In essence, the expansion will provide better service for all those OTHER cities that will be trucking their garbage here, allowing THOSE cities to keep growing out of control as WE bear the cost of watching our community turned into a junkyard. How about this solution: tell all those OTHER cities to start limiting their production of garbage until they find a way to dispose of it somewhere else.

Good thing the parts of the world that refine our gasoline don't have that same dangerous attitude. Unless of course you want a local refinery?

Last November Waste claimed it had no plans to expand. They worked hard to defeat Jim Dantona for Supervisor. Low and behold, Dantona was telling the truth and Waste was living up to its reputation. How many convictions for bribing politicians and getting into bed with the Mafia? Too many to count! Does Simi Valley officials want us to be known as Mount Trashmore, or a City with vision? Funny thing is we can't find landfills in Malibu, Westlake, Newport Beach, La Jolla and . . . but we do find then in Mohave and Barstow. It is time Simi Valley elected officials say enough is enough. Simi Valley has been doing so well. Let's not set us back 40 years. We have grown beyond bounced checks and dollar down homes. Send Waste packing to Mohave or Barstow.

All our local leaders, from the new Supervisor to most of the City Council are carefully avoiding involvement in an issue that could easily result in political suicide. Mr Foy told us at the debate that he spoke to WMI's execs personally and they assured him there'd be no expansion. Jim Dantona's absolutely right: there's a deliberate attempt to place a veil over the entire process in an attempt to bamboozle the community and its voters. It's got to stop.

Look back EXACTLY at what Foy said. I bet you will find that he didn't use the phrase "no new trash". Post a link to a video if you doubt me.

A refinery? Don't think that will pencil out. How about a nuclear power plant though? It can be built on Rocketdyne property. The EIR should go through since the site is already contaminated. Simi Valley residents can get cheaper electricity and the City can get a kick back off every KW sold. It could be a win-win for all. Then again, maybe not wanting oil refineries, nuclear power plants and dumps in our little valley isn't a bad idea either. As a community we should establish goals and priorities. We should make a list of communities that we desire to emulate and those that we don't find too slick. I, for one, prefer Westlake over Mohave; Thousand Oaks over Barstow. Should the landfill really be that icon revered in Planet of the Apes?

We already HAVE a landfill...one we share with many other communities. So its not a question of being a NIMBY. It IS a question of what you want Simi Valley to look like for our kids and the duplicity that we've seen from those planning this expansion behind closed doors should be proof that WMI's present request won't be the last.

Also, there's no Divine Law nor Constitutional Protection that gives Pasadena and other cities the unencubered right to grow by dumping its waste on out-of-the-way communities. Victimizing a neighbor in an effort to grow beyond one city's means isn't acceptable. Maybe Pasadena has to live within its means. And maybe WMI has to forgo the mega profits (at the expense of growing community problems) generated by consolidation and start looking for more satellite landfills.

I'm sure Mr. Foy used the correct wording. After all Waste attended the candidates' forum and appeared to be quite friendly with him. No doubt they gave him the accurate words. But then again, being accurate doesn't mean he was being honest to the public.

But we don't have a refinery. Why do you guys insist that other communities have refineries and not Simi Valley?

Some towns have big dumps, some refineries, and some other things. What is the big deal? Last time I checked WMI owned the land and the highways are made for cars.

Why not support a local business that employs many people and will employ more if we allow them to expand. They are going to expand, why not help them provide more jobs now?

Go ahead and keep sending your sharply worded barbs at us here in Thousand Oaks.

Because we are going to be sending even more trash your way soon suckers!

It's about time Waste Magt. was held accountable for what they do. Since they have all the Money they buy all the VOTES. Why except for Barbra has our City Council, Mayor and Supervisor remained silent. Hey Baccerea are you asleep at the switch. Waste has over 20 years left on their permit but they want to Double the size of the DUMP NOW. Seems fishy to me. Keep up the good work Barb. Stop the expansion.

I SAY FIRE MIKE SMITH. HE HAS SOLD SIMI OUT.

Fire Smith for selling Simi Valley out? He works for WM not the city.

How about you focus your anger on the people that work for you? How are the people you voted for working on this issue with Mr. Smith and others at OUR local dump?

Unless of course you are the CEO or a shareholder in WM in which case my points are moot.

We should all be proud to have our very own dump. Soon we may even have our own Super Fund Site at Rocketdyne. Simi Valley is looking better every day.

Barbra,

I am curious where your loyalties lie? You and Davis endorsed Dean KunICKi who was Bill Davis'appointee to the planning commission and consultant and cohort to Colton Lee-Gary Gorian? What are your views on the road widening in the Knolls for Colton Lee to build a horse ranch with manufactured homes in a fire hazard area and encroach on property owners land? Do you think Sup. Foy will be objective since Colton Lee was a major donor to the VCRCC who paid for his and KunICKi's campaign literature under the "guise-loop-hole" of membership communications. That literature helped to take down your boy Dantona.

You confuse me.

Now the landfill expansion, aren't you buds with Davis who is lobbying for the expansion? What do you think of his new job with Waste Management? For that matter I am surprised Davis supported Dantona over Mikels since Mikels and he seem aligned with the landfill expansion. Simi politics are very confusing.

Another question is about the history of the land where the landfill is presently.

