The blogger behind VoteSimiValley.com, Mike Chandler has another update up, this time defending CandleLight Nightclub. Here are a coup of key quotes:

No doubt, nobody wants to tell pissed off residents that they need to stand by and wait for the owners of this nightclub to make a good faith effort to resolve the issues. Who would want to? They're pissed off! But this place earns money for the city AND (and read this, because this is the most important part) the owner's genuinely WANT to resolve the issues completely and be good neighbors! Not sure you believe me? Read on...

o with this issue once again facing City Council, the big question is will they do what's right for Simi Valley business and the general fund? Will they inform citizens of the effort being made and encourage them to wait and see while promoting Shop Simi First, or will they answer the angst of pissed off neighbors and ensure their votes for the next election cycle? This is politics, after all.

Click here for his blog entry.

Candlelight Night Club recently had an article in the Ventura County Star related to their ongoing efforts to work with the neighborhood and their application to expand some of the facilities.

Here are a couple of quotes from that article:

Commissioner Keith Mashburn at the beginning of the three-hour meeting asked if there are different requirements for the various uses at the site, which includes a wedding and banquet venue, a restaurant, a bar and a nightclub.

Paul Drury, the city's acting deputy director for environmental services, said the business' primary use is a restaurant/banquet/bar facility -- all allowed in the commercial planned development zone. Candlelight's co-owner, Garner Gerson, said the property gets 85 percent of its business between 10 p.m. and 1 a.m. But that fact could lead to more problems for the business.

After the meeting, Drury noted the city permit as well as the state Alcoholic Beverage Control license is valid for a restaurant and a bar, where alcohol sales cannot exceed food sales. If the majority of business is coming in after 10 p.m., it would appear alcohol would be the driving force.

"If they did do that, they would not be allowed there at all," Drury said after the meeting.
Mashburn said Candlelight is "over-serving" customers. "I had the impression this was a restaurant," Mashburn said. "It's a nightclub. Patrons are leaving and causing DUIs." Mashburn asked Simi Valley Police Lt. Mike King how many DUIs could be traced back to patrons of the business.

After almost three hours of public comment, the commission voted to send the issue back to city staff. The lone dissenting vote, Commissioner Jim Dantona, said he wanted to move forward with the application with the possibility of additional conditions.

Click here for the Ventura County Star story.

A real quick fix would be for Candlelight Night Club to only allow people to park on site or in the parking lot they rent from Simi Valley High School. As long as nightclub patrons are parking in a residential neighborhood the problems will continue. Now, as far as sound and the other issues those are more complicated.

Click here for Candlelight's website.

Speaking of their website is the man in the bank wearing a towel without a shirt? I haven't been up there in awhile but did they open a new type of bar or something?

Mike Chandler, the blogger behind VoteSimiValley.com has launched a new internet show called " The Simi Show" and it has been getting more and more attention. Last Friday The Acorn had a great review of his videos and his plans to expand his coverage of local people and events.

Click here for The Acorn article.

Click here for The Simi Show website.

Even though it would seem like Mike and I would be in competition to the point of not mentioning each other because we focus on many of the same issues, that's not the way I see it. I like the idea of listening to more and compelling voices. He is irreverent, funny, and talented. Go check out his website. he might become his own Shop Simi Valley campaign.

Mike, it looks like The Acorn should issue a correction though. The article stated that:

Chandler's fire was lit during last fall's election season, when he created www.votesimivalley.com and began asking tough questions of local candidates.

Despite his opposition to the three incumbents in the City Council election, Chandler said, his new venture, "The Simi Show," isn't at all about pushing his own personal political views.

But your own blog entry had many nice things to say of Council Member Williamson:

Last night, I had the pleasure of sitting down with Barbra Williamson and her family, friends and supporters. They are truly a dynamic group of people and it was a real pleasure. Barbra's entire family is very friendly not to mention engaging and passionate about the issues. I have zero doubt that my vote for Barbra Williamson for Simi Valley City Council is the right one.

Get a correction in and they will put your name in the paper again! Did your family hang the article on the fridge?

Thanks for reading and commenting on my blog.