Guest opinion
Department of Justice eyes Moorpark government
By Clint D. Harper

The Federal Department of Justice is back in town. If you haven't been following this story for the past two years or so, here's a short summary:

The city of Moorpark is under investigation for a potential civil rights violation based on the way we elect our city council members- at large rather than in separate geographic districts.

The DOJ is alleging that such a system deprives Hispanic voters, who are concentrated mainly in the downtown area, of an effective political voice.

The Feds point to the fact that no recent candidate, either living in or supported by downtown Moorpark, has won a city council seat. There is no allegation that this is intentional, just an unfortunate result of Moorpark's demographics and voting patterns.

Two bright, dedicated, young attorneys from the DOJ recently attended a Moorpark City Council meeting and have also been conducting interviews of community members. As a former mayor, councilmember, and Moorpark school board trustee, I was interviewed again earlier this month.

Apparently the DOJ is moving toward legal action that would compel our city to adopt an election system based on council districts. This would insure that the downtown area of Moorpark would always have one representative on the City Council.

In the past I have been concerned that a council system based on districts would cause ugly infighting among council members- each would be working mainly for funding for their district to please their local neighborhood and insure reelection. How all this could affect the Moorpark Mayor's office, which is also elected at large, is unclear.

Recently hundreds of downtown Moorpark residents, convinced that they could lose their homes to the Moorpark Redevelopment Agency, marched on City Hall. The rampant spread of disinformation, fundamental misconceptions regarding California redevelopment law and the role of eminent domain caused the panic. If one member of the City Council had lived in the downtown area, perhaps such a panic could have been avoided. It's easier to trust the councilmember who's your neighbor down the street than the one who lives "up on the hill."

Members of our city council and city staff are offended and naturally defensive when anyone mentions the DOJ's investigation. They point to the good work that the city has done for the older parts of our community.

Since 1989 over $22 million of redevelopment funds has been spent downtown with no increase in taxes. Magnolia Park, Poindexter Park, the High Street Arts Center, the Police Services Center, the soon to be constructed Ruben Castro Human Services Center and affordable housing units have all be funded in whole or part by the Moorpark Redevelopment Agency. Other less visible projects such as storm drain, street, and sidewalk repair have been RDA funded. But the positive accomplishments and future potential of redevelopment was lost in the panic over eminent domain.

By any reasonable measure, Moorpark's city government has treated the downtown area and it's residents very well. But no matter how well intentioned, there is no substitute for direct representation. If the Department of Justice moves legally against our city- which I believe they will- our political leaders will be faced with the decision to either fight or switch.

Some current councilmembers will undoubtedly lose their jobs if we move to council districts. I urge my former colleagues- and the one "new guy"- to accept the formation of districts gracefully. Change can be scary, but sometimes change really is for the best.

Stay tuned. This could get interesting.