Alternative to Commercial Complex

Re “Council OKs Office, Shopping Complex,” Feb. 17.

What Thousand Oaks doesn’t need is another cineplex and shopping mall planned to occupy the publicly owned acreage adjoining the Civic Arts Plaza. There are already thousands of seats for moviegoers in and around Thousand Oaks and plenty of stores and restaurants to serve community needs.

What the city badly needs is more recreational facilities for our young people. A sports mall with a bowling alley, a stadium and a public pool would be far better than another consumerist trap.

Instead of accommodating developers and merchants this time, the City Council needs to consider the benefits of increased sports and recreational facilities. Thousand Oaks is very considerate of its seniors. Now the same consideration should focus on providing healthy, wholesome environments for our youths. There can’t be any better investment than this!

It is outrageous that even now the City Council balks at updating the only public swimming pool in Thousand Oaks where many youngsters have learned to swim, while continuing to spend more thousands of dollars trying to correct the despised “artwork” on the Civic Center Plaza that should be removed and recycled. Money always seems to be available for such boondoggles.

It all comes down to priorities: Should our tax dollars be spent to improve the quality of life in Thousand Oaks? Or should we continue to permit our representatives on the City Council to turn our city into one big merchandise mart?

Contact City Council members now (449-2121). If you don’t contact them to express your demands, whose fault is it?

MIRIAM JAFFE

Thousand Oaks