Well I know I will not be going to the Simi mall until smoking is banned and neither will my kids. With all we know about second hand smoke it is a scandal to allow smoking at a mall we have waited so long for here in Simi.

I think this can be changed. Would we at least consider allowing for a designated smoking area in the mall, for people to go to?

I wonder if they allow chewing tobacco, pipes, or cigars???

I'm not sure open smoking is in the best interest of the mall's businesses, either.

I'll see what I can do about it...

Scott

Scott

Oh yeah,

When they approved it at Neighborhood council #3, smoking was not an issue....

I just sent this letter to the email listed...

"Dear Greg:

My name is Scott Blough and I'm a resident of Simi Valley looking forward to experiencing the Simi Valley Town Center in the next few months. I use the word "experience" purposely because customer experience should be the most important thing a business can do to improve it's profits and enhance it's reputation as a good corporate citizen. People always are reflecting on the experience they had at the bank or a particular restaurant. I fully believe the mall will create optimal experiences for the residents of Simi Valley and am glad you have been a part of this effort to bring a mall to Simi Valley.

I have recently heard that smoking will be permitted throughout the mall and I would like to impart on you and your staff that this may hinder the experience of many customers such as myself seeking to enjoy a spectacular place to shop without being stalked by second-hand cancer causing smoke. Please reconsider the smoking issue at the Simi Valley Town Center. Maybe, you can designate a certain area or areas where smokers can smoke instead of allowing for free uncontrolled smoking throughout the Town Center.

Another issue may be that cigarette butts never seem to make it in the trash and this could also create problems for your clean-up staff and undermine the overall look of the mall. I look forward to your response and your future success with our community's new mall.

Scott Blough"

I read their other malls don't allow smoking.

But, I guess we aren't as classy to them as their other malls.

I am trying to be brutal because smoking really bothers me. Second hand smoke gives me a head ache.

Brian Dennert

Here is the response I received from the Mall...

"Dear Mr. Blough,

First let me say thank you very much for expressing your concerns. Not
hearing concerns such as yours would make it very difficult for us in
establishing a successful operating environment for our entire
surrounding community.

With that being said, although I am not a smoker, I can certainly
empathize with you with regards to what smoking can do to a person.
That is why a great amount of time of research went into this decision
to allow smoking within the outdoor common area of Simi Valley Town
Center.

As an example, one particular method that we used toward making our
decision was to look at the other surrounding "outdoor centers" in
Southern California that resemble the same atmosphere as Simi Valley
Town Center. In our study, there were approximately 10 centers that we
had contacted and every one of them allowed smoking within their outdoor
common area. In fact during these calls, they were asked if they had
received many complaints due to the smoking and their responses were
simply no.

It is certainly not our intent to upset you in anyway. It was simply
our intent to try and accommodate the entire community as stated earlier
by making this decision.

Again, thank you for expressing your concerns and we certainly hope that
you will join us as we begin our new adventure on October 27, 2005!

Regards,

____________________________________________
Greg M. Lenners
General Manager
Simi Valley Town Center
ph: (805) 581-1755
fx: (805) 581-1718
www.simivalleytc.com"

I don't know about anyone else, but it also seems to me that people who smoke do not think their cigarette butt is trash, and they throw it anywhere they please. That will look real nice, our new mall covered in cigarette butts, T.O. Mall here I come!

Brian,
Makes you wonder if they are allowing smoking just because one of our ex-mayors is a smoker.

I think you just write letters and vote with your dollars. If everyone wrote a letter about it, they may very well change their mind.

Also, consider writing stores you probably would shop at and tell them you are concerned about the smoking issues and probably won't shop there.

They may or may not care, but at least you are asking. Oh, and CC your letter to the businesses to the owner of the mall just so he knows that your not going away and intend on communicating with the store owners directly.

Scott

Hello there
I went on a tour of the mall and talked with a gentleman from the management who said they hadn't decided yet about smoking. I think he did not want to deal with the people on the tour so he avoided the answer. Gregg says the decision is already made, and it is smoking. Sounds to me like they are trying to keep this quiet.
I have written a letter to the editor of the Star last week and it has not been in the paper yet.
I hear that the American Cancer Society is going to have a petition.
Also, it is the mall management that decides, has nothing to do with the mayor past or present. That was a strange comment.

This past weekend they had a clean the beach day. The number one trash item? You got it, cigarette butts! I can't believe how often I see smokers throw their burning cigarette butts out of a car window as if it is not trash. Or before they walk into a store (like at the new mall) they drop the butt and step on it and don't pick it up. The last thing I want is to go to a mall covered in cigarette butts.

