In bold headlines, the Acorn proclaimed, “Good riddance” to 2009. Quite the contrary, 2009 was a banner year for residents of Thousand Oaks!

The front page article wasn’t news; it was an editorial, lamenting the fiscal shortfall to the city of Thousand Oaks. In a positive sense, the residents of Conejo Valley may rejoice that circumstances awakened the City Council to the realities of budgetary responsibility.

For their failure to satiate an appetite for carefree spending, city officials and employees may not receive anticipated pay hikes this year. What a shame.

Auto dealers and other merchants succumbed to the laws of natural selection in the Darwinian marketplace. Budding projects were placed on hold. Home Depot wasn’t defeated; it withdrew its bid for economic concerns. Expect their return when retail prospects renew. Most businesses remained afloat; some prospered, while new enterprises joined the community. Hope springs eternal. It’s the American way.

An “endangered plant” wasn’t responsible for legal obstacles encountered by Conejo Recreation and Park District. Local residents prevailed in a Ventura superior court decision which declared CRPD was in violation of environmental laws and failure to comply with the city’s general plan.

Outside financial interests attempted an end run around the citizens. The City Council compounded the crime by contributing $5 million to support the malfeasance of bureaucrats succumbing to greedy intruders. Even a diehard baseball fan cries “foul” when Little League demands lighted facilities in a residential neighborhood at taxpayer expense.

Casualties of 2009 were Conejo students and educators. Children, our national treasure, deserve better. Instead of pumping $5 million into CRPD’s grandiose concrete sports jungle, our money should be spent on education. Caring people don’t close schools to pay for Little League. Twelve-year-olds belong home at night, not playing baseball.

The victors last season were residents of Conejo Valley and the natural habitat.

To paraphrase American folk hero Davy Crockett, we have the bluest skies, greenest hills and happiest smiles this side of the Mississippi. Despite cyclical financial hiccups, this is paradise.

We live in Dreamland; let’s keep it that way!
Jeffrey L. Wissot
Westlake Village