The editorial in your Feb. 5 edition is irrational, irresponsible and absurd.

Each council member on the Thousand Oaks City Council is responsible for approving or disapproving expenditures in the city budget.

In the event you haven't noticed, the city, state and nation are in a major recession, and perhaps a depression. You attack Ms. Bill-de la Peña for opposing salary increases for the council several months ago and for opposing the greedy, phony travel expenses for Fox and his three "compadres" again for this year. You assert the travel is for "lobbying" on behalf of the city. Neither Fox, Gillette, Irwin or Glancy are registered lobbyists. None of them have brought in one dime to the city of Thousand Oaks. You should check your facts and stop writing the hot air on behalf of Fox and his three followers. In addition, Mitnick and the city attorney received fat pay raises a few months ago in the face of a continuing decline of revenue. It was payback for their loyalty to the "Big Four" after the improper firing of a city manager who had the nerve to stand up to Fox. We still do not know what it cost the city to bury this. Does the Acorn know? I doubt it.

Why don't you publish the annual salaries of the council members; healthcare costs, including lifetime healthcare after five years on the council, as pushed through by Fox; vehicle expenses, including free cars and gasoline; travel expenses; pension expenses; and all the rest?

At some point your relationship with Fox and his backers will be exposed, and the Acorn will go the way of Applebee's, Courtesy Chevrolet and the too many other businesses in this area that are going under.

At least they were legitimate.

And finally, Irwin states in your article she learned which energy drinks contain alcohol.

This took a trip to Washington, D.C.? She could have looked at the label in a store in Thousand Oaks. Ronald L. Hartman Thousand Oaks