Brian
The response from Greg that Scott received is exactly what he had told me. That's why I found it interesting when I asked the person giving us the tour about smoking and he said it hadn't been decided. I know the Cancer Society met with Greg and they left with him telling them it would be smoking. I wonder if they have already put the ashtrays in and that's why they don't want to change?
I wonder if the Star is holding all the letters about smoking?

I just sent the following email to Mr. Lenners. I'll post any reply I receive.

Dear Mr. Lenners,

I recently learned that the new Simi Valley Town Center will allow smoking in its outdoor common areas. As a non-smoker and long-time resident of Simi Valley, I find this to be appalling.

As a former member of the Board Neighborhood Council #1, I do not recall this being discussed during the project's presentation to the Neighborhood Councils in the summer of 2003. Had this been made known at that time, I most certainly would have reconsidered my vote in favor of the project. Yes, I value my health enough to consider the allowance of smoking at the Town Center a "make-or-break" factor. You can be sure that I will consider other shopping and dining options before I consider the Simi Valley Town Center (even though I live only 2 miles away).

Since the Town Center is not scheduled to open for another month, I sincerely hope that you and your staff rethink this policy and find an alternative. Perhaps designated smoking areas away from gathering places and those next to eateries would be a nice compromise.

I look forward to your response and I wish you much success with the Town Center.

Sincerely,
Alan Barkwill

Brian,

Your memory serves you well.

Alan

Here is Lenner's reply. Sound familiar?

Dear Mr. Barkwill,

First let me say thank you very much for expressing your concerns. Not hearing concerns such as yours would make it very difficult for us in establishing a successful operating environment for our entire surrounding community.

With that being said, although I am not a smoker, I can certainly empathize with you with regards to what smoking can do to a person.
That is why a great amount of time and research went into this decision to allow smoking within the outdoor common area of Simi Valley Town Center.

As an example, one particular method that we used toward making our decision was to look at the other surrounding "outdoor centers" in Southern California that resemble the same atmosphere as Simi Valley Town Center. In our study, there were approximately 10 centers that we had contacted and every one of them allowed smoking within their outdoor common area. In fact during these calls, they were asked if they had received many complaints due to the smoking and their responses were simply no.

It is certainly not our intent to upset you in anyway. It was simply our intent to try and accommodate the entire community as stated earlier
by making this decision.

Again, thank you for expressing your concerns and we certainly hope that you will join us as we begin our new adventure on October 27, 2005!

Regards,

____________________________________________
Greg M. Lenners
General Manager
Simi Valley Town Center
ph: (805) 581-1755
fx: (805) 581-1718
www.simivalleytc.com

It should sound familiar because it is, word for word, the exact same letter that Scott received.

These people need a wake up call!

Yes, that is very ironical.

I wrote Lenners back with the following note (I love irony and sarcasm):

Mr. Lenners,

Thank you for the form letter response. It was "a breath of fresh air!"

Sincerely,
Alan Barkwill

I wonder if it is his choice, or a committee or something above him we should appeal to...

We might be shooting at the messenger.

brian

Congratulations Sandi! Your letter finally got printed. I wonder if they noticed an uptick in activity on this blog on the subject. Hmmmm...

I'm sure this wasn't his (Lenners) decision. In fact, the decision was probably made prior to his hiring as GM. But I think going to him is the correct approach. However, I can't help but wonder at what point the City Council will need to be involved. Has anyone contacted a Councilmember on this subject?

Hello:

At last night's council meeting, it was discussed that Mayor Miller has submitted a letter asking the mall to ban smoking at the mall.

Brian:

You should try and see if there is a financial link between the cancer society and Mayor Miller. After all it seems from your perspective City Council officials don't do anything without getting contributions for it.

Maybe, Mayor Miller actaully cares about the issue... I tend to believe that.

Scott

Brian Dennert responds:

I have said many fine things about the mayor . I am not saying that influence peddling is rampant in Simi Valley versus other areas.

When I argue about campaign finances it is an issue larger than any one city. I would argue for the same reforms in any city, including our fine city. I think our city has been run better than most, but that doesn't exclude us from proper ethical choices.

There is a social compact between the people and the government. I am worried it is being frayed by either wrong doing or just the appearance of wrong doing. People should trust their governments. If people don't trust their governments, that doesn't mean the government is corrupt, it means it needs to restore trust.