Unocal owned it first if I recall right-they wanted to sell it to develop 2500 homes and an industrial complex. Friends of the Canyon, Brian Kelley, Theresa Berringer and Elaine Freeman the-PR for Unocal greased every non-profit in town to approve their project.

Wasn't that voted down by the people of SV-Was that Measure A?

Do you think the traffic from that development that was voted down by the community would have been worse than the landfill expansion. Did the City have to approve Waste Management to buy that chunk of land from Unocal, clearly that was an indicator of things to come. Who bought the remainder of the land and what is the plan for that?

I don't want to live in a City that has nuclear waste contamiination on one side of the Valley from Rocketdyne and the other side of the Vally the Dump for the County. I wonder what Ronald Reagan would think of the reputation of the city as the dump site for the County and his final resting place?

It was Measure B follow the link. That was voted down, yes?

Press ReleasesArchivesSpeechesPublicationsCurrent IssuesFact SheetsMedia ResourcesUnocal Press Release Archives
Unocal supports No on Measure B
Simi Valley, Calif., Oct. 8, 2002 - Unocal will participate in the funding of the campaign for "No on Measure B." After many months of studying and researching Measure B, Unocal has come forward to support the Simi Valley Citizens for Local Control campaign to defeat Measure B on the November 5 ballot.

Measure B effectively eliminates local control over thousands of acres of development including The Canyons (owned by Unocal) by moving the current urban boundaries of the city inward. "The real issue is about who will control future expansion areas - the City or the County," said Brian Kelly, Unocal's Project Manager. "A No vote means the City retains control, a yes vote means the County gets control."

For the past two years, Unocal has been working closely with hundreds of local citizens to develop a comprehensive land use plan for its development in the City of Simi Valley.

"We have met with and are working with dozens of local groups and citizens to create a plan that has the support of the entire community," said Kelly. "Among the groups we have talked with or met with are all 4 Neighborhood Councils, the Police Department, the Rancho Simi Parks and Recreation District, the Simi Valley Unified School District, the Chamber of Commerce, the Simi Valley Soccer Foundation, the Simi Valley Hospital, and Citizens for Safe and Scenic Simi Valley."

Unocal remains committed to the citizens of Simi Valley. By helping to fund No on Measure B, Unocal hopes to provide the support necessary to defeat Measure B on November 5.

MEAS B CITY OF SIMI VALL
URBAN BOUNDARY LINE
COMPLETE PRECINCTS: 69/ 69
INCOMPLETE PRECINCTS: 0

Yes.........................10,285 36.2%
No..........................18,161 63.8%

I am curious to know who were the developers involved in the proposal to build the homes on that land, would those people be involved with Kunicki and Colton Lee?

Where are our hero's, Rob Reiner and Linda Parks!

Can't Simi Valley find a philanthropist that would buy that land to preserve the dignity of the final resting place of Ronald Reagan. Maybe if the philanthropist would invest $20 million to save our hillsides like the friends of Reagan did for the Airforce One Pavilion Simi Valley could retain our dignity.

Good questions, "loyalties?"? Barbara, I'd especially like to hear your response inre the widening of the Knolls main road, so that MORE vehicles can be directed INTO the approaching fires, MORE quickly?

Loyalties...
Sorry, I certainly don't mean to confuse you, so let me make this perfectly clear: Yes, I did endorse Dean Kunicki for his seat on the Ventura County Board of Education (I think that is the correct name. And yes, Dean was Bill's appointment to the Planning Commission. When I was elected to the City Council, Bill got to appoint a person (Dean Kunicki)to take my place. I don't have any views on the widening of the road in the Knolls because I haven't seen the plan. I do however, support the project. And I am not aware of an encroaochment someone else's property.
I am not "buds" with Bill Davis. At one time we were friends, but unfortunately that friendship has subsided, and I can no longer support him or his actions, his employment with Waste being just one of many. Yes, I would agree, not only is the politics confusing, there is no loyalities. Yes, Unocal owned that property for 50 to 100 years and no, the people of Simi Vally didn't vote down the Unocal project, your local City Council did that. Yes, I beleive that traffic would have been worse had the unocal project been approved.
Going back to Supervisor Foy. I can't speak for him, but i am sure he will weight all the facts and make the correct decision.
As far as President Reagan is concerned, I believe he would suppost Free Enterprise, which by the way is what Waste Management is. Please don't get me wrong. I am not wanting to close the landfill down. I just think the residents of Simi Valley deserve all the facts prior to the County Board of Supervisors making their decision that will effect us in the East County. After all, this landfill isn't in Ventura, or Camarillo, or Thousand Oaks, Oxnard or heaven forbid Ojai...So why would anyone care about Simi Valley, except simi Valley?

