Marymount College Seeks Voter Approval for Campus Remodel, New Student Housing
Los Angeles Times
April 14, 2010
It was about 10 years ago that Marymount College asked Rancho Palos Verdes to approve a campus remodel, a makeover that would include a new library and gym and bring student housing to the ocean-view campus for the first time.
Now, angry at what it says is the agonizingly slow pace of gaining approval for the more than $50-million project, the small Catholic college has decided to take the issue directly to the city's voters with an initiative on the November ballot.
Marymount's move is unprecedented in Rancho Palos Verdes, a town of about 42,000 people with multimillion-dollar homes, spectacular ocean views and modest political campaigns.
City Council candidates might spend $40,000, but Marymount's campaign is expected to go well beyond that. In fact, it may have already exceeded it.
The college has hired a well-known political consultant and lobbyist, set up a website, sent every registered voter in the city pamphlets and a DVD making its case for the project and is running commercials on the cable TV system.