As an example I will use the Maj. Leader . He is being accussed of insider trading. I don't think he would change laws to benefit his family's company. I think he has larger ambitions and doing so would be foolish. But at the same time he should of sold all stock in the company as to avoid the suspicion of wrong doing.

People are losing faith that government acts in their best interest everyday at most levels. We should try to restore it, as much as possilble.

I trust the city of Simi valley more than I trust the state with it. And at this point ( as crazy as it sounds) I trust the state more than the federal government.

I agree the mayor does care, otherwise he wouldn't expend his time on it. He seems like a good match for the people of Simi Valley ( Former chief and all).

Hey:

I never posted this last thing.

Scott

I think if everyone really cares about the smoking issue then you should be sending letters to the editor. I did have to call the Star and email them and fax my letter to finally get it printed. The first time was my fault I did not put down a phone number, I had thought my address was enough.
So keep an eye out for your letters and if you don't see them call. Seems like the paper is all for a smoking mall. I have never had to work so hard to get a letter in the paper.
I went on a tour of the mall and they said that they had not determined whether it would be smoking or not yet, Mr Lenners was adamant in my conversation with him. I do believe he is the key player. Also, I believe the person that gave our tour was just saying he wasn't sure because he did not want to get into any controversy with anyone.
The cancer society did meet with the mayor and that is why he wrote the letter, which I would like to thank him for that. The cancer society got no farther than we did with Mr Lenners. The cancer society does have a petition out there also. Don't know exactly how that will be handled but I do know that people need to speak up.
Thanks for keeping this going.

Just reading up on this issue after reading Sandi's letter in the Star - thank you for providing Mr. Lenner's e-mail address. Here's the letter I wrote and forwarded to all the people I could think of:

"Dear Mr. Lenners,
My husband and I, both lifelong non-smokers and parents of two, are highly disappointed in your company’s decision to allow smoking in the new Simi Town Center. As only 15% of Californians smoke (http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/medicalnews.php?newsid=23220) it baffles me as to why you would allow such a filthy and unhealthy activity to take place in the mall – especially one that’s being promoted as “a breath of fresh air.”

I read in an editorial that if your company receives enough complaints it may reverse its decision. Wouldn’t it be much easier to make the right decision to begin with? We’ve been following the progress at the mall, our 2 daughters will have their handprints on tiles in the play area and we are very excited to have a gathering place for our community (that will also keep tax dollars in our community). I just don’t understand why your company would want to have such a beautifully planned and designed facility tarnished with smoke and cigarette butts. I’m not thrilled at the thought of my girls picking up cigarette butts that are always discarded – often while still burning, anywhere and everywhere by people who have no concern for their own health or the health and comfort of anyone around them.

I will get everyone I know to contact your company on this topic. I hope you reconsider.

Sincerely,
Britten, Jennifer, Kiara & Tia Zobelein
Simi Valley"

I suppose I can expect the same letter back from Mr. Lenners that the others received. I will happily contact anyone I can on this issue as I believe Simi Valley is better than this.

Jennifer,

If you get a response will you post it here?

Brian Dennert

ps- keep up the fight!

This should look familiar to everyone...

Dear Britten, Jennifer, Kiara, and Tia Zobelein,

First let me say thank you very much for expressing your concerns. Not hearing concerns such as yours would make it very difficult for us in establishing a successful operating environment for our entire surrounding community.

With that being said, although I am not a smoker, I can certainly empathize with you with regards to what smoking can do to a person. That is why a great amount of time and research went into this decision to allow smoking within the outdoor common area of Simi Valley Town Center.

As an example, one particular method that we used toward making our decision was to look at the other surrounding "outdoor centers" in Southern California that resemble the same atmosphere as Simi Valley Town Center. In our study, there were approximately 10 centers that we had contacted and every one of them allowed smoking within their outdoor common area. In fact during these calls, they were asked if they had received many complaints due to the smoking and their responses were simply no.

It is certainly not our intent to upset you in anyway. It was simply our intent to try and accommodate the entire community as stated earlier by making this decision.

Again, thank you for expressing your concerns and we certainly hope that you will join us as we begin our new adventure on October 27, 2005!

Regards,

____________________________________________
Greg M. Lenners
General Manager
Simi Valley Town Center
ph: (805) 581-1755
fx: (805) 581-1718
www.simivalleytc.com

I sent a response thanking him for the form letter. Any suggestions as to where else to go to spur some action on this?

