The lead article in the April 30 T.O. Acorn was about the city spending $96,500 for a consultant to help The Lakes.

In the inside pages were articles and letters discussing the Do-it Center, the need for a roller and ice skating rink and other important issues.

We have several prime locations that are sitting empty, including retail buildings, such as Kmart and Circuit City. There also are empty restaurants, like Applebee's, Black Angus, Marie Callender's and Hungry Hunter.

There are empty commercial properties, too, like the old Armstrong Nursery, and vacant commercial land, like the site for Costco in Newbury Park and an auto mall with dealerships that have closed.

We residents should spend our disposable income where we live. It keeps our city healthy.

Let's focus on positives. I'm tired of having to drive into Los Angeles, Malibu or Santa Barbara for entertainment, restaurants and shopping.

Driving causes pollution.

Instead of hiring a group of consultants, let's ask the City Council to save the $96,500 and go out to the malls and ask the people what they want? Maybe they'd want a Dave and Buster's Family Dining and Entertainment Center, an ice or roller skating facility, miniature golf or a bowling alley. Let's find things that would bring people into Conejo Valley to spend their money.

We especially need stores for pedestrians to shop and places for them to eat. Let's welcome Costco to Newbury Park because it will create jobs, it's close, and we won't have to drive to Westlake Village or Simi Valley. Costco will tax revenue.

Crate & Barrel would be a great store for The Lakes, as would Tiffany's. We could use a Yardhouse Restaurant and Brewery, too.

We can find ways to improve our city by offering more, which will, in turn, improve our quality of life.

The city and the taxpayers need to "change" our way of doing things.

We must be progressive and make our city more inviting to the people who live here and want to retire here. William De Piazza Thousand Oaks