Simi's own show

WENDY PIERRO/Acorn Newspapers SPOTLIGHTING SIMI—Jeremy Weiss of Sherman Oaks and Simi Valley native Mike Chandler are the creators of www.thesimishow.com, a new Internet website that contains video clips they capture around Simi. Said Chandler, "I want to showcase the city." Unlike the cities of Laguna Beach and Beverly Hills, Simi Valley probably won't see its name attached to a network television series anytime soon.

But on the Internet, Simi already plays host to a reality show of its own, thanks to civicminded resident Mike Chandler, creator of "The Simi Show."

Despite its name, "The Simi Show" is less of a show and more a collection of video clips dealing with real issues and real people in Simi Valley.

Chandler, 34, said his goal in creating the website was to help educate people about the goings-on of local government and to get them excited about the process.

"I wanted to make something fun and engaging," he said. "I want to make people aware of what's going on in their city."

Chandler's fire was lit during last fall's election season, when he created www.votesimivalley.com and began asking tough questions of local candidates.

Despite his opposition to the three incumbents in the City Council election, Chandler said, his new venture, "The Simi Show," isn't at all about pushing his own personal political views.

"I don't think anyone would really find it all that compelling if it was just about my agenda," he said.

Instead, Chandler said, it's about creating an online "interactive bulletin board" of local news, issues, people and businesses.

"I want to showcase the city and show what's good about Simi."

With camera, microphone and a list of questions in hand, Chandler and camera operator Jeremy Weiss of Sherman Oaks travel around town to get answers from residents and elected officials about hot topics in Simi Valley.

Chandler and Weiss met where they work, at On Assignment Inc. in Calabasas, a recruiting firm specializing in healthcare and life sciences.

"When we go out in the community to do the interviews," Chandler said, "it usually starts out bumpy—people think we're salesmen or something—but once you get that one character who really opens up and has a lot of fun and is charismatic, it gets me going too, and that starts to draw a crowd.

"When passersby see someone talking energetically to a camera, they stop and crowd around and that gets more people willing to jump in."

When his schedule allows it, Chandler also takes his camera to City Council and school board meetings, hoping to capture the highlights.

"What I'm looking for is the compelling stuff that the public should hear, but doesn't, because they can't sit through three hours of this stuff," he said.

Though Chandler acts as reporter on the show, he's the first to admit what he's doing isn't exactly journalism.

"I admit fully that I'm not the most objective person as far as these issues are concerned—I'm not afraid to stand up in a forum and let my opinion be known once I put down the camera," he said. "But when I'm talking to people on the street, I try not to engage them in arguments. I just listen."

Chandler has been critical of certain aspects of Shop Simi Valley First, the marketing campaign put on by the city and the Chamber of Commerce that tries to encourage residents to shop locally so the city can reap the sales tax.

In one of his videos, Chandler asks residents what they think about Shop Simi Valley First. Most have never heard of it. The city shouldn't be spending $100,000 on the campaign if it isn't working, Chandler said.

"This is a compelling program," he said. "But we're spending $100,000 on it. What are we getting out of it?"

Councilmember Steve Sojka, a proponent of the shop local campaign and chair of the Small Business Advisory Committee, said Chandler's criticism of Shop Simi is misguided. Sojka said that some local pizza places have bigger advertising budgets than the campaign.

Though they may differ on issues, the council member said he thinks "The Simi Show" is a good idea—if done right.

"It's good to get people engaged," Sojka said. "I hope that whatever issue he deals with, he does his research. It's easy to create a controversy, but you want to see someone who just reports facts in a fair and balanced way. That does the community a good service."

Councilmember Barbra Williamson told the Simi Valley Acorn that she enjoys the show.

"It's fresh and it's something that's brand new," Williamson said. "I'd like to see how it grows maybe five or 10 years from now. . . . He doesn't seem to be the type of person who makes a judgment and exploits it. I think he listens really well."

Chandler said he hopes to expand "The Simi Show" by inviting outside contributors to add their own content, including interviews, hard news stories and perhaps guest commentaries. He also wants to profile local businesses and cover the landfill expansion issue.

"Mike's trying to get people involved with politics that directly affect them," Weiss, 34, said. "It's easy to focus on the state and national news, but local news gets pushed back."

Chandler and Weiss say they've spoken with many residents who don't know the members of the City Council or the mayor and are unfamiliar with big issues in town. They want that to change.

With "The Simi Show," they think they're onto something big.

"There's only a couple hours of video up, but the response has been positive," Chandler said. "I'm thinking, 'Wow, what can this become?' It's really exciting."

Chandler has a wife, Rachel, a 10-year-old stepson, Andrew, and a son, Ryan, who is 5.

For more information on "The Simi Show," visit the website www.thesimishow.com.