Now he’s changed his stripes and compounded the problem.

Mrs. Del Campo, who is running for re-election to the school board, takes all the developer contributions for this husband-and-wife team, including from an Ahmanson Ranch lobbyist. Of course Gillette and Hoffman have also taken money from Ahmanson Ranch lobbyists.

Then there is Mr. Fox, who claims to take no developer money, but actually has taken from a half dozen developers, including the developer of the hotel shopping center project in Newbury Park that Councilman Fox supported. (Editor’s note: According to Fox, contributions identified as coming from these sources were returned.) Most of Fox’s developer and cell-antenna company contributions, however, are funneled into Fox’s charitable fund, including contributions from Rick Caruso who got city tax dollars and free land to build a Cineplex next to City Hall. When councilmembers get their hands dirty with money from those for whom they approve development projects we all have a right to be concerned.

Now is the time to do something about it. Vote November 5 for the Certified Slow Growth team of Farris, Wilson, Custodio and Bill-de la Peña, the only candidates endorsed by the Sierra Club.

Thomas Gregory

Thousand Oaks