Dealing With Facts, Fiction, And Fantasy.

"Chamber endorses Measure P" is the title of an article in today's Palos Verdes Peninsula News.
It was written by Ms. Ashley Ratcliff the journalist most in the know about Marymount College and many other businesses on The Hill.

The Board of Directors of the Palos Verdes Peninsula Chamber of Commerce voted to endorse Measure P. In a post yesterday, I wrote that if it turns out the vote was fair and square, then Marymount College received an endorsement for its Measure P.

I posted true facts about some Guidelines and about some representation on the Board of Directors by Marymount's Communications Director.

While my opinion remains that something is amiss with the process that led to the endorsement, I want to hear and read more before I continue my online analysis of the events and outcome relating to the endorsement.
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Now, (and yes this might sound mean) for anyone with just about a 3rd grade education, let me remind everyone who looks or looked at Page 3 of today's Palos Verdes Peninsula News, please consider the facts.

"new athletic facilities" They were formally approved of during a meeting by the Rancho Palos Verdes City Council in a meeting I attended that began on March 31, 2010 and ended very early on April 1, 2010

"meeting rooms" They were formally approved of during a meeting by the Rancho Palos Verdes City Council in a meeting I attended that began on March 31, 2010 and ended very early on April 1, 2010

" great new library" It was formally approved of during a meeting by the Rancho Palos Verdes City Council in a meeting I attended that began on March 31, 2010 and ended very early on April 1, 2010

"I am looking forward to a revitalized Marymount campus and the facilities that will be available to our families. Marymount is an important part of our community and we should support the college." -Christopher La Puma.

"I am also looking forward to a Marymount campus revitalized using the approved Marymount College Facilities Expansion Project with the facilities that will be available for residents and students and others. I fully support The Marymount College Facilities Expansion Project which has many more than the three elements listed in the full page add." -Mark R. Wells

Apparently Mr. La Puma may not have read the new municipal code that allows Marymount College to build EVERYTHING brought to the City Council for a vote.

Perhaps Mr. La Puma doesn't know that only one soccer field is listed within The Marymount Plan/Measure P and not "fields" as he states in the full page advertisement.

I certainly support more playing fields for all types of sports and recreation being added to our city and the rest of The Hill. Of course new sports and recreation items have already been approved for Marymount's campus, so I guess the Marymount PR folks didn't have much new to offer, except.

"The rejuvenation of the Marymount campus required NO TAXPAYER MONEY." -unattributed

Since traffic mitigation IS REQUIRED for completion of "the rejuvenation of the Marymount campus" and at least one of Marymount's Administrator along with Mr. Don Davis, an attorney representing Marymount stated publicly that Marymount would pay it's "fair share" and provide some contributions for the REQUIRED traffic mitigation, TAXPAYER MONEY WILL BE INVOLVED to complete the rejuvenation of the Marymount Campus.

This is factually true for both The Marymount College Facilities Expansion Project and The Marymount Plan, with just one caveat:

Should Measure P pass, some people more educated than I am strongly believe Marymount College would use the new Campus Specific Plan sought in Measure P to eliminate the required traffic mitigation that was included in both The Plan and The Project to lessen the effects of new traffic and added numbers of daily vehicle trips revolving around Marymount.

What is missing from the full page ad in real print is blasted all over the page by omission.

Today's ad does not mention the only major construction carried by Measure P that is not already approved for construction.

I guess 'student residence halls and their associated dining hall' is no big deal for Marymount.

It looks so unimportant that the PR folks didn't bother to mention that construction in the ad.

See folks, this is yet another example in which members of "The Marymount Community" do not want you to learn the facts and details of Measure P, The Marymount Plan.

The ad depicts a lack of very important information voters should know about before they decide to support or oppose Measure P, The Marymount Plan.

If it were not for the fact that has been truthfully documented, in which Marymount representatives voluntarily removed on-campus student housing for up to 250 Marymount students and for up to five advisers, there would be no Measure P and no need for the expenditure of one more penny seeking approval for that which has already been approved.

Is the advertisement an enticement for support by voters who Marymount hopes are ill informed or not interested in learning the whole truth?

Today's ad is not shocking or relevant in any manner or form. It repeats information about facilities already approved for development and it contains a misleading statement that has already be proven to be factually untrue, I believe.

If Marymount wants to waste other people's money on full page ads that tell us absolutely nothing new while avoiding "The Elephant In The Living Room" so be it. Thank goodness I am not providing Marymount with any donation.

And now to the letters.....