That Was Quick!

Measure P mailer raises Marymount vs. Annenberg
comparison

By Melissa Pamer on October 26, 2010 5:57 PM
South Bay Daily Breeze

"How can the same City Council that wants to build a huge dog kennel on Point
Vicente be against the Marymount Plan?"

That's the question the Yes on Measure P campaign raises in a eyebrow-raising email
sent out today. Apparently a mailer that brings up a similar issue -- and visually compares a college student to a dog -- is set to be sent out soon.

It's a new twist in a fierce campaign that Marymount College is waging in its effort to persuade Rancho Palos Verdes voters to back expansion plans that include dormitories. (Most of the plan already has city approval and can proceed without voter backing.)

Asked about the e-mail, which addresses the animal-centered Annenberg Project
at Lower Point Vicente, college President Michael Brophy said the comparison is the first issue that voters raise with him when he's out campaigning for Measure P. "This is a fun one," Brophy said of the e-mail.

The City Council has largely been supportive of controversial plans for the Annenberg education center, which would be built on public land. The council has also approved Marymount's plans, but the two projects have received starkly different treatment, Brophy said.

"They're certainly expediting this project on public land and you just look across town at little old Marymount and -- you know the story," Brophy said.

But calling the Annenberg project "a big dog kennel" is clearly provocative.

The project would include animal adoption suites, but Annenberg Foundation
officials have bristled when opponents call the center a "kennel."

Councilman Brian Campbell, who said he shares recent concerns raised about
Annenberg's plans, called the e-mail "the dumbest political stunt in history."

The council has voted unanimously to oppose the initiative.

"They will lose this election and I bet you people will say this is what did it,"
Campbell said.

Asked about the word choice in the mailer, Brophy said: "Is it not a kennel?
I do know that people say that."

Brophy added that Marymount supports the Annenberg project. The full text of
the email follows.

“Dear ,

How can the same City Council that wants to build a huge dog kennel on Point Vicente be against the Marymount Plan?

We don't understand it either.

Apparently, the City Council has very different priorities than the residents.
That's why we decided to bring this directly to you--the residents and voters of Rancho Palos Verdes.

Ten years of study make it clear: This is a good project that will benefit our entire community. Measure P means less traffic, a new library, gym, pool and playing fields all at no tax payer expense.

November 2 is just a week away. Vote Yes on Measure P and keep Marymount a vibrant College and benefit for residents for another 50 years.

Thanks,

Michael Brophy
President, Marymount College”
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
What Ms. Pamer failed to include is the one item in The Annenber Project that has kept it from being approved at the location The Foundation wants and what is actually a wonderful inclusion that could benefit far more people than anything Marymount can do to benefit anybody besides providing money and contracts.

The Annenberg Foundations wants to build an eight-room K-9 Human Assistant Training Facility to teach dogs, handlers and recipients of K-9 Assistants all about the training of the dogs and how the receipient will use the real benefit.

This facility would provide jobs and education to community members and allow everyone the chance to learn about K-9 Assistants so everyone will have the chance to become more comfortable and willing to accept K-9 Assistants in places where dogs are not normally allowed.

I am now hoping that should space be found on the higher portion of the Point Vicente Reservation of Fort MacArthur, the actual name of both the site of the interpretive center and our City Hall, The Annenberg Foundation might find it in their interest in helping to fund a new City Hall complex that incorporates the Training Center, more educational facilities and a community-benefitting government and educational complex all residents and visitors can enjoy.

On the other hand, calling the building The Annenberg Foundation wants to build a "huge kennel" demonstrates the total CARElessness by Dr. Brophy towards our residents' intelligence, our City Council's character, and our nature of wanting to know the whole truth, no matter what the issue is.

Dr. Brophy, apparently with the Marymount College's Board of Trustees and the few seniors that make up Palos Verdes Peninsula Watch's approval have lowered the discussion and debate concerning Measure P, The Marymount Plan to a level no supporter of an institution of higher learning should ever let it slip to.

The lack of total honesty, whole truth, and elimination of misinformation and falsehoods shows all of us how low Dr. Brophy and Marymount's supports will go to try and find approval for something they delayed for over seven of the last ten years.

Please vote "No" on Measure P, The Marymount Plan.

Safety. Everyone. Everywhere. Every hour.