Neighbors Back Soka

I live right across the street from Soka University. Perhaps more than anyone, my family will be affected by whatever happens to that land. My wife and I are totally against condemnation of that property on behalf of the National Park Service.

We don’t want to see it become another Yosemite Valley. We would rather have it reasonably developed as a school.

I moved to this area almost four years ago to give my children a rural environment in which to grow. I was aware of Soka’s development plans at that time, and I am also aware of the service cutbacks to the parks in the neighborhood. I will not allow my children to go to nearby Tapia Park because it is very dangerous. Given the deteriorating condition of Tapia and Malibu Creek State parks, I certainly would prefer to see the Soka campus remain in private hands.

Soka’s joint use offer to the general public and the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy is the best mitigating effort to preserve open space and wildlife use, as well as protecting the right to private property ownership.

We must stop Joe Edmiston and the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy from seizing this property.

BOB GRANT, Calabasas