The Ojai city council is putting forth a proposal to give our public land to a private developer. There are two public parcels at risk: Parcel 10, part of the Libbey Park master plan and Parcel 11 that was a gift to the residents of Ojai to be preserved as open space. In 1971, the City of Ojai was made owner and protector of the Libbey Park land with the stipulation that the land continue to be used as a park and not for any other purposes. That is what the deed says and that is what the city has honored. Until now.

A few years after the park was put under the city's protection, Parcel 11 was donated to the people of Ojai with a similar deed restriction: that the land was to be kept as open space in perpetuity for all the residents to enjoy. The City of Ojai agreed to protect Parcel 11 as part of the gift deed.

But now, our current city council is attempting to go back on their word and challenge both deeds so that they can take the land for development. This is terrible for Ojai and worse for the state of California. If the current city council succeeds in challenging these deeds then no land gifts throughout the state will be safe from others who try to take public land for private use. Please add your signature to tell the Ojai city council that they have no right to spend our city funds on an attempt to take our public land for private development.