Since Mayor Chris Armenta and City Councilman Jeff Cooper were advertised as the attractions for last week’s meeting of the Culver City Democratic Club, several persons have asked why not a word was said about them in the next day’s story.
My truncated response was that club member Karlo Silbiger’s tribute to his recently retired City Councilman father was much more interesting.
The elder Mr. Silbiger and I have had exactly 874 philosophical and social disagreements over the past eight years, but so what?
Gary Silbiger, by a margin of at least 12 miles, has been the most compelling, most fascinating political figure in Culver City this century.
I estimate that of the 3,000 people who supported him for re-election four years ago, 2,900 voted for Mr. Silbiger because they enthusiastically concurred with his political philosophy.
I will further estimate that all but 15 of the Silbiger voters could easily fill 5 minutes discussing his political accomplishments and his vision.
I also believe that Mr. Silbiger is often remarkably misguided and has about a dozen more major defects than I have fingers.
So what?
I have only known several perfect people in my life, all of whom, for unfulfilled frolic’s sake, I married.
Besides, Mr. Silbiger’s accomplished son, Karlo, scissored from the same cloth, eloquently paid public tribute to his father, a lovely familial act that occurs every century in Culver City.
Oh, yes, there were other reasons.
Many voters probably would nominate Mayor Armenta and first-year Councilman Cooper as the most collegial politicians in recent Culver City history.
I would not disagree.
Miles of Smiles
Their wives and children might correct us, but I never have seen either gentleman with less than an authentic smile on his face and an extended hand. Their open-faced affability is as real as the recent humidity.
For charm and sincerity, they are unbeatable.
Now let us go back two years with Mr. Armenta and to last April with Mr. Cooper.
Why did you vote for either one?
Because you agreed with each when he said…
What?
Do you know what either gentleman most fervently believes?
When Mr. Armenta and Mr. Cooper strode to the front of the room last Wednesday evening at the Vets Auditorium, their smiles would have lit up the entire corner of Culver and Overland in the event of a blackout.
The billing said they were going to discuss the state of the city.
Each spoke for 15 minutes before taking questions.
If you have read any Culver City newspaper since the beginning of spring, you were not illuminated by their orations.
With a sense of objectivity that would be admirable for contemporary newspapers, they recounted a string of community events from a strictly neutral position.
I wanted their insights, their value judgments on late developments.
Blue skies and green lights are for campaign season.
Why did the transition from Mr. Scott to Mr. Ewell work? Or not work? Why will the transition from Mr. Ewell to Mr. Nachbar click?
According to Mr. Ewell, Serena Wright, crack Human Resources Director, deserves kudos for shrewdly showing City Hall how to avoid laying off any workers. How did she do it?
What about the job that Mr. Ewell has done? Where has he been proficient? Lagging in any area? Despite a brief outcry at the time, the City Council has retreated from meeting every Monday to a severely reduced schedule. How is that working? Why?
What was the significance of regaining Jeff Muir, speaking of stars, as Chief Financial Officer? How has that made a difference?
Time for a Comeback
Will someone please tell Mr. Silbiger I want him to unretire for the next election cycle? Then he and I will be able to enjoy Disagreement No. 875.
