How can one insist local residents "Buy Local" at The Oaks when an ill attempt to utilize local contractors has been demonstrated?

Close associates, as well as my dump truck service, Servant Trucking, were contracted to perform services for the Simi Valley Town Center. Neither I nor any of my colleagues have been requested to assist with the remodel on The Oaks.

So why should we "Buy Local"? Out of loyalty and appreciation, I feelcompelled to purchase merchandise from the Simi Valley Town Center.

It's my opinion that developers of The Oaks have demonstrated two things:

•They may feel that local contractors are incompetent.

•They also may be strictly influenced by greed and award the company with the lowest bid.

So where's all the money going? Places like La Habra, Los Angeles, Orange County and Sun Valley. Is it coming back? I'll let you decide.

This campaign should be two-dimensional. One would be to encourage our community to "Buy Local," and the second should be to "contract local" so that we will once again flourish. Ryan Jones Thousand Oaks