Supervisors Ask Congress to Fund Park Purchases

The Board of Supervisors called on Congress Tuesday to allocate $14 million for parkland acquisition in the Santa Monica Mountains, despite charges by Supervisor Deane Dana that the money would be used to condemn Soka University in Calabasas.

The offshoot of Soka University in Japan has drawn criticism from environmentalists since it announced last year that it planned to expand its 80-student English-language program to accommodate 5,000 students. Dana said U.S. Rep. Anthony C. Beilenson (D-Los Angeles) has made it no secret that the federal funds will be used to condemn the property and use it as parkland.

Dana and Supervisor Mike Antonovich voted against the motion. Antonovich said, “I think you have some people using racism to get at this property.” But Supervisor Gloria Molina said, “I think the issue is open space and trying to maintain the Santa Monica Mountains.”