No art museum for Village Entrance

Open letter to the Board of Directors, Laguna Art Museum:

While I think it is a brilliant plan, I must inform you that I cannot support the moving of the Laguna Art Museum to the Village Entrance project ? nor to include it in the environmental report for consideration.

As you know, many in this city have been working toward a Village Entrance project for more than 20 years. I, personally, have worked toward this end ? primarily with the goal of creating a large parking garage ? for 12 years.

After much acrimony in town for many years over this issue, Toni Iseman and I hammered out a proposal for the Village Entrance and presented it to our fellow council members, and the community, in January of this year. While none of us achieved all we wanted, most of us achieved most of what we wanted. This year has been a delight in which to serve this city because now, because of the Village Entrance compromise, people are getting along, and the venom that dominated politics in this town for so long has nearly evaporated.

Ms. Iseman and I made an offer and commitment to the community. The community accepted it. I feel that, particularly, the two of us need to stick to our commitments. Our word is our word.

The Village Entrance project is moving forward, and I am determined to stay focused on the commitment I made as it relates to the project.

I want to see it come to fruition in my lifetime.

Having once served on the board of directors of the Laguna Art Museum, I have always said ? and the City Council agrees ? that it makes sense to see the Laguna Art Museum in the Civic Arts District.

I would encourage the museum to consider working with others who are developing plans in the Civic Arts District to work to become part of their concepts. This will give the town a total project to consider at the outset ? and allow full inclusion, and time, for all to be involved in the process (hopefully not 12 or 20 years). If I can assist in this endeavor, I am happy to do so.