Dos Vientos residents told to fight for open space

I encourage the folks from Dos Vientos and surrounding neighborhoods to organize and keep Rancho Potrero as open space, not only to protect the land so we can all can enjoy its pristine surroundings

If you don't agree, here's what you'll get:

I live next to Conejo Creek North Park in Thousand Oaks, adjacent to the corporate pavilion. The noise we get from amplification devices, microphones and live bands, etc., is sometimes deafening. We have to close our doors and windows; you can hear the sounds all the way down to the other end of the cul-de-sac, and it's oftentimes all day long.

We sometimes have to leave our property because it has been so loud. And as if this weren't enough, the parks district and city have sponsored events "next door" and have brought and placed their portable stage even closer to our homes.

The neighbors across the street used to have beautiful trees and a greenbelt buffer zone that gave them privacy. Conejo Recreation and Park District (CRPD) chopped down all the trees and added chips to the ground and added more parking closer to their homes.

We've called CRPD to complain--we even called the police one time because it got so loud --but we were simply told that these events have permits--basically, "Tough luck, Charlie."

We have a prevailing wind that wafts up our beautiful corridor, so when barbecues are started in the park, the pleasant breeze becomes a toxic whiff of charcoal lighter fluid fumes. They get so bad that they irritate our eyes, throats and chests. It's hard to breathe outside in our own backyard.

Again we retreat inside, close our doors and windows, or we go away from our home until it's safe to return.

A couple of times of year, we get thousands of picnickers for special events, and although "no parking" signage is placed in the entire neighborhood, we still get illegally parked cars in front of our house, leaving behind trash, dirty diapers, beer bottles, you name it.

This is a sneak peek at your future if you let the City Council (and park district) have their way.

Don't let them disrespect your rights. Keep Rancho Potrero as passive use only. Carlos Conejo Thousand Oaks