There is a long term plan to recreate the wash in Simi Valley, sometimes called the Arroyo, into a beautiful greenway park that would stretch across much of Simi Valley. Go to the city website to see the beautiful vision for the Arroyo. Council Member Steve Sojka has stated he wants to get federal and state money to pay for it which would make this plan very popular. But I am not sure how practical it is to plan to think we won't need to spend local taxdollars to do it. I would support spending local taxes, added to any grants and other sources of money we can earn, to fully fund the project.
Before you comment in support or against the proposal look at the city's website to see what the finished project could look like.
http://www.ci.simi-valley.ca.us/index.aspx?page=443
My support of the Arroyo project triggered this response from a reader:
Brian,This obsession you have with the Pirates of the Caribbean project in the Arroyo is really getting weird. Simi Valley has huge issues facing it with local business, dump expansion, Council Salary and Benefits etc. The list of higher priority items puts that project at the bottom.
It's going to be taxpayer dollars whether from the State as Sojka seemed to allude to in your interview with him, Federally or locally.
I lived next to the Arroyo for 13 years, used the paths down there when I trained for the LA marathon in 1996/1997. Time to get realistic about the Arroyo and put that project where it belongs - on the back burner.
If the city was being asked to cut the check for the entire amount needed to rebuild the Arroyo this year I wouldn't support it. But I do support the process that will likely take many years to put into place. I expect candidates for office to have a long term vision for decades to come.
This isn't the most pressing issue in Simi Valley but it is really important to me.
What issue is important to you that you don't see your local candidates for office addressing?
I like to see more emphasis on bringing jobs into Simi Valley... we need more light manufacturing which will be a positive wealth effect for our lower income citizens. We have many more people out of work here than what's to be believed by reading the newspapers. Sojka spends to much time resting on the "laurels" of his landscaping projects of yesteryear and has put one iota worth of time into jumpstarting our local businesses. Busy hands are happy hands... bring more employment to Simi Valley will lower the upticking crime rates. Also, we need a better summer jobs program for our youth... maybe a citywide and cityrun part-time public works project using teenagers... doing curb painting, fencing paints, parks clean-ups, street sweeping, etc. Also, I would like to hear about how to encourage "urban agriculture or farms" within our valley.
If the city, county, state or Feds want to do something with the Arroyo Simi, how about this:
1.) Protect life and property by monitoring and removing all toxics from the water in the Arroyo that are there as a result of run off from the hills that are part of the Santa Susanna Field Lab and any other sources;
and
2.) Mitigate the dangers to life and property of the liquefaction that has occurred along the land adjoining the Arroyo and will continue to do so when a major earthquake shakes the area or when groundwater build up becomes excessive. Otherwise, outlaw construction in areas likely to suffer major damage by a quake such as the one that hit Northridge.
As long as I don't have to worry about getting stabbed in the Arroyo I'm happy.
Encourage private enterprise to pick up the tab for the arroyo by doing what Lincoln did to get the TransContinental RR moving: for each minimum length of restoration & improvement, a private firm could get a sweetheart deal on managing or operating commercial zones along the arroyo.
Isn't the water from the Arroyo being recycled for irrigation for city landscaping and/or used for farming? If so how is the water from the Arroyo filtered to eliminate contamination from Rocketdyne before it is used? Why aren't there signs warning people?
We can avoid all these scary questions if Boeing would simply build a log ride in the Arroyo.
If Boeing can't build a log ride they shouldn't be making airplanes.
I’d be inclined to cut a deal with you here. Which is not something I usually do! I really like reading a post that will make people think. Also, thanks for allowing me to speak my mind!
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Just now you can branch out from your daily understanding. Don't give up your morals for anything. Generally this will lead to a mistaken and unproductive life.
Get upset! Really its a must to take a look past everything and get upset. Generally this will allow you to take the inititive to make things happen.
Thank you very much for that great article These delegates might in the Constitutional Conventions in 1787.