Did you know that the Thousand Oaks City Council spent $40,000 of our taxes on outside consultants for a citywide survey to discover the obvious? That the majority of residents don’t want mixed-use development or fourand five-story buildings on T.O. Boulevard.

Anyone could have told them for free that people don’t like change, especially sweeping change which could transform our little slice of heaven into yet another extension of Los Angeles metro with more traffic and crime.

If we wanted to live in L.A. we would.

Why wasn’t this survey done in-house by city staff like it’s historically been done?

Here’s the answer:

Everyone knows that the City Council––Claudia Bill-de la Pena excluded––and city manager are hellbent on growth. They wanted a survey which showed public support for mixed-use development, but they would’ve been charged with fraud if an in-house survey said so. So they rolled the dice with an outside survey.

The council rolled snake eyes. Residents don’t want what they want. So what will the council do now?

No problem, the consultants gave them the answer. Without providing any specifics or proof, the consultants said that residents support development projects when they’re provided with detailed plans unlike the vague survey questions. Bingo! A couple of sparsely attended public meetings should do it.

With a few cronies and good ol’ boys, they’ll easily get “public support.” It’s the same tired old game plan that corrupt politicians use over and over. Honest politicians act differently.

Before the city considers transforming T.O. Boulevard into “San Fernando Valley West,” it should formally survey the residents with detailed development plans and then act accordingly.

Now that survey might be worth $40,000. John Fonti Thousand Oaks