Re: your July 26 article, “Boeing may be fined for water runoff violations�:
What is it going to take for officials to hit Boeing where it hurts? As they're cranking in their sales of multimillion-dollar jumbo jets and enjoying stock market profits, they still don't get our environmental issues!
I've had enough. We as residents of our wonderful community in Simi Valley need to rise up and say, "We are not going to take it anymore!"
I have known several people whose family members and pets have died in the eastern valley of Simi. Unofficially, friends and members of the community feel that it is directly related to environmental issues up there. Officials continually try to hide or downplay the reality that poisonous toxins have been poured into the earth and waterways in that area. And to learn that even still, in 2004-2006, there are continued reports of illegal waste dumping and water runoff!
And now officials have come up with a "suggestion" of a $471,000 fine? Who came up with that number? Is that going to replace lives, repay medical bills, replace animal and plant life? Of course not! Boeing probably spends that amount in postage in three months from all of their combined locations around the world! How about nailing them for millions?
They must be hit where it hurts. We want Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie to be treated like "everybody" else. Well then, come on officials, stop playing politics and get with the program! We must hold these corporate giants accountable! Martha Stewart got a tougher rap, and she hurt absolutely nobody!
Large corporations continue to do these things because the penalties are either non-existent or not severe enough. We need to take ownership and not allow this to happen! Let's rise up and let it be known! We love our community and we all deserve to live in peace, cleanliness and have uninfected land and waterways to pass on to our children!
Where are my picket signs?
— Julia Diamond, Simi Valley
It's hard to sweep something with a 100,000 year half life under a rug. Only 99,952 left and it's all down hill from there.