Masry, Parks

* I support Ed Masry and Linda Parks for election to the Thousand Oaks City Council and here are my reasons why:

This is a watershed election. As the city approaches build-out, it becomes critical to have council members who will vigorously protect the quality of life we all enjoy in Thousand Oaks. That means reining in developers, strengthening ridgeline protection, acquiring more open space before it is all gone and generally slowing down growth and development.

In Masry and Parks, we have two candidates who will be vigilant in protecting our quality of life by ensuring that the proper steps are taken to protect our open space, ridgelines and ancient oaks and to prevent any last-minute unplanned or ill-advised development.

The other candidates appear to be decent and well-intentioned people who want to serve the city. However, only Masry and Parks have the vision, fortitude and focus to help guide the city through this critical period.

We all love Thousand Oaks and feel it is the best city in Ventura County. We can keep it that way by voting for Masry and Parks on Nov. 7.

JOYCE CLAIRE OSMENT

Thousand Oaks

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Do we really want someone with no local community involvement to buy a seat on the Thousand Oaks City Council?

I have received several slick fliers praising Masry. They cost big bucks. But take a minute to read them. Lots of food for his apparently mega ego but no statement of community involvement or evidence of schooling in this community’s needs. In fact, I read that he’s lived here only four years.

Candidate Masry’s main theme seems to be that developers fear him. So what? I’d rather have a concerned councilperson who can and will work with all interest groups in our city.

The planned residential capacity of Thousand Oaks is about 50,000 units, of which more than 90% have been built. The proposed housing element update projects about 500 more per year to achieve 100% build-out in 10 years. Compare this to the average growth of about 1,300 units per year over the past 35 years.

This reduced rate of growth is tightly monitored by our City Council and general plan and further restricted by Measure A, which says you can’t increase development somewhere without reducing it somewhere else.

Moreover, many of the 5,000 units yet to be built are already the subject of specific plans and development agreements, which are binding contracts between the city and the landowner.

Does Masry intend to break those contracts and spend our tax dollars on frivolous litigation? Or is he simply a late arrival at the station, shouting for a train that is already far down the tracks on a safe, well-planned journey?

DAVID GOLDBERG

Westlake Village

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I have worked closely with Masry for 10 years and have witnessed firsthand his dedication to helping those in need. His high ethical standards and sincere caring for others have been inspirational. He helped me and my family in so many ways, from taking me to the supermarket and buying us groceries to hiring me and giving me the support to pursue my career.

He has a very close relationship with his wife, children and grandchildren because Ed’s first priority is his family. Even in the workplace we feel like part of his family.

He is not your average attorney. He is a compassionate and generous man. Thousand Oaks would be lucky to have such a fine man join slow-growth Councilwoman Parks in representing its residents.

ERIN BROCKOVICH

Westlake Village