Letters to the Editor

We are engaged in the wonderful process of democracy here in Culver City. As in any City Council election, I consider the good character of the candidate as paramount to their ability to be a leader. Among the nine candidates vying for a seat in Tuesday’s election, I believe that Jeff Cooper has the necessary traits to lead our city.

Re:­ Berryman Avenue Neighborhood Traffic Management Program

It has come to my attention that Mayor Alan Corlin has a business partner who lives on Berryman Avenue.

If this is true, I believe it is highly inappropriate for him to vote on the Berryman Program at the City Council meeting scheduled for Monday, April 21. It smacks of an appearance of a conflict of interest, according to a retired L. A. City Attorney friend of mine.

I have just received the Christopher Armenta’s latest City Council campaign mailer. Mr. Armenta’s mailed circular is as disingenuous as it is misleading.

Mr. Armenta’s circular is covered with pictures of our Culver City schools, and the tagline reads: “Will make youth and education a priority.”

With budget cuts at the state level impacting city and School District funding, it will be even more important for the two governing bodies to communicate and work cooperatively.

City Council candidate Andy Weissman has the background and ability to recognize important topics, listen and clearly articulate issues. He has successfully worked on boards, commissions and committees. These qualities will be an asset for the school district- city relationship.

In the past, some ­members of the School Board and City Council have failed to work closely together to provide the best services for our common constituents.

We all strongly support Christopher Armenta because he understands the importance of working with the School Board.

Residents of Culver City…

­ As you know, we have three very important decisions to make on Tuesday.

We will be electing our representatives in City Hall for the next four years.

These are challenging times indeed: There is a state budget crisis that threatens the fiscal health of municipalities; we face a crossroads between the advantages and drawbacks of local development, and we need to bring back cooperation, civility, and community outreach that has been sorely lacking in the last few years.

Our city is at a financial crossroads. With the state facing a $14 billion deficit, we cannot look to the state to solve our problems.

The answer lies leadership and with willingness of our elected officials to make tough decisions. In the field of candidates running for City Council, I believe that Jeff Cooper has the integrity and fortitude to lead us through this crisis.

As a retired Certified Public Accountant, I lived each day by the numbers. At times, I had to advise my clients to make sacrifices in order to preserve their financial health.

I am a new resident of Culver City. I am also a single, middle-aged woman. I am writing in support of Jeff Cooper’s candidacy for City Council, and I would like to explain why:

I lived in Culver City for 11 years, 1972-1983. Then I moved to a home in Mar Vista, adjacent to Culver City in Mar Vista. Though I loved my new neighborhood, I missed the sense of security and safety I found as a single person while I resided in Culver City.

Election cycles begin with civility and good will amongst the candidates.

Just prior to Election Day, the tide always seems to turn…for the worse.

The vast majority of residents earnestly want to hear about the candidates’ positions on matters of importance to our city.

I was very happy to learn that Andrew Weissman is running for the City Council of Culver City. I got to work with Andy when I was the principal consultant to the Culver City Charter Review Committee, of which Andy was the Chair. Based on that experience, I know exactly what sort of Councilmember he will be.

The Committee was filled with talented and involved people. There were lots of great ideas and tremendous energy. To harness that energy, and to lead the Committee toward the truly substantive changes it recommended and brought successfully to the voters, required a special person.