The Thousand Oaks Acorn in its Feb. 5 editorial about council member travel, resorted to the politics of character assassination.

The Acorn viciously attacked me for my proposal to reduce- yes, reduce- the travel costs of council members, in order to help close a significant budget gap.

The Acorn was equally outraged over my repeated suggestion that council members not vote themselves a raise again, describing my proposals as a pure political ploy. How dare I do this to the mighty council majority!

The Acorn may not be aware that the city is facing a growing $3.2-million budget gap.

Recommendations discussed at a recent council meeting included staff salary and hiring freezes, furloughs, cuts in services, such as street cleaning and library hours.

Attending conferences and taking lobbying trips is helpful. I never stated otherwise.

However, I think it not unreasonable to curtail travel costs- send no more than two council members- and freeze council salaries, before taking other drastic measures.

Such actions would send a message to city staff and taxpayers that your elected officials are willing to share in the belttightening. Our nation is experiencing painful economic times, and even Thousand Oaks cannot escape this dire reality.

This is certainly no time for political grandstanding. Any suggestions to the contrary are disingenuous and unproductive. Claudia Bill-de la Peña Thousand Oaks Bill-de la Peñais a Thousand Oaks City Council member.