Galanter’s Record Open to Questions

Councilwoman (Ruth) Galanter’s suit against Culver City’s Marina Place project is a deplorable example of hypocrisy. To bolster a sagging image, Galanter has chosen to attack a project located in another city. It is a safe target since the suit does not threaten development interests in Galanter’s district.

There are good reasons to try to stop the Marina Place project. Its traffic will have a catastrophic impact in Venice and elsewhere. But Galanter will pay a heavy price at election time, because she has a radically different standard for development under her direct control.

There is every indication Galanter will approve the massive Playa Vista project, a new city of about 24,000 residents. Galanter described it as a model of environmental and community sensitivity.

Galanter is also supporting another enormous development, the Channel Gateway project. According to that project’s Final Environmental Impact Study, in spite of mitigation measures, traffic from related projects will result in failure and severe delay at 20 intersections during the p.m. peak hour, and 11 intersections during the a.m. peak hour.

Add to this devastating scenario the traffic, pollution and parking problems we can expect from the remaining, staggering number of proposed projects for Venice. Unfortunately, Galanter is also approving these projects on a piecemeal basis without regard to their cumulative effect on the quality of our lives.

STEVE SCHLEIN

Venice