July 9, 2008

Mr. Sandor Winger
LAFCO for Los Angeles County
700 North Central Blvd, Suite 445
Glendale, CA 91203

RE: Marina del Rey Incorporation

Dear Mr. Winger,

Per your voicemail message yesterday, I am providing your office a letter detailing my request on incorporation for Marina del Rey. The issue that arose during our initial meeting on May 28, 2008 was whether the County of Los Angeles, as land owners of Marina del Rey, or the Lessees (as long-term leaseholders of the Marina) have the legal right or ability to block the incorporation process. And if so, what specific government code(s) or law(s) that affords them the right to block incorporation.

I appreciate your efforts to provide us with an official response in light of our phone conversation on Monday, which was in sharp contrast to our initial meeting. At that time, you and Sera Grossman were informative and frank about the incorporation process and the pitfalls we would likely face. You were patient and open to our questions. You also stated that you and your organization prided itself on being professional, independent and keeping to facts and numbers when it comes to the incorporation process. We were certainly relieved to hear this. This is why Monday’s telephone call was all the more surprising to me.

During that phone conversation, you stated that based on my phone message, you felt I was grouping you and your organization in the same pool as we see County organizations. I tried to inform you that it was not my implication, but you cut me off stating "it's meaningless." You then proceeded to give me the same information provided to us the day of our meeting. It became very clear that because you believed that I had grouped you in some other category and because you did not want to believe otherwise despite what I said, that you had no interest in providing me additional information or talking to me further. Finally, you said use your own lawyer and effectively hung up on me by saying thank you and ending your side of the conversation. At this point, I was literally speechless.

I have been very patient waiting for a response regarding the question of if and how land owners can block the incorporation process. You stated after our initial meeting that you expected a very quick response from your counsel. I emailed you two weeks later and you were still waiting for a response from counsel. Six weeks later, yesterday, I left you a voicemail wanting to know the status. In light of your indication of a speedy reply, we certainly had an expectation of a more detailed response by this point.

It is hard for me to understand your attitude. You had, from my point of view, created an atmosphere that could potentially interfere with and bias the incorporation process for Marina del Rey, should we choose to proceed. I hope your call yesterday demonstrates a change in how your organization interacts with us.

Sincerely,

David Barish

We ARE Marina del Rey
PO BOX 9096
Marina del Rey, CA 90295
(310) 909-6697
davidb@wearemdr.com
www.wearemdr.com