The way last month's Home Depot planning commission decision has been described just isn't accurate. I was there for the long haul with over 40 of my fellow neighbors who also welcome this new Home Depot to our community. The facts don't lie. We're in the middle of an unprecedented time of economic crises.

Why is a self-serving opposition getting away with wasting the city's time and resources?

Why are they waging a frivolous campaign to prevent a viable company- Home Depot- from opening its doors for business in Thousand Oaks? Why are they tarnishing this city's reputation as one that's unfriendly to competition? What businessman in his right mind is going to want to embark on opening doors in Thousand Oaks after seeing what Home Depot went through over the last four years?

Four years. Four years of our top-notch city staff poring over piles and piles of data and letters, four years of a vacant site sitting there rotting with zero value for Thousand Oaks. If the city turns this plan down, who's to say they won't be tempted to ask taxpayers to foot the bill to fill a funding gap that could arise from looming deficits?

The people of Thousand Oaks should face the fact: We're in a recession, and the tax dollars generated by a new Home Depot will help keep many of the programs which are being eliminated in our schools. It's time for the NIMBYs (Not In My Back Yard) to take a look at the facts and for the city to allow Home Depot to open for business in Thousand Oaks. Ann Marie Flynn Westlake Village