I read the letters with the name-calling by members of our community who personify the difficulties encountered in our city.

In Thousand Oaks, there are lower- and middle-class families, small business owners  and a variety of working people who try to have a voice in their community. Then there are the big-money contributors who are used to getting what they bought and paid for in the City Council members they helped to elect by getting decisions made in their favor.

When anyone opposes these people, they resort to calling citizens “extremists,” "mean-spirited,” and “anti-business,” especially when people get together to speak at a public forum. I do not belong to any group, but I will not be intimidated by a group of powermongers who want to prevent me from speaking my concerns about the city where I live.

Fox is a behind-the-scenes operator who can now wield power through the triad of Fox, Dennis Gillette and Jacqui Irwin, and you bet I am concerned and hope my fellow citizens keep watching closely too!

— Patti Chiarelli, Thousand Oaks