Alex Fiore

As our community starts this New Year together, we begin without one of our city's all-time leaders. He was elected to the original City Council in 1964, served a record seven terms, never lost an election. He was mayor six times. His name has been affixed to Little League baseball fields, an affordable housing complex and most recently our community Teen Center. When he retired from the council in 1994 after 30 years of public service, he was honored as our city's mayor emeritus.

As our community starts this New Year together, we begin without one of our city's all-time leaders. He was elected to the original City Council in 1964, served a record seven terms, never lost an election. He was mayor six times. His name has been affixed to Little League baseball fields, an affordable housing complex and most recently our community Teen Center. When he retired from the council in 1994 after 30 years of public service, he was honored as our city's mayor emeritus.

Alex Fiore, a 30-year Thousand Oaks City Council member whose service earned him the title "mayor emeritus," died Thursday night at Los Robles Regional Medical Center. He was 75. One of the original council members after Thousand Oaks became a city in 1964, Fiore was a driving force behind construction of the Civic Arts Plaza, helped secure thousands of acres in open space and is credited with helping to maintain the city's fiscal health over three decades.

Alex Fiore, a 30-year Thousand Oaks City Council member whose service earned him the title "mayor emeritus," died Thursday night at Los Robles Regional Medical Center. He was 75. One of the original council members after Thousand Oaks became a city in 1964, Fiore was a driving force behind construction of the Civic Arts Plaza, helped secure thousands of acres in open space and is credited with helping to maintain the city's fiscal health over three decades.

Thousand Oaks Councilman Alex Fiore was quoted stating that "they're just smoking opium," when he referred to the ongoing recall effort ("Fiore Recall Leaders Say Signatures Valid," July 27). The "they" in that statement was directed toward me. I have never smoked, not even cigarettes, and no malicious attempt by Alex Fiore to slander my good name will work. To dismiss the effort of citizens with such arrogance and such cavalier language reflects poorly on any elected officials.

To say that my statements in the article "Recall: Fiore, Schillo May Face Voters" on Jan. 27 were misleading is an understatement; my meaning was that Thousand Oaks Councilman Alex Fiore represents all segments of his constituency very well, not just the "older longtime residents." For example, he was personally responsible for establishing the Youth Center as well as other programs and projects related to youth. Every action that Alex Fiore and Frank Schillo have taken has been with the best interest of our citizens at heart.

Apparently Lee Laxdal doesn't get it (Letters, Feb. 9). Elois Zeanah is the cause of the viciousness and untruths on the Thousand Oaks City Council. She always has been and as long as she is in office, she always will be. She orchestrated the attempted recalls of Laxdal's colleagues, Alex Fiore and Frank Schillo, and she has orchestrated the retaliatory recalls against Andy Fox and Judy Lazar. Yes, recall is tough medicine, but for our beautiful Thousand Oaks it is the only cure. Zeanah should be recalled; thank God some people finally had the courage to do something about it besides talk.

Your recent article on proposed changes to the copper curtain was an excellent preview of more coming attractions from Councilwoman Judy Lazar. From the beginning, Lazar played the starring role to spend $210,000 for this copper experiment they called "art." On a 3-2 vote, supporters were Alex Fiore and Frank Schillo. I don't think another dime should be spent on this eyesore of a building which Lazar continues to call a masterpiece. If the city insists on wasting $10,000 more on this building, I have a fitting proposal: Paint a picture of Fiore, Schillo and Lazar on the curtain itself.

Re "Judy Lazar's Experience Is Irreplaceable," by Beverly Kelley, Nov. 15. When you agree with someone in public office, it is disappointing if that person fails to be reelected. Beverly Kelley's column clearly shows her agreement with Judy Lazar's policies. I'd like to present a rebuttal, based on disagreement with those policies. I believe that Lazar has been a brilliant propagandist, operating right next to Alex Fiore until he retired and then taking the center. I don't care how capable Lazar is; I think she has consistently applied her capabilities to the wrong purposes.

The best solution to Ventura County's trash problems is the expansion of an existing solid waste disposal asset--the Toland Road Landfill. For western and central communities, Toland offers accessible, affordable service with more than 30 years of capacity. For the east county communities, Toland provides a long-term, locally controlled backup to the Simi Landfill. For the market in general, Toland assures competition, which ultimately works to the benefit of all residents countywide.