We have one Councilmember in Simi who is bringing the landfill expansion to the public's attention and environmentalists questions her integrity. Now that is a twist. Environmentalists finally find a Councilmember with an open ear and a desire to come out of the back room and look at the issues and she gets sarcastic doubt. Hmmmm. Now she is being asked to take a position on a project in the Knolls. It is clearly a bad project. Clearly a project that will not benefit anyone but the developer. Clearly a project that will not fit in to the neighborhood. Clearly a project that has been bribing public officials with legal campaign contributions for several years. Yet, clearly not a project within the scope of a City Councilmember. It is the County, by choice of the Knolls' residents. Peter Foy should be the target. He is not an environmentalist. He will probably support the landfill expansion. He lives in his mega-mansion in the hills. So why go after Barbra? We lose her and we have no one. Gorian will probably be approved in the Knolls; not because of Barbra but because of the money that Gorian has spread around and the distaste that so many politicians have for certain spokespersons for the Knolls. Try to remember, a friend doesn't have to agree with you on every issue to remain a friend. Barbra Williamson has been a spokesperson for "Joe Simi" for a long time and the City is a much better place to live because of her. If she is a friend with Gorian, so be it. A guy like Gorian needs a friend.

Barbra,

As always I appreciate deeply your willingness to answer TOUGH questions. I respect and admire you for that.

Thank you for clarifying your positions. I am glad to hear you views on the landfill and grateful to your commitment to SV. Sorry to hear about your fallout with Davis but I am glad that you do not feel beholden to anyone other that your constituents. ;) You will have my vote next election and I DO hope you will win!

Simi Valley is the dumping ground for Ventura County. Why is it that Thousand Oaks and Westlake Village are too good for a dump?

I say each city must have their won dump as much as possible.

Sorry to hear that you'll be supporting over-development in a dangerous fire area, Barbara, but then you have been a very loyal friend to the developer and I can certainly appreciate that. Fortunately you don't need to worry about the Knolls' vote though we will be lobbying for the votes of our families, friends and neighbors throughout the City.

Foy is already backing off his pledge to not increase truck traffic. Foy was in on this deal from the start! Get ready Moorpark and Simi for the Foy express of garbage trucks!

Gary,
They asked for the truth, and got it. Gary Gorian is a friend...I don't desert friends easiely. And of course you are aware that I can't vote on the project, but with your last comment, I guess the other "good" I have done for the Knolls doesn't count. I never thought you were a "one" issue person, guess I was wrong.

Barbra, I hope that VCRCC (of which kunicki is a member and Gorian, Colton Lee major donors) do not go after you like they promsied. They will filter their donations through the VCRCC deguised as Membership Communications. It hurts to have "friends" betray you. Be prepared, they are loyal to the VCRCC, STricklands and Foy now. The next election is shaping up to be extremely interesting.

It's a good political move (and also good of you personally) to take on the "dump" issue, it should endear you to the public and help you to become re-elected and keep your name out there.

Barbara, I wouldn't expect you to desert a friend but the issue of over-development in the Knolls should not be decided based on an elected official's friendship with the developer. If it were me I'd excuse myself from any public support. As City Council member your public support of the proposal to carve up a community and create a serious potential for loss of life carries great weight, as the City and County recognize the Knolls as being within the City's sphere of influence.

So far County supervisors and City planners have acted reasonably and decided the development of the Knolls has the potential for big problems. We've tried to work with the developer, as the supervisors insisted, but have gotten no cooperation. We're still willing to work with the developer but no one is listening. This latest boondoggle, to widen Katherine Ave so as to funnel the additional 300 -350 vehicles traffic INTO the approaching fire doesn't make sense and needs to be stopped.

If you truly are a good friend you should encourage the developer to meet and work out a win-win solution. It can be done.

"Not Gorian...
These people have been after me since the very first election and I am very much aware of it. The good part is that I am only here if the residents of Simi valley want me, period. If they don't like what I am doing, they will get rid of me, and rightfully so. This Council seat is not part of a "bigger" plan...No Sacramento, no Washington DC for this gal, just trying to help the residents of Simi Valley.(And there are a lot more residents than there are VCRCC Besides, I think the folks at the FPPC are very much aware of the filtering of donations, as is the Attorney General)

Maybe we can put a new dump on Rocketdyne. Problem solved for two different issues!

Why is it we are only hearing from one city Council member on the Waste Management issue? I would like to know what the rest of the City Council members think and I would like to know what Mr. Foy thinks yet they aren't being quoted in any articles. Perhaps they will write and op-ed piece.

I know they have their staff members read this blog. Jason Spadaro, staff member for Peter Foy, can you please tell your boss to make a statement on the Waste Management issue? I know you are reading this blog. You could also comment on the previous questions regarding the VCRCC because you are a Caucus Chair for the Ventura County Republican Central Committee.

The phone number for Mr. Foy's office is 805-582-8010 if any of you want to contact Mr. Foy or Mr. Spadaro directly.

Not Gorian, Foy's campaign consultant publicly talked about how Barbra was going to be removed because she made a couple of the local central committee members mad by supporting Jim. His stupid comments were posted here shortly after the elections. Rumor has it that Foy and Brecara and the chair of the Central Committee recently met to talk about removing Barbra. Maybe their lunch meeting was about the Waste Management issue instead or to find out if old Elton is running or not.

History Buff...
I've heard about the same luncheon. There are eyes and ears everywhere...

Council Member Williams what did you mean when you said:

"Besides, I think the folks at the FPPC are very much aware of the filtering of donations, as is the Attorney General" in regards to Tony Strickland and the Republican Central Committee?

Have you heard something about an investigation from the state into the local Republican Central Committee?

Also, how many people have told you that Glen Becerra met with Peter Foy to try to get you replaced? More than one? Because if it is just 1-2 people it could be a wild rumor.