Jennifer

Jennifer,

I think smoking is disgusting and repulsive.

I think it is sad he says they are trying to accommodate everyone when I bet more than 70 percent would vote against smoking. Way more.

Anyways, you want some steps? I will tell you several that you could do. Everyone else feel free to copy these steps for other political issues.

1. Set up a free account at meetup.com . This will get people to sign up and communicate quickly.

2. Create a letter that community groups can sign onto. For example, The American Cancer Society, Democratic Party, Republican Party, all 5 city council members, planning commission members, business groups (the chamber, car dealers) etc.

Basically drive around town until it is full.

3. Create a blogger.com website and post the letter with all the individuals and groups on it.

Also, tell people who to contact.

4. Let me know how these steps go and I will keep posting about it.

5. Start a petition to not shop at the mall until they change their mind. Get 2000 people to sign it.

6. Ask the city council and school board to pass resolutions against the smoking at the mall.

7. Protest. Create a billboard to put on a truck and drive in front of the mall on opening day so the press covers it. Put something ugly on it. Go to truthout.com for help. Maybe a disgusting set of lungs.

8.Let the press know. Write a press release and send it to the LA Times, Daily News, and of course the Star. Also, The Acorn.

9. Fill the letters page. Tell people how they can get involved.

10. Contact individual reporters.

Good luck,
Brian Dennert

Brian,
I was not aware there had been this much activity about the smoking issue at the mall.
I had my commentary published in the Star on Monday about this issue. We need to mobilize everyone in the city to bombard the Star with letters. Send them to LETTERS@VENTURACOUNTYSTAR.COM include your name , address and telephone number. There is no reason we can't have a page a day of letters if there are that many concerned citizens. emails to Greg Lenners are useless. You can see they have a canned response. I have petitoned the Star editorial board to appear before them with my colleagues to present our position . They have not responded.
Dick Beyers , Past President
Simi / Moorpark Unit American Cancer Society

I have read, and re-read, all of the postings on here and on Brett Wagner's campaign website, and I continue to be amazed at how and why some of the most important information about his candidacy for Congress is being totally overlooked in the midst of his whining about the group of Democratic Party leaders trying to get him to leave the race. He seems to claim that by the mere fact of him being openly gay, they are gay-bashing him. Balderdash, I say.

I've never known a liberal or a Democrat to be anti-gay. I've heard Ms. Jodell Hawes speak at various meetings and I cannot fathom her being anti-gay in any way.

It's interesting how his story has again changed about being beaten several weeks ago in the parking lot outside of a Santa Barbara Democratic dinner. While I wasn't there and don't have any individual insight into the incident, I have been told that he showed up at a Democratic Party meeting a few days later with his head swathed in bandages and telling the assemblage that he was hurt so badly that he just couldn't remember what happened but vaguely remembered several male individuals jumping him.

A few days later, he was telling everyone that he had put himself through hypnosis in order to recall the lost portion of his memory (that must have been a helluva job!), and thanks to that he remembered that he had apparently run into a door of an SUV.

That's a huge difference in his stories!

Now I see in newspaper stories that he has reverted back to his original gay-beating story. Which is it, Brett. You can't have it both ways!
If it actually wasn't a gay-beating, but was just an accident, why are you again claiming otherwise? Will that get you more votes?

But, the most important missing angle on all of the claims being made against him about inflating his professional biography, is his side of the story!

We have just learned from the Ventura County Reporter a few days ago, that he is, indeed, not a "professor" at the Naval War College as he wanted everyone to believe, but only taught one class there a few years ago. He now admits to that, but implies he is still an "adjunct professor" for the College, but they say he isn't affiliated with them any longer, according to the Reporter. So which is it, Brett? Are you or aren't you? For the past year or more, your website hasn't said anything about being "adjunct"!! Your website continues to show you as an educator -- where?? If you aren't, why do you claim to be?

I read also that your Ten Billion Dollar Project to buy Russia's old nuclear weapons has never been approved much less come to fruition. Which is it, Brett? Is it a project or is it not? If it isn't why do you claim it is?

I haven't seen any the evidence, but as the old saying goes, if it looks like a turkey, walks like a turkey, and cackles like a turkey, it is probably a turkey. Is it a turkey, Brett?

The only problem is, Brett, you seem to be trying to divert the public's attention away from the reality of the accusations to making it all an anti-gay move. Why not get transparent, and let us know the other side of those allegations especially why they are not true?

From a Westlake Village Liberal

What is skoking?