Re "Judy Lazar's Experience Is Irreplaceable," by Beverly Kelley, Nov. 15. When you agree with someone in public office, it is disappointing if that person fails to be reelected. Beverly Kelley's column clearly shows her agreement with Judy Lazar's policies. I'd like to present a rebuttal, based on disagreement with those policies. I believe that Lazar has been a brilliant propagandist, operating right next to Alex Fiore until he retired and then taking the center. I don't care how capable Lazar is; I think she has consistently applied her capabilities to the wrong purposes.

Apparently Lee Laxdal doesn't get it (Letters, Feb. 9). Elois Zeanah is the cause of the viciousness and untruths on the Thousand Oaks City Council. She always has been and as long as she is in office, she always will be. She orchestrated the attempted recalls of Laxdal's colleagues, Alex Fiore and Frank Schillo, and she has orchestrated the retaliatory recalls against Andy Fox and Judy Lazar. Yes, recall is tough medicine, but for our beautiful Thousand Oaks it is the only cure. Zeanah should be recalled; thank God some people finally had the courage to do something about it besides talk.

Your recent article on proposed changes to the copper curtain was an excellent preview of more coming attractions from Councilwoman Judy Lazar. From the beginning, Lazar played the starring role to spend $210,000 for this copper experiment they called "art." On a 3-2 vote, supporters were Alex Fiore and Frank Schillo. I don't think another dime should be spent on this eyesore of a building which Lazar continues to call a masterpiece. If the city insists on wasting $10,000 more on this building, I have a fitting proposal: Paint a picture of Fiore, Schillo and Lazar on the curtain itself.

The best solution to Ventura County's trash problems is the expansion of an existing solid waste disposal asset--the Toland Road Landfill. For western and central communities, Toland offers accessible, affordable service with more than 30 years of capacity. For the east county communities, Toland provides a long-term, locally controlled backup to the Simi Landfill. For the market in general, Toland assures competition, which ultimately works to the benefit of all residents countywide.

Thousand Oaks Mayor Alex Fiore will retire this fall after 30 years on the City Council. And before he goes, local business people would like to clear up just a few tiny misconceptions about the veteran politician. Like the notion that he's a pro-growth zealot, eager to chop down oak trees and pave over parks. Or the concept that he's a reckless legislator, willing to bend laws to appease developers.

The hottest tickets in Thousand Oaks were on sale at The Oaks mall Tuesday morning, as about 50 people lined up to reserve seats for events at the soon-to-be-completed Civic Arts Plaza. At a ribbon-cutting ceremony, city officials opened the Civic Arts Plaza box office in the mall and then scurried to find places in line before the more popular shows sold out.

Thousand Oaks must have a new wetlands ordinance, and that proposed by Mayor Elois Zeanah is our best chance. When this ordinance came before the City Council late last year, it was the subject of inappropriate and inaccurate comments by council members Frank Schillo, Judy Lazar and Alex Fiore. This was difficult to understand because these council members claim they trust their staff, and staff pleaded strongly in support of the ordinance. Instead of supporting the draft ordinance, Schillo, Lazar and Fiore berated it as another layer of bureaucratic red tape.

With scores of his fans applauding respectfully, veteran politician Alex Fiore launched his sixth term as mayor of Thousand Oaks on Tuesday, rotating back into the council's leadership post for a final six-month stint. As mayor, Fiore will preside over council debates on several hot topics this summer, including the Dos Vientos development in Newbury Park. But already, he's looking past those public hearings to an event he has long dreamed about: October's grand opening of the Civic Arts Plaza.

With scores of his fans applauding respectfully, veteran politician Alex Fiore launched his sixth term as mayor of Thousand Oaks on Tuesday, rotating back into the council's leadership post for a final six-month stint. As mayor, Fiore will preside over council debates on several hot topics this summer, including the Dos Vientos development in Newbury Park. But already, he's looking past those public hearings to an event he has long dreamed about: October's grand opening of the Civic Arts Plaza.

Thousand Oaks must have a new wetlands ordinance, and that proposed by Mayor Elois Zeanah is our best chance. When this ordinance came before the City Council late last year, it was the subject of inappropriate and inaccurate comments by council members Frank Schillo, Judy Lazar and Alex Fiore. This was difficult to understand because these council members claim they trust their staff, and staff pleaded strongly in support of the ordinance. Instead of supporting the draft ordinance, Schillo, Lazar and Fiore berated it as another layer of bureaucratic red tape.