I find it odd Glen Becerra has time for lunch dates with Peter Foy to plot revenge but he doesn't have time to talk about the biggest issue in Simi Valley politics? It seems out of character for the Mayor Protem

Prove you know about the lunch story. What establishment was it at? What did they eat?

Rhino - just ask Brecara - seems to be the best way to handle it. Or ask Foy or his paid staff Spadaro because he's the Central COmmittee Caucus Chair for Simi and Moorpark and also works for Peter Foy. Best way to stop rumors is to go to the source. Just ask them if they had lunch together and if they talked about removing Barbara or if they talked about Waste Management.
the lunch story is pretty common knowledge - I'm not sure how you can ask Barbara to prove that she knows about it or have her report on what they ate - that's ridiculous. Ask the DA about the FPPC stuff - I think they have to investigate. THe FPPC won't confirm or deny any filings until resolution. THe local ethics committee has made some rulings recently - I think against foy but don't know for sure. Everyone talks about Stricklands but I'm think McClintock is the brains - everyone else is just a lapdog and most of them don't even know it.There's a game called Six Degrees from Kevin Bacon. With the Republican central committee you can play two degrees from Tom McClintock.

Maybe we can put it in Northridge at CSUN.

Look, I don't know who had lunch with who, and in the words of Rhett Butler, and frankly my dear, I don't give a damn.

And my last name is Williamson, not Williams. And Glen spells his last name Becerra....

Pete had a tuna sandwich, Becerra ate a steak (medium rare) and Mike Smith had roast crow. They sat at the second table from the left near the first window. Smith said the lunch tasted like garbage, Pete said it was like the last supper and Becerra said he would ask Elton how the steak was. And just think, this is the trio that is going after Barbra? I don't think she should worry.

Barb,
I have supported you for years but you are clueless. You are Gorian's only friend. Kunicki was forced from the Planning Commission because he was lining his pockets with $$$ for years from Gorian and others. Come on Barbra you don't support a project or show up at the county supporting a project because someone is your friend. The project is WRONG and DANGEROUS. I do salute you on your stand against Waste. Thats the Barbra I Know and Love.

Yup, you're right, I am clueless...who are you? LOL

Gary Gorian and I have been friends for years. When he was looking at the Parker Development he asked me what I thought prior to his actual plans, and I told him I would fight him all the way. He wanted to put in a large commercial center...and I did the same thing with Sandy Bass on a storage place, the point is, regardless if you are my friend or not, I will always tell you what I think of a project if asked. Both of these guys are my friends, Sandy even held a fundraiser at his home, but I told him flat out I was against his project. As far as the Knolls project is concerned, I haven't seen it for a couple of years, and I know it has changed, but I support its conception. Now if the change is so radical, I could change my mind, but heck, I can't vote on it, so what does it matter. Also, we and the county are mandated that we have to buid affordable housing...and the Knolls people, whether they want to or not,can't just sit by and say NO to everything. Why not get involved to make it a project they can support? And maybe they have, I don't know. Just a thought...And thanks for the LOVE... :)

Britney is way better than your whole stupid town lozers! She evn looks better when stoopid paprazzi catches her taking out her trash. Stop messing with Britney she rulez!

I forgot something. Her website is better than yours too.

TTYL,

Shannon

You lozers should feel lucky to have wealthy successful celebrity trash in your town. What else you got? A library for a guy that never made a cool song evar? He can't dance like Britney!

TTYL,

Shannon

Barbara, the "affordable housing" component is BS and you know it. Firstly, most of the Knolls' home prices are UNDER the AH level for the area and that means we already have MORE than our share of AH in the community. Secondly, your own council rejected the offer of a larger AH component in the Tapo Street development that your friend is now building. The City rejected another AH component in a planned development at LA & Stearns. And for the folks who aren't aware of what AH means to a developer it means he's got to set aside some units at the average price of similar units throughout the area, which for this area is a lot higher than anyone on a limited income could afford (roughly $1400 for 900 sf apt).

Lastly, no one in the Knolls has objected to low income housing. That's simply your way of trying to change the subject and grab the dialogue. The ONLY objections the community has made are to 1) the safety issue of crowding the area with 30% more vehicles during a typical evacuation (which can presently tke up to an hour and a half)and 2) the request to rezone the area for higher density that WILL, if approved, result in greater problems in the future as others begin overdeveloping the area. The Knolls has reached saturation point and nothing the developer or you desire is going to change that.

Again, encourage your developer friend to talk about a compromise. I know the Knolls folk are ready to work with him, rather than against him.

Like I said GARY.....I haven't seen the project in a couple of years, so I don't know what the proposal is! Stop barking at me.

The Knolls is gross. The closest mall is across town and it is totally lame. Britney Spears lives in a nice town, Malibu. When I can I am moving some place classy like Westlake Village. They have nice things not big steaming piles of poop called landfills. Why do they call it a landfill? It sounds like something nice. Like we totally filled in this land with a Wet Seal and a Macy's.

Have fun with your stoopid landfill Simi Valley!

Britney is too classy for your trashy town. You mess with Britney you mess with the most dedicated fans around.

OMG! You are still a Britney Spears fan? Give it up! Everyone knows Christina Aguilera wouldn't live in the soon to be trash capital Simi Valley or dumb Westlake. Just because Westlake sends all their trash to Simi Valley and other places doesn't make them any better.

