CPO conflicts cost credibility
4-23
To the editor:
I read in amazement Debra Benci-Woodward's letter to the OVN
(April19). The appearance of a significant conflict of interest
from her letter is manifest. What motivation would the Mr. Ivor
Benci-Woodward-led CPO have to stop suing the city of Ojai when
his wife pockets $20 grand? Why would the CPO stop suing now,
if these legal actions so personally benefit the Benci-Woodward
household?
The CPO presents itself as representing the slow-growth activists.
One was always under the impression that the legal-eagle of the
CPO would be working pro-bono for the good of the community and
these wayward activists.
"Wayward" because the CPO sues to limit growth in this
city of 3.5 square miles which is already the slowest-growing
city in the state - a city which has grown only 3/10ths of 1
percent in 10 years! A city of 8,000, in a valley of approximately
35,000, whose unincorporated area is growing at a rate of 6 percent
in the last decade. Their legal efforts should be focused where
the remedy can take place, which is with Ventura County, the
proper governmental entity that represents the unincorporated
area of the Ojai Valley, not the non-growing city of Ojai.
How can one trust an organization's motives when the leadership
so personally benefits?
But redemption of credibility is always possible.
I call on Ms. Benci-Woodward to donate her fees to the Ojai Valley
Land Conservancy. Better still, she could donate her fees to
support the planned upgrade of the trolley stops in order to
stimulate increased ridership of public transportation and fight
the traffic conditions she so protests. If this money stays in
the Benci-Woodward household, the apparent financial motivation
will be apparant for all to witness. The CPO has lost all credibility
as long as the people involve benefit so grandly.
Leland P. Hammerschmitt
Ojai
Movie star gets fame, fortune
4-23
To the editor:
You can all be reading about some interesting events in my life.
At nearly 74, what could they be? And why?
I have a Scandinavian blonde movie star, age 72 (she finally
is telling her right age), to thank, or curse, for it all.
Once upon a time two high school blondes were introduced to one
another. How little they knew their lives would lead a similar
path. Only one would overshadow the other with her life's achievements.
The blonde named Tippi would be a homecoming queen for their
high school (West High School, Minneapolis, Minn.).
Both girls would go to New York City to live and have careers.
One girl, me, would be a Spanish-English secretary in the Empire
State Building. The other girl would be a model, whose beautiful
face (even without makeup) would smile out at you from the pages
of all the top magazines.
So beautiful, she was courted by Hollywood to be the star of
Hitchcock's "The Birds." Tippi Hedren is who I am writing
about.
I ended up in Los Angeles, too, as the wife of a Standard Oil
executive, busy doing club work. See what I mean? Always overshadowed
by Tippi.
Years later, I became a busy model in Scottsdale, Ariz., a tearoom
model in the best restaurants and resorts. Not the fame and money
Tippi had, but always the same towns.
High school, New York City careers, a great career for Tippi
in Los Angeles, an interesting volunteer life for me. Overshadowed
once again.
Today, Tippi and I don't live too far apart. Tippi is in Acton,
Calif., with her large wild animal compound (many lions and tigers).
She is a well-known animal activist.
Me? I live in the Ojai Valley with my four domestic cats. It
was five before Midnight died. Tippi is still way ahead of me,
but we seem to live the same things. Only Tippi gets fame and
money.
Alright, today I read that Tippi got her second New York Film
Society acting award. Well, I got my sixth Ojai Valley Woman's
Club creative writing award. I'm still overshadowed, aren't I?
OK, Tippi has three film acting roles to choose between, I just
rejoined the Ojai Republican Club.
Now the humdinger! Tippi, age 72, is going to marry a veterinarian.
I haven't had even a date since 1986. Also, I had one husband
only, I think this will be Tippi's fourth union.
Anyway, you guys out there. You only have to like cats to qualify.
And I have to keep getting writing awards. This puts a strain
on me, but history has me following in Tippi's footsteps.
The big question: Tippi, when are you going to rest? I'm tired!
Anne Youndale
Oak View
P.S.: I'm going outside now to feed the birds. "The Birds"
fed Tippi, I feed the "birds."
Poisoned water causes concern
4-24
To the editor:
MTBE in Casitas water - unbelievable! MBTE causes cancer! (Just
look at the gas pumps and see the warning signs!).
