If you read newspaper letters or online commentary, you’d think it’s been all doom and gloom in Simi Valley recently.

Apparently some people don’t get out much. Really good things happened in town the past couple of years.

To name some, just focus on improvements to youth sports facilities in town. The opening of the new girls’ softball facility at Big Sky Park was a huge achievement for the entire community, something everyone can be proud of. It’s a state-of-the-art facility, one of the best softball-only complexes in the entire Southland, right here in Simi Valley.

Special thanks to our community’s own Amanda McPherson Foundation, as well as the Rancho Simi Recreation and Park District, and to City Council members Glen Becerra and Steve Sojka, who the foundation first approached to get the ball rolling on the project.

Becerra, Sojka and Councilmember Michelle Foster return every year to enjoy the league’s special Opening Day ceremony.

Improvements have been made to the Vikings Football facility, as well as to the adjacent parking area shared with Simi Valley Girls Softball, at Apollo High School—and again Councilmen Becerra and Sojka were involved.

The city did not have to, but it went and improved Blackstock Avenue into school district property to make it easier on participants for both leagues. The park district now is really helping to improve fields for both leagues. Kudos to the park and school districts for working together.

Don’t forget the park district’s improvements over at Santa Susana Boys Baseball on Township Avenue.

Before that, Sojka helped with various important projects for Simi Youth Baseball over on Irvine Road through the years, including getting PONY Baseball’s World Series hosted there. It was a prestigious national event held right here in Simi Valley.

Some people choose to complain all the time; others rejoice in good things in our community.

When youth sports leagues have opening days and you see hundreds of smiling faces on little human bodies ready to participate in healthy activities that help them grow into productive and healthy adults, it is great to know we have local elected officials who support them. And then some.

Steve Sojka, Glen Becerra and Michelle Foster always seem to be there with them. They get it: being on the City Council means more than just sitting at the dais on Monday nights.
Bill Dobbs
Simi Valley