Proposed Development of Toxic Waste Site

I would like to express my concern about the city of Carson’s proposal to financially assist the developers of the 157-acre dump, formerly known as Cal-Compact. The concerns of city officials should be directed at building affordable housing for families and seniors on fixed incomes and providing mental and health clinics for our citizens. Investing the taxpayers’ future in a toxic, hazardous waste dump whose cleanup costs are impossible to extrapolate is unconscionable.

In the meantime, the former Golden Eagle Refinery property at Main Street and Torrance Boulevard is being cleaned up very quietly and professionally under a Remedial Action Plan (RAP) approved by the State Department of Toxic Substance Control, Environmental Protection Agency. The developers of this property have never petitioned the citizens of Carson for any financial aid.

Mayor (Michael) Mitoma remarked at a recent hearing, “. . . the only absolutes in life are death and taxes.” In this modern age, this is still correct. But, the people of Carson can take action to ensure that our ground water is not contaminated and the financial stability of the city of Carson is not endangered by the haphazard decisions of some council members.

(Philosopher George) Santayana said, “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” The Love Canal and Rockaway Beach are dire lessons from the past. The untold misery to the residents of those communities and the millions of dollars it cost the taxpayers for cleanup, could and should have been avoided. Citizens of Carson, please remember the past.

MARTIN J. MCHALE

Carson

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In 1776 our forefathers created “Government of the people, by the people, for the people,” but sometimes the governing bodies of cities and towns plunge headlong into commitments which may not be “for the people.” A good case in point is the pressure being applied by a few Carson Council members to commit the city financially to a questionable commercial venture proposed by a group calling themselves Metro 2000. You don’t have to be a rocket scientist to figure out you can’t develop a 157-acre toxic waste dump until you have approval by the State Toxic Waste Substance Control Department of a remedial action plan (RAP) for cleanup of the toxic soil. There is also the very real possibility the ground water is contaminated. The city attorney has advised the city to put on the brakes until such time as the way has been cleared legally to build on the property, but the supporters of the project have developed a deaf ear to his legal advice.

It makes you wonder what is really behind all this hurry and scurry to approve this project before the state has given approval to develop the property. It was just about a year ago that the city committed big bucks to the Carson Mall remodeling project including financial assistance to IKEA to build a store in the mall. What happens to the mall and IKEA if and when the proposed factory outlet stores are opened for business? There aren’t enough potential customers with sufficient spending budgets in the South Bay and surrounding communities to support two malls a mile apart, in addition to Del Amo and Lakewood nearby. The Metro 2000 principals want the city to not only help finance the cleanup, but they also want the city to pay for roads, lighting, water service and other improvements inside their property.

Carson, along with other cities in the South Bay, has had to cut back on services, lay off employees, shorten the workweek and has had to operate on a curtailed budget. So, how can Carson, in good conscience, even consider this commitment when the benefits of potential revenue are so far in the future and the possibility of it even getting off the ground is so iffy. There are absolutely no guarantees at this juncture that this property will ever be anything but a toxic waste dump. Others have tried and failed because of the years it would take to clean it up and the millions of dollars it would cost. There are so many variables to be considered. Why would the city be so anxious to stick its neck out on a roll of the dice? This property is on the government’s list of hazardous toxic waste dumps and may stay just that during our lifetime.

KATHY HOSA

President, Imperial Avalon

Homeowners Assn.

Carson

The South Bay section of The Times welcomes all viewpoints from readers about South Bay issues. Letters should be as brief as possible and are subject to condensation. They must include signature, valid mailing address and telephone number, if any. Pseudonyms and initials will not be used. Send letters to: South Bay Section Editor, Los Angeles Times, 23133 Hawthorne Blvd., Suite 200, Torrance, Calif. 90505.