Sins of omission

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    My only interaction with Ani Dermenjian was when she told me that she had neither the time nor interest to support Prop Y (the measure to enhance school programs) personally or in her role as then Chamber of Commerce president. Instead, Chamber luminaries Denise McLean, Mark Ball and Greg O’Connor rallied local businesses. Prop Y passed.

    I respect Ms. Dermenjian’s (Beverly Taki’s campaign manager) right to decline to use her leadership role to advocate for Prop Y, a measure 79% of Malibuites supported. I respect Beverly Taki’s and Ms. Dermenjian’s right to say no to a parks bond to which 62 percent of Malibu voters said yes, because the two view it primarily as a “property tax increase.” To perceive measures principally as tax increases, and therefore undesirable, regardless of their substance or the community’s need for them, is a commonly held belief. Thankfully, it is NOT a belief shared by most Malibuites.

    You see, our city budget is too small to provide crucial services; our schools are drastically under-funded. Our community has economic means to solve these problems, but candidates who are unable to approach all possible solutions with an open mind and/or who are wedded to only one solution, thereby viewing others as threats, cause more problems than they solve. Parcel taxes, parks and school bonds, development and shared use agreements, community nonprofits, redirecting and earmarking existing and new city revenues must all be evaluated. We need ball fields, a community center, senior center, dog park and a solvent, state of the art urgent care facility. With whom do we partner to acquire these amenities? Where do we find revenues to maintain them?

    Imagine two people standing near a bursting levee. One says, “Help keep the water out of town with these sand bags.” The other answers, “Sand bags aren’t my preferred way to mend a levee.” “Fine, but the water is coming now. We have no other option available.” The first person struggled to rebuild the levee. The second criticized and tore away the bags. The town flooded. The second person was perpetually affronted when anyone suggested they harmed the town. It was just, they said, that they didn’t like sand bags.

    Deirdre Roney