That is like saying Brit is better than KFED. So what? She still isn't half the performer that Christina has proven to be! Your taste in music suxs ROFL!

Classical Liberal class warfare tactics applied to stopping the landfill expansion. Look, for you that don't understand capitalism, Westlake, Agoura, Thousand Oaks have higher property values and intend to keep it that way. Simi Valley doesn't care and why should they? Having the largest landfill lines the cities coffers instead of taxes. You can have high taxes like the nice towns or have low taxes and a new revenue source that cuts the working class taxes of the people of Simi Valley. Face it Simi you are not Thousand Oaks. Give it up. The Soviets lost the arms race and you will lose if you try to keep up. Take your big landfill and smile.

Is that photo background at the Simi Hills Golf course?

Are you nuts, I don't know where you live but my Property Taxes are through the ROOF. How does having a DUMP in our community save me money. Oh yeah and by the way Oxnard ships all it's trash to Simi and pays only $22 A ton, while Simi the DUMP host pays $45 a ton. Get your facts straight. SIMI VALLEY RESIDENTS are getting SCREWED.
STOP THE WASTE EXPANSION !

Why aren't people angry over Elton not being safe with the county?
http://thumbsnap.com/v/vy0Qze3W.jpg

I have seen several competing figures. Does anyone know what percentage of Simi Valley created trash stays in our community?

All the trash should be going to the Simi Valley dump unless for some political or unethical reason it doesn't. Simi Valley is a Conservative Republican area. I am sure everything is just fine.....

Simi is finally coming of age and will be heading to the top of the chart as a City of Class. First, a mega landfill at its western edge. Surrounding Cities within four Counties will be looking to Simi with envy as they ship their trash in. Second, a super fund site will be at our east end. This alone will put Simi on the national map.
Even further, the Knolls will have a brand new trailer park at its entrance. While other Cities will provide for planned growth, the Knolls will transform its rural character into a top notch prefab trailer park. Wow! Yes, indeed Simi can really have a future. We thought we had class thirty years ago; just look to the future.

Write your Congressman.

Between the "Joe Dirt" movie and the new "Knolls Project" why doesn't Simi Valley just finish the job and throw a fence around the city and call it "Trailer World".

I've never been able to figure out why the City Council, if it's so concerned with Affordable Housing and limited building parcels, refuses to consider taller buidlings. Why can't Simi Valley have a downtown skyline? More low cost apartments and offices? Is the council's refusal to consider building upwards simply a way to keep the costs of single family housing artificially high?

I bet if we asked Ronald Reagan if we could put a couple of tall buildings in Simi Valley after 9/11 he would of mounted his horse and tiped his and said "you bet we can".

I can't help but think that most of the people commenting here want Simi to be on par with Thousand Oaks and Westlake in terms of residents and property values. Numerous comments point to a high snobbery and distate for lower-income residents. When my family moved to Simi in the mid-90s, its reputation among Valley-dwellers was that of a redneck backwater town. I don't mind. We were pleasantly surprised to find that not to be the case, and the town was pretty evenly split between working-class and upper-middle-class families. I like the atmosphere of Simi, and I wouldn't be as comfortable living in TO or Westlake. It's just not my culture. Today, however, if my family had tried to move to Simi, we wouldn't be able to afford our house. While it's obviously good for homeowners to have prices rise, it is shifting the demographics.

If so many of you want Simi to become the next high-end neighborhood, and don't like some of the lower-end residents, why did you move here in the first place? Maybe it's because you, too, couldn't afford those other areas. Why deny to others the opportunities that were given to you? Brian, you say you don't want to open a dump in TO and you don't want to expand ours. Then where will the needed capacity come from? What city are you willing to put a dump in? Why them? Technology and safety features are constantly improving. If it's true that some residents of other cities pay less money than we do, that is a problem, but in general I don't see any particular shame in having a dump. Not, it's not glamorous, but it is a necessary ubran requirement. We can use it, and get some money from it.

Since all of us wealthy white envirnomentalists don't want it bringing down our property values, let's put the dump in some poor mexican or black neighborhood. Then we can ship our trash to them and feel much better about our safe, affluent, and clean Simi Valley.

I am just angry that Simi Valley keeps voting Republican and bad things keep happening. If Alex Fiore moved to Simi Valley instead of Thousand Oaks I would be crying to you. I dare any Simi Valley mayor to go to the local mall and set a folding chair and table down with a sign saying "tell me your problems". Your people sneak it by you.
They should have a statue of Alex and that table right next to the Lincoln memorial and his face on Mount Rushmore.

Seems to me the "snobbery" thread's simply been a tongue-in-cheek reaction to the issue and not meant seriously. I haven't been aware of any ethnic or class issue inre the dump, other than your own post, Owen. Besides, don't parents and families have a right to seek a better economic rung on the ladder? Or are they expected to waive that opportunity and hand their futures over to the whims of elected reps and local business leaders?

There's a very clear legal notion in California which basically says that if your neighbor does something to change the state of his property and it has an adverse effect on yours, then you have cause to seek compensation. Property rights are all good an fine as long as EVERYONE's property is being protected EQUALLY. On that basis the people of Simi Valley have every moral, ethical and legal right to insist that WMI's expansion does NOT have an adverse effect on the rest of the community. That's not class warfare or ethnic discrimination. That's common sense.