This is the drinking and bathing water for many residents in
the Ojai Valley and Ventura! This is the water that we irrigate
our plants with. Nothing is going to happen to eliminate MBTE
in our drinking and bathing water until 2003 when MTBE is taken
out of gas - if it is taken out of gas!
They say that no boats with MBTE gas will be allowed on the lake.
Where can you buy MTBE-free gas? Even if they supply it at the
lake, if someone comes with a full tank, how can they tell if
it has MTBE in it or not?
I am not thrilled about having gasoline in the drinking and bathing
water with or without MTBE! Why should boats using gasoline be
allowed to ride around in our drinking and bathing water? Could
it be the revenue?
Is that more important than the health and well-being of the
people who live here? We cannot live without water. If it is
so poisoned that we can't drink it or bathe in it or water our
gardens with it, what will we do? Are we all just going to sit
there and be poisoned? What shall we all do?
Alice Matzkin
Ojai
Travel agency earns stripes
4-29
To the editor:
I would like to give a major thanks to the folks at Topa Topa
Travel.
My son is a lance corporal in the United States Marine Corps.
He is currently stationed in North Carolina at Camp Lejuene.
In the past two months, he has called home telling me that he
has been granted leave. Twice that leave has been canceled due
to the current world situation.
Twice now, the extraordinary folks at Topa Topa Travel have set
up travel flights for him. The first one was all set, and the
flight booked, when it had to be canceled. No problem for Topa
Topa Travel. The second time, we didn't even get through the
day and the flight had to be canceled. No problem again for those
great folks at Topa Topa Travel. One phone call took care of
everything
My son's battalion, the 3/8 Lima Company 2nd Marine Division,
is an anti-terrorist section; he is sure to be deployed before
long. Half of his battalion just returned from the Middle East.
Yet - I do not hesitate, should he call again, letting me know
"another" leave has been authorized, that Topa Topa
Travel will be able to take my call, and book yet another flight
for him.
I can't express enough the great service and understanding with
the folks at Topa Topa Travel. I will most certainly be looking
toward their expertise again, as soon as my son has his next
leave, hopefully before he is in the Middle East.
Ray Houle
Ojai
Statements show lack of awareness
4-20
To the editor:
This is in response to Richard T. Conrad's letter as it appeared
in the April 7 issue of the OVN concerning my guest editorial
in the March 20 issue of the OVN.
I agree with Mr. Conrad that the natural setting of Ojai is indeed
the environmental foundation of what has come to be known as
the "Ojai mystique," and that perhaps it was the "pink
moment" that prompted Edward Libbey to gift the people of
Ojai with the park, Arcade and Pergola.
I disagree with Mr. Conrad's apparent view that I believe the
Arcade, Pergola and post office constitute the entirety of the
Ojai mystique. Perhaps Mr. Conrad did not notice that I stated
in the very first paragraph of my guest editorial that "these
beautiful structures are portrayed in countless works of art,
and are extremely important parts of what has come to be known
as the Ojai mystique." To put it another way, they are
the public townscape component of the Ojai mystique; the part
that people are most intimate with. I might also add that I believe,
as Mr. Conrad states, the vast creativity that exists in a place
as special as Ojai" is another extremely important part
of the Ojai mystique.
Mr. Conrad's statements with regard to the Plaza Redevelopment
design seem to reveal a lack of understanding of what constitutes
meaningful environmental patterns despite his FAIA (Fellow of
the American Institute of Architects) title, and his having worked
with Zelma Wilson on the original Ojai Development Plan. For
example, he states "The courtyard was to be enclosed on
four sides by buildings, creating a more intimate space than
that existing today. Because the development of property is at
times a difficult enterprise, all the buildings envisioned around
the fountain (existing fountain) were not constructed. The plan
(the Plaza Redevelopment plan) reflects that reality and expands
the experience of the pedestrian in a linear fashion instead
of a confined courtyard." Further on Mr. Conrad states,
"The redevelopment area is primarily commercial and the
visitors are transitory in nature, traveling from one business
to another." From this kind of grandfatherly mental fluff
I surmise Mr. Conrad is equating the Arcade Plaza as just another
shopping mall instead of an integral part of historic Ojai in
which to leisurely imbibe the atmosphere of one of Southern California's
unique towns as well as shop and eat.
Mr. Conrad finds it hard to believe that interested residents
of Ojai did not provide comment on the proposed design.
