Candidate Sides With Area on ZIP Code

Brad Sherman is the first to say that he is no postal expert.

But Sherman, a Democrat vying with Republican Richard Sybert for the 24th Congressional District seat that includes eastern Ventura County, does know a thing or two about taxes.

That is why the Sherman Oaks resident, an elected member of the state Board of Equalization, has decided to intervene in the 30-year struggle of Oak Park residents to obtain their own ZIP code.

At Sherman’s urging, the Board of Equalization has unanimously passed a resolution asking the U.S. Postal Service to reconsider giving the unincorporated Ventura County community its own ZIP code.

According to the resolution, since Oak Park shares a ZIP code with Agoura Hills, confusion over whether the area is in Ventura or Los Angeles county has affected the collection of sales taxes, among other things.

“The object is to get the post office to focus on how important a ZIP code is to a community for reasons other than the mail,” Sherman said. “Whether it is tax reasons or insurance rates, it affects people in many ways.

For example, Sherman pointed out, Oak Park residents have long complained of higher insurance rates because they share a ZIP code with Los Angeles County. And 911 service has sometimes been problematic, he said.

Both candidates have jumped on the Oak Park ZIP code issue. Sybert announced earlier this year that because of his efforts, the Postal Service had agreed to send a form letter to the area’s 5,687 households and businesses. The letter was intended to help persuade insurance companies, mail-order firms and others that Oak Park residents really do live in Ventura County.

But postal officials said Sybert did not deserve all the credit: Many other people--especially Rep. Anthony C. Beilenson (D-Woodland Hills), who soon retires from the 24th District seat--had previously raised the same point.