Giving Credit for Ahmanson
I applaud Ventura County Supervisor Maria VanderKolk for her maturity and leadership in voting for the combined Jordan Ranch-Ahmanson Ranch project.
However, it should also be pointed out that VanderKolk’s praiseworthy suggestion to consolidate these two proposed developments was made only after Gov. Pete Wilson, aided by Bob Hope’s generosity, had succeeded in patiently resuscitating a complex transaction--involving Jordan Ranch, Runkel Ranch, Corral Canyon, Liberty Canyon, Blind Canyon, and China Flat--that everyone else had thought dead.
The consolidation proposal was a direct response after it became apparent that this larger transaction was likely to go through. So a little credit where credit is due, please: The people of Ventura and Los Angeles counties will now benefit from nearly 10,000 acres of new parkland and open space because their governor cared enough to bring all the parties together.
Finally, some credit is also due to Supervisors Vicky Howard and John Flynn, whose regional perspective saw the larger benefits to this resolution.
RICHARD SYBERT, Director, Governor’s Office of Planning and Research, Sacramento
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