Speaking of trash rates....what are some of the rates people are paying in and around Simi? The Knolls is charged $37 per month. I haven't heard of anyone paying more but I know some areas are paying less.

Your the city with all the high level Republican connections. You trusted them. You got screwed. Stop the "it can't happen to me" whinning and do something about it.

For what it's worth, we pay about $27.00 a month here in Camarillo but Harrison is our service.

How about we do something about it and open a dump in your town!

Feel lucky that Simi Valley takes your trash.

Owen, under what conditions does the current dump need to expand? They wish to expand to take in more trash from Simi Valley and other towns. I have the duty to have a dump. I just don't see where the duty to take in trash from other cities come in. I believe, although i will wait to see more facts come out that if the dump was only taking Simi Valley trash it would be many, many years before it needed to be expanded.

Of course, WMI has a legal right to use their property, but that has to be balanced against our right to deal with issues created by it like traffic.

I think all towns should either have their own dump, or pay a premium to dump in other towns. This free market idea could help cities to promote recycling and trash reduction programs.

I am curious what other towns pay and where their trash goes. If you know please post people. Include your total fees and if you know the destination include that too.

Owen, lastly I agree that there isn't shame in having a dump. But I'd hate to be the dumping ground for cities that think they are too good to take care of their own trash. They can use our canyons, but they better be willing to pay a high price for it.

Thanks for commenting and bringing a fresh perspective to the debates around here.

Stein brought the snobbery up most openly, but it's been in the subtext since the beginning. The racial aspect is usually a Democratic issue reffered to as "Environmental Justice." Communities like ours, with wealthy white people, can put up a political fight against these types of companies. Poorer, minority communities can't, and so they usually end up with the dumps, refineries, etc. Obviously, trash in our areas will grow, and there must be a place to put it. If not in our already established dump, then where.

I don't know all the facts, in fact I know relatively little. I, too, am interested in the report of the committee. What I see here, however, is a gigantic NIMBY factor. I don't think we should automaticaly dismiss an expansion because of some knee-jerk reaction. I agree that other towns should pay more to use our dump.

I think the historic record will show that poorer communities either grow up around such places or they start out as relatively successful communities and suffer economic degradation afterwards. I can't think of a single instance where a poor community was burdened with a dump or a some such creature..except in places were businesses enjoy a large degree of economic freedom to do what they want, like in Bhopal, Louisiana and Russia.

Owen,
If you want to insult me have the courage to use your full name. My name is Michael Stein and I your an ignorant punk. So now we know where each other stands. What's your real name?

Come on Michael Stein. Don't get so upset. Owen can be Owen. You sound as if it is a shoot out at the OK corral. Don't be so hung up on formalities, just make your point. My point is your an "ignorant punk". Now how is that? Are you offended? You have some good things to say. Keep up the good work!

"Ignorant punk"? Is that like ..."You ignorant slut"...(you rememeber? Saturday Night Live)"? ;)

Instead of taking advantage of your set up. I will reach out to you and tell you something personal about myself. My Mother was a Republican. There is some ammo for you to attack me fire away.

I told you something even Elton is ashamed to put on his campaign signs. I have Republican connections.

How many of you proud Simi Valley Republicans have talked to Nancy Reagan on the phone before your Mother made dinner plans to have dinner with her at the Whitehouse? I have. Can you say that?
I may be alot of things but a snob isn't one of them. I am just proud of my city. Hope someday you are too.

Sorry for the type errors I got a new mouse can't quite control it yet.

Received this notification from Wasted Management this weekend. Is there any doubt that they plan to bring L.A. trash here? Despite their "honest" denials the path is clear to all but those burying their heads in the sand. Don't let them get away with it and don't let a "milestone" be achieved here in Simi Valley...

Waste Management
Sun Valley Recycling Park Perspectives e-Newsletter

APRIL 13, 2007

LETTER TO THE COMMUNITY ABOUT THE CLOSURE OF BRADLEY LANDFILL AND THE FUTURE OF SUN VALLEY FROM DOUG CORCORAN, DIRECTOR OF SPECIAL PROJECTS, LOS ANGELES MARKET

----------------------------------------------

A New Day in Sun Valley

Dear Friends, Neighbors and Supporters:

On behalf of our 200+ employees, thank you for your ongoing support and involvement in our business over the years. Whether it�s recycling, landfill disposal or green or wood waste recycling, we have been proud to serve you and be your neighbor. We�ve been proud to be protective of our environment and to give back to the community in many ways. Most would agree that we�ve been a true corporate leader and good neighbor in Sun Valley.

A milestone date is now upon us. As we promised the community, tomorrow, April 14, 2007, our Bradley Landfill will accept its last truckload of trash and will close permanently. Government and environmental laws, as well as our permit, require final grading, a minimum of 30 years of air and water monitoring, and re-vegetation. Settlement will also occur at the landfill, and its height will decline significantly in the years ahead. The community will continue to be safe and the site will continue to look better and better.