Hard to believe or not the announcements for the public design
review meetings were so obscurely made that few people even knew
of their existence. This facilitated specification for removal
of the existing fountain during the final three months before
beginning of construction. Because of that nasty little maneuver
by city staff, and the posting of the proposed plan of the Plaza
Redevelopment design in the existing plaza area, more than 1,200
people gave their signatures in protest of the existing fountain
removal and the mediocrity of the Plaza Redevelopment design.
Mr. Conrad also asks what the redesign of the Plaza Redevelopment
plan I called for would have in it that the existing plan doesn't.
To answer this I suggest Mr. Conrad educate himself in the language
of design that everyone involved in the construction of man-made
environment should know. It is set forth in two landmark books
by Christopher Alexander entitled "The Timeless Way of Building"
and "A Pattern Language." Both are available in local
bookstores and libraries. I suggest he pay special attention
to: Alcoves, Public Outdoor Room, Main Gateways, Building Edge,
Seat Spots, and Raised Flowers. These are some of the environmental
that could raise the design of the Plaza Redevelopment to the
standard of the existing Arcade and Pergola.
If this language of environmental design were widely known, the
cities and towns of America would begin to be as attractive and
delightful as the historic cities of Europe which millions visit
each year.
I close with a lump and a tear at Mr. Conrad's almost childlike
faith that "a community as vital as Ojai must continue to
grow and evolve to maintain the mystique to which Mr. Myhre alludes."
Ojai is evolving to be sure, and losing its mystique in the process.
One need only open one's eyes to observe that the Arcade, Pergola,
post office, and buildings between the Pergola and Montgomery
Street are like an island of grace and beauty in a sea of spreading
mediocrity - facilitated in part by the type of cavalier mental
laziness exemplified by the words of Mr. Richard T. Conrad, FAIA.
Jon Myhre
Ojai
New folks don't see system
4-25
To the editor:
Upon reading Steve Durfee's ("Where's CPO on Casitas bypass?")
and Janine Sullivan's ("Put more thought into planning")
April 24 letters, my first thought was, "Jeeze, these folks
are kind of new around here, aren't they?," as I chuckled
to myself.
First, to answer Mr. Durfee's question about where the Citizens
to Preserve Ojai stands on the Casitas bypass, I must point out
the CPO is standing exactly where it has historically stood on
the issue. The names and faces of the CPO leadership and membership
have changed somewhat over the years, but the ideology remains
the same.
If it is left up to the CPO, there will never be a Casitas Springs
bypass. Traffic congestion is one of the magic bullets kept in
the CPO arsenal. The magic bullet is loaded into the chamber
each time a property or business owner goes before the City Planning
Commission and Council with a proposal that triggers any possible
traffic impacts. While a bypass is of value to people who live
in Casitas Springs and most of the people in the rest of the
Ojai Valley, it has no value to the CPO's mission.
In response to Ms. Sullivan's planning issues. I must say I am
sure there are other people in our midst who fret over similar
fears - of Ojai becoming the new Orange County. Let me try to
quell any of these fears to the best of my ability. I can promise
you that the laws and regulations in place in 2002 at the federal,
state and local levels will not permit Ojai's City Council to
ramrod through the dreaded Orange County-like development of
the last four decades. In fact, I know we can rest easy because
if the City Council has a momentary lapse of reason, the CPO
will be there with its arsenal to snap them back to reality.
And finally, I must address the suggestion of the vacant bowling
alley becoming "the next youth center, which we need to
keep kids occupied after school year round." I encourage
you and any other buyer(s) to purchase the property and put it
to that use if you think it is the best use of that property.
Parents and other adults have made numerous attempts in a variety
of fashions throughout Ojai's generations to "keep the kids
occupied."
I came to the conclusion years ago that boredom is part of the
rites of passage for all Ojai kids. It is part of Ojai's "rural
charm." Why heck, in the mid-'70s we put our adolescent
minds and vocal cords together while sitting in somebody's parent's
car in some East End rancher's orchard singing "Oh Lord,
we're stuck in Ojai (Lodi) again." The good news is, most
of us survived.
You see, it is just the way things seem to work around here.
It is a fine-tuned system that seems to work for some people.
Welcome to Ojai.
Donna Nowland
Ojai
© 2002 The Ojai Valley
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