Hey! I Didn't Start It...This Time

This mornings Palos Verdes Peninsula News contains a letter to the editor submitted by Ms. Alicia Maniatakis.

Her letter is titles "Has college turned political?"

Included in her letter is the mention that (apparently) Ms. Cynthia Smith, one of the eight candidates for City Council is an "administrative assistant" employed by Marymount College.

The letter also includes the name of another Council candidate, Mr. Eric Alegria and the letter alleges that Mr. Alegria became an R.P.V. resident "only five months ago".

Ms. Maniatakis also asks why Marymount's administration has not begun the "council approved" expansion project.

Ms. Maniatakis also referred a quote made by Marymount's President, Dr. Michael Brophy, which appeared in the Palos Verdes Peninsula News that Marymount had no intentions of becoming involved in the current political election for the three open City Council seats.

The letter also included mention of a Marymount-hosted candidates debate, "for the first time ever", according to Ms. Maniatakis.

I do not personally know Ms. Maniatakis and I cannot remember if I have ever met her. She makes some very good and interesting points, especially when she seems to call out Marymount's administration and Dr. Brophy in particular for quote related to Marymount not becoming involved in the upcoming election, and in the same letter illustrating that Marymount officials have scheduled a first ever candidates' debate, regarding the election Dr. Brophy was quoted as saying his College would stay out of.

I do acknowledge and understand that Dr. Brophy and his associates will take the stand that Marymount, as the college entity it is, cannot and will not endorse any candidate, nor will it supply funds directly from the college to any candidates.

I am sure you all know that there are lots of well-heeled supporters of Marymount and The Marymount Plan who are legally allowed to fund candidates' campaigns, as long as they do it as individuals or through there non-Marymount-related businesses.

But having Marymount host a debate after Dr. Brophy claimed that the College would not become involved is problematic, in many ways.

I learned through several independent sources that the debate is scheduled for October 30, if I got that date correct. The debate is scheduled to be conducted on Marymount's private campus and not in a public location. I have no doubt however that members of the public are welcome to attend.

But one of my first questions is will Marymount officials allow anyone to everyone recording the debate on the campus?

Claims have been made that Marymount security guards blocked access to a public street, while classes were beginning, for the day and there have been reports that one of Marymount's security guards was struck by a car while he was standing on the public roadway, directing traffic. What measures might Marymount's security guards be instructed to take should folks opposed to certain candidates make negative comments. Might those same security guards hold favor over Ms. Smith or Mr. Alegria, if Ms. Maniatakis' remarks portend supporters of Marymount also being avid supporters of those two candidates?

There is something very ugly brewing with regards to the Marymount debate. I'm not going there with that, right now. I hope it doesn't get ugly, but please be prepared for some ugliness coming forth before October's possible debate.

I do have to remind everyone that it appears unlikely that supporters of The Marymount Plan will gain enough seats on the Council to allow it to approve The Marymount Plan, with on-campus housing, included.

It takes three votes, a majority of Council members to pass the ordinances required to begin The Marymount Plan. Our City Council has already approved, by more than a simple majority, The Marymount College Facilities Expansion Project, a project that Marymount has essentially done absolutely nothing on beginning to work on the first phase.

The current plans going through processes are neither The Project or The Plan. it is some remodeling of Air Conditioning equipment on the roofs of at least one building that would eventually be torn down should either The Project or The Plan having work begun.

*So, apparently Dr. Brophy has been quoted as saying Marymount won't become involved in the upcoming election.

*Marymount is scheduled to hold a candidates' debate in October for an election Dr. Brophy claims the college won't be involved with.

*The current plans for improvements have nothing to do with either The Project or The Plan.

*One of the candidates for a Council seat works at Marymount College, as stated in Ms. Maniatakis' letter.

*Another candidate apparently moved into our city just five months ago.

I agree with Ms. Maniatakis that voters in R.P.V. deserve answers from Dr. Brophy and others representing Marymount College to these questions about the election, the expansion project, and what Marymount officials may be attempting to support, after claiming no involvement.

This all should be taken care of by the upcoming debate scheduled for September 7 at the Point Vicente I.C., beginning at 7 PM. It could go a long way to quell any type of ugliness that some are worried about, already.

So, what's up Marymount?