Some will be happy to see the landfill close, some won�t. Whichever way you feel, we hope that everyone will remember that Bradley Landfill helped meet the needs of this and surrounding communities � safely and efficiently. If you�re reading this letter, chances are you are among the hundreds of thousands of households and businesses in the San Fernando Valley and City of Los Angeles which produced recyclables and waste that were processed here. If you remember the Northridge earthquake, you may recall how critical the landfill was to the to the region�s recovery efforts with much of the rubble being disposed of here.

But, it�s a new day in Sun Valley. With the closing of the landfill comes the responsibility for everyone to commit to waste reduction, recycling and safe and economical alternative waste technologies.

That�s why we introduced our plans for the Sun Valley Recycling Park several years ago and why we�ve stayed the course through several years of project review, study and community outreach. We have already contributed $375,000 to support the work and review of our plans by an independent Community Advisory Committee. We voluntarily agreed to extend the legal public review period of the project�s Environmental Impact Report (EIR) from 45 days to 120 days. We voluntarily ran a 13-week series of public information ads in the Daily News early in 2006, and for the first time in the City of LA, we printed the executive summary of the EIR in English and Spanish.

Most importantly, we have gone everywhere throughout the community to inform and educate people about our plans � schools, churches, libraries, parks, community meetings, Neighborhood Council meetings, businesses and festivals.

We�re nearing completion of the project�s EIR and there will be yet another round of public meetings and hearings related to our project. As we�ve been saying for several years, our future is recycling in Sun Valley.

We are committed to Sun Valley; we want to make it a better place. We know that if we closed all our operations or moved to another city, taking the jobs, payroll and local expenditures with us, it would hurt Sun Valley and the northeast San Fernando Valley. We know that if we stopped our community involvement programs or stopped supporting our local schools and community programs such as Rotary, Chamber of Commerce, Neat Neighborhoods, Sun Valley Beautiful and Communities in Schools, it would hurt Sun Valley and the northeast San Fernando Valley. We want to stay here, and we want to continue the good work we have started.

This new day in Sun Valley means more though. April 14, in addition to being the day before tax day (sorry for the reminder), also reminds us that as a community we�ve found a new way of doing business. As our project has progressed, we�ve broken new ground, raised the bar, and set what we hope are precedents for how business, government and the community can work and partner together.

Our business and our future plans are better today because of our partnership with you. You make us a better company and a better corporate citizen. Your ideas have helped us. Your suggestions have been considered and often implemented. Your complaints have been responded to and resolved. You�ve been tough on us. You�ve demanded a lot from us; we�ve been honest, we�ve delivered and we�ve kept our promises.

So, don�t stop now Sun Valley. Make this new day another milestone in your progress and empowerment. Keep working with businesses and your government leaders, and make sure they listen. Don�t let your guard down. Don�t forget that together we are creating a way of doing business in Sun Valley that involves all of us, and all of our interests. Remember all the hard work, vigilance and advocacy that made it happen. Let�s continue to show the rest of Los Angeles how cooperation between the business and residential communities can improve life for everyone.

Your friends at Waste Management thank you again for the privilege of serving you all these years. We look forward to the future with great hopes and expectations for Sun Valley and the northeast San Fernando Valley. Together, we can make this an even better place to live and work!

Sincerely,

Doug Corcoran
Director of Special Projects, Los Angeles Market

----------------------------------------------

� 2007, Waste Management. All Rights Reserved
9081 Tujunga Avenue - Sun Valley, CA 91352 - (818) 252-3200

I don't feel anybody is less of a person because of where they live. I am angry with the people that created an atmosphere where it could be considerd such.

Just like I told Nancy Reagan when I was 12 when she asked me what parents should tell their kids so they won't do drugs. Shy and wanting to get off the phone I said, "just say no".

and also he was flying on model airplane glue at the time....

Hey!

Sun Valley is screaming for a landfill....

Just don't knock off Silvio Dante. I think it would ruin the whole show.

just trash Simi valley, who cares?

Where is the largest trash dump in the world?

I think we should turn Rocketdyne into a Cold War museum and attract tourists to it and the Reagan museum.

Barbara:

Here are some salient facts taken straight from the project description filed by Waste Management Inc (WMI) with the County�s Resource Management Agency last week regarding the proposed expansion of their Simi Valley Landfill.

Fact No. 1 WMI is requesting approval of a massive lateral and vertical expansion of the existing Simi Valley dump which will extend the site life of the landfill beyond the year 2050. But, interestingly enough, they do not say how much longer. Care to guess anyone? My guess, at least 50+ more years, especially if they throw in some of the hundreds of acres of land that they bought from Unocal into the mix in the future.

Fact No. 2 The application filed by WMI clearly states that they will DOUBLE the waste disposal footprint area from the existing 185 acres to a proposed 371 acres; and DOUBLE the maximum permitted amount of waste disposed each day from the existing 3,000 to the proposed 6,000 tons per day. Kinda gives a new meaning to that old Wrigley TV advertising jingle, "Double Your Pleasure," doesn't it??

Fact No. 3 Currently, there is disposal capacity at the Simi dump for 29.6 million tons of waste. Under WMI's proposed dump expansion, that capacity will grow to 98.5 million tons. That's an increase of nearly 69 million tons! What's that worth to WMI? Well let's do some simple math. Currently, WMI's posted gate rate at the Simi dump is $45.00 per ton. If you multiply that posted gate rate by the increased number of tons resulting from this expansion, WMI gets $3.1 BILLION in Gross Revenue. And that assumes that WMI never increases the posted gate rate! That's a hell of Retirement Fund for Mike Smith, Bill Davis, all their local political cronies, as well as all the Waste big-wigs in Houston and Chicago, and thousands of WMI stockholders, all at the expense of local ratepayers.

