I strongly disagree with the "Committee to Keep Thousand Oaks Traffic Moving" that wants Thousand Oaks citizens to vote on all large development projects.

In 1964, we formed a city to provide the necessary tools to control traffic and to provide a multitude of services for the people of Thousand Oaks. Part of the function of the City Council is to approve or disapprove development. When I first heard of Measure B, I was very disturbed to think that efforts should be made to take away the authority of the City Council on these matters. We elect the council members to be wise and to use their knowledge in voting on such items.

The City Council, city staff, Community Development Department, Public Works Department and other departments spend countless hours providing information on various projects. Many hours are spent by the City Council and Planning Commission reviewing the data involved, including the impact on the environment. Having the information provided by the staff, the Planning Commission and City Council hear from both proponents and opponents of the project. The City Council takes into consideration the rights of all parties involved, including the property owner, neighbor and overall population.

Also, the council takes into consideration what is best for the city, not only for today but in future years. It uses the information of the city general plan and makes its decisions after long hours of study and review.

The committee is now asking the general public to do the same job the City Council does in making decisions. What is lacking is the great amount of details and information necessary to make a prudent decision. The public could easily be persuaded to vote against a project that would mean more traffic, without considering the property owners' rights and what is necessary for the overall city now and in the future.

The side with the most money could buy sufficient advertising to persuade many voters to reject a project, based on half-truths and misleading statements.

The voters do have the right to elect people to the City Council who reflect their views. This is the way governments works. We need strong leaders on the City Council to make wise decisions. The elected officials should make the decisions based on their review of the great amount of information provided them by the city staff, proponents and opponents.

Should the City Council make decisions that are not in line with the citizens, then the elected officials can be voted out of office. This, I feel, is democracy in action. In my opinion, to have the citizens vote on every major project is a waste of time and energy and is certainly not in the best interest of the city of Thousand Oaks.

— Raymond A. Garcia is a former mayor and councilman of Thousand Oaks.