I’ve been visiting the Malibu Lagoon and Surfrider Beach for sustenance and relaxation for 30 years. During that time, the lagoon has evolved into one of the best bird sanctuaries in Southern California. It is hard to imagine that the proposed Ahmanson Development, 25 miles upstream, that threatens to turn the lagoon into a silty, mud-pie laced with toxins, exists. Let alone that it is actually very close to becoming a reality!
Like Godzilla versus Bambi, the financial giant Washington Mutual blatantly ignores the hue and cry of the little guys trying to block this venture. Ventura County, with nothing to lose and revenues to gain, has already given Washington Mutual permits to build 3,050 homes, two golf courses, a hotel and 400,000 square feet of commercial buildings. This dreadful development, moving forward on 10-year-old environmental studies, would create an additional 45,000 car trips a day on the 101, adding 840 tons of pollutants to the air every year. Forty-five million cubic yards of earth will be moved and 1,385 oak trees uprooted to make way for what is one of the largest planned developments ever!
It’s not just birds that will lose a safe haven if we don’t block Washington Mutual’s total disregard for our shrinking habitat. All of us in Los Angeles who are working toward clean air, clean water, and un-congested roadways and saving the last of our open spaces will suffer as well. Please don’t let this happen.
For more information about what you can do to help, you can go to www.ahmanson.org.
Linda Ballou