Fact No. 4 WMI says that in addition to expanding the size and site life of their dump, they also plan on: (1) building a new 500 ton per day, 72,000 square foot Material Recovery Facility/Recyclable Transfer Station; (2) relocating GI's existing waste hauling yard housing 250 garbage and recycling trucks to the dump; (3) building a new 25,000 square foot office building to house 150 employees and a visitor and educator center; (4) constructing a 30,000 square foot heavy equipment and vehicle maintenance facility with 14 service bays; and (5) installing new weigh scales and scale house to serve their dump expansion. After admitting all this, in writing, in their expansion application, Waste has the nerve to say that there is, "..No significant increase in traffic, beyond that previously evaluated and approved for their existing permitted operations is anticipated for the landfill components of the project.." Riddle me this Batman? How can WMI honestly tell people that there will be no significant increase in traffic, when their existing permitted operations at the Simi dump NEVER included any one of the five project components described above in the future tense? Poor George Orwell, even he must be turning in his grave over Mike "Winston" Smith's lame attempt to re-write the factual history of the Simi dump.

Fact No. 5 WMI's application states that the expansion of the Simi dump will, "..accommodate the future growth of communities currently served by the SVLRC as well as the scheduled closure of the Toland Road Landfill operation.." Well, the WMI Chesire Cat is grinning all the way to the bank. Now we know why WMI was so eager last year to charge Oxnard's trash only $22 per ton, while trash generated from Moorpark, Thousand Oaks, and Simi Valley, the communities closest to and impacted most by the dump, pay $45 per ton. WMI's dump managers are falling all-over themselves to encourage waste from everywhere but the East county to make tons of money. First Oxnard, then from more than 100 communities in Los Angeles County, and now, as they admit in writing in their own application, from the rest of Ventura County and parts of Santa Barbara, once the Toland Road Landfill closes. If Waste gets its way, Simi will get dumped-on and loose, BIG-TIME!

Barbra, the clock is ticking, and WMI is salivating over that potential new $3 Billion revenue stream from their "Cash-Cow," the Simi Valley dump. Get busy and get your Task Force in gear. The public is depending on you to expose this massive ratepayer rip-off sooner rather than later.

Semyon Ordhodnikidze

Oh, Semyon! I love it when you talk trash!!! And what was it the City was gonna get from WMI...$600K or something like that???

Nancy Reagan told me that Michael Stein is a bed wetter.

Michael, you can't be serious, I must be falling for a troll right now. You perpetuate the stereotype by posting “Between the 'Joe Dirt' movie and the new 'Knolls Project' why doesn't Simi Valley just finish the job and throw a fence around the city and call it 'Trailer World'.” Moreover, you insinuate that living in a trailer is a bad thing, and shouldn't be allowed in Simi. Sorry if we can't all afford McMansions.

Instead of responding to the Environmental Justice claim, and telling us where a new dump should be placed, you result to ad hominems. I link to my personal weblog, and my last name is easy to find online. Which of us has more information in the public domain? I don't care what party your mother belonged to. What does that have to do with anything? You also say you're not a snob, but then go and name drop, implying that all of us “Simi Repbulicans” are inferior to you because we never personally spoke with Nancy Reagan.

How does your mouse interfere with your spelling?

All of you Simi folks need to stop crying! So what if Foy and his buddies at WM are going to make your City one big trash dump? The rest of us in the County don't want a dump near our cities, so be quiet and keep taking our garbage so we don't have to keep it! You deserve it for electing Foy!

Oh Semyon, you do know our landfill. I hope you will help Barb with her Committee. You are a man with so much knowledge. I think I'm falling in love. Semyon, you're hot!

Oh so Owen and Xyxpdq are the same person. That's good to know. Let me think now. This will have to be done delicately....

Makes one think Barbra is Wendy.

I am not Cindy Sheehan. So be careful.

I know Barb and Wendy is no Barb.

O.K. sorry. After years of verbal attacks and defending myself I am getting a little shell shocked. Sorry, Barb seems pretty nice for a Republican. I don't have a problem with Owen either.
xyxpdq is some weasel I have ran into before. Joe Granish lives in your town. He knows who I am. Ask him if I am fun guy to mess with. He works for the Sheriff's station. You can find him. Tell him to say hi to Dan for me. I havn't forgot about him either. Just been busy.

The Star knows another good reference. His name is Ron. Never guess what he does. Tell him to say hi to Feldman for me.

You can't always "Hate trial lawyers". Sometimes you have to love your enemy. Sometimes it's more fun to be able to talk about stuff. Tell them to keep their money. I will just spend it anyways.

Who ever is deleting my comments. Please delete the three above this one and the one calling Simi Valley "Trailer World".
I will let you know if any other comments need to be deleted.
Please put back: https://public.courts.ventura.org/pub-bin/tsrvweb.exe
I have a better criminal record than both the President and Vice President put together.

Michael,

Now that you're a grown man it is time to just say no to bed wetting. Good luck.

Word to your Congressman.....