There are two very fine men running against each other for one open seat on the MAC Board. One has been an amiable neighbor for ten years, the other a good friend for just as long. In a race this tight one must look for the qualities that separate them from each other.

Alan Saltzman in his role as Chair of the MAC wrote in his candidate statement that “I have supported the efforts of the Ojai “Stop the Trucks” coalition which so far has done a fine job in doing so. On those occasions when Gravel Truck issues arose at MAC meetings the consensus was to defer to the “Stop the Trucks” coalition.”
At first blush, as the founder of “Stop the Trucks,” I might find that quote flattering, but I don’t. I find it infuriating. The purpose of government is to serve the people, not to flatter the populace.
If there is one simple truth that has become clear to me in the nearly two years of fighting the industrialization of Ojai’s roads, it is this: If people in government, including both those we elect and those we hire as civil servants had actually done their jobs, then there would never have been a need for an organization such as “Stop the Trucks” to exist in the first place.
Daily, as our Coalition attempts to study government records, letters, emails, photographs, video tapes, news stories, Conditional Use Permits, Requests for Proposals, Environmental Impact Statements, and weigh tickets, we are confronted by a Ventura County Planning Division that for reasons known only to itself, “Sees No Evil; Hears No Evil: Speaks No Evil,” when it comes to enforcement or review of this project.
It would not be a far stretch of imagination to say that if at any moment since 2001, when the county failed to do even the most basic independent review of the Ozena proposal, had any government representative involved in this process stood up and just done their job thoroughly and correctly, then there would be no gravel trucking threat today.
Where has the MAC been since we started fighting back? Other than active support from a few individual board members, such as Russ Baggerly and Lisa Meeker, the MAC has been “Missing in Action.”
I don’t want a MAC representative who pats us one the back and says, “Keep up the good work.”
I want a MAC representative like Jerry Kaplan who took a stand early on and does the work.
“Stop the Trucks” exists in part today because Jerry Kaplan had the desire, courage and passion for our cause to invite twenty-five fellow citizens to his home one night and helped build a movement from the ground up. Those people – from all walks of life and political persuasions – showed up at Jerry’s door because they each trusted and respected him. Then knew from their own personal experiences that Jerry was a man who sees a wrong and sets out to make it right. They knew his record of being a community leader who sets goals and then sees that they are achieved.
The Ojai Valley needs that voice if we are ever to breakdown the resistance to the truth that seemingly exists at the Government Center. On Election Day I urged you to come out and vote for Jerry Kaplan, the last name on the ballot.
To learn more about Jerry, his campaign, his platform and why we need to elect him to the M.A.C., please go to:
http://kaplanformac.com/