A job well done

In unanimously voting to help the Conejo Valley Unified School District renovate and improve the city’s three major public high schools’ stadiums to the tune of more than $3 million this week, the council showed visionary leadership.

The dollars that will be allocated to the project come from a fund fed by developer fees generated by the construction of Dos Vientos in Newbury Park. Because of that, a strong argument can and was made by many that the dollars should remain in Newbury Park to help mitigate the many impacts that neighbors suffers as the result of the construction of thousand of new homes.

However, this type of fund is not restricted to any specific area simply because they are generated in that area. They can be used for project anywhere in the city.

Newbury Park supporters came out in force asking for the money to renovate their sadly dilapidated stadium, and once the community-at-large knew about the money, and that it could be used anywhere in the city, supporters for Westlake and Thousand Oaks highs were soon clamoring for a share to fix their stadiums.

However, two councilpersons spoke wise and true by saying, one, that by helping all three schools, the community achieves a parity among its children, as they have equal facilities, and, second, that the action is a landmark for the city of Thousand Oaks, and that includes Newbury Park, Westlake and central Thousand Oaks. It is one city and must be served as such.

There are few other such global needs facing the community-at-large, so perhaps, the remainder of those fees can go to Newbury Park projects.

Perhaps.