Reacting to Radioactivity

Iam writing to express my disappointment and anger over your coverage of the Rocketdyne Cleanup Coalition news conference.

It appears as if you are trying to discredit the coalition and are part of the corporate stranglehold that Rockwell has on us.

Specifically: “A convoy of cars then rolled through Santa Susana’s gates carrying more than a dozen reporters and photographers, as well as some protesters who tagged along.” Pat Coulter was very gracious about including us even though I asked if we could join them--obviously, your corporate ear missed that.

But most importantly is the way you pummeled us during the news conference by asking us what proof we had that Building 24 was highly radioactive and then to report in your article that we couldn’t back that statement up. Rockwell said the radioactivity is 20 to 40 times higher in Building 24 than background levels. So if it is 40 times higher, that is highly radioactive.

They also say it is about half the level in an airplane at 35,000 feet that is being bombarded by cosmic rays from the sun. Do you think they could back up or prove that statement? Or this might be something to take up with the airlines unless they have the same protective shielding that lines the vaults in Building 24.

JEANNE LONDE

Northridge