Oxnard Deal OKd Despite Discovery of DDT

The Oxnard City Council on Tuesday approved a $5.3-million deal to purchase 41 acres of land for a school and park despite the recent discovery of DDT and other agricultural pesticides on the property.

The deal had been the subject of a bitter dispute for two years, marred by claims of back-room City Council filibusters and improper requests by Councilman Michael Plisky of the property’s owner, Donald T. Kojima.

“I’m just glad it’s over,” Kojima said after the sale was approved.

Oxnard officials were unaware of the contamination on the Kojima property until last week, when inspectors for the Rio School District discovered DDT and residue from other farming chemicals on the land.

The finding did not delay the deal any further, however, because the extent of contamination is below state regulatory limits, City Atty. Gary Gillig said.

The contract of sale, which was amended after the contamination was found, requires Kojima to pay for any possible cleanup, Gillig said.

While the deal has been approved, its original purpose--to relocate the residents of one of the county’s worst slums, an Oxnard trailer park--is now in doubt.

The Times reported last month that low-cost housing the city was talking about building would have been too expensive for the park’s poor residents to afford. City Council members have since vowed to do all they can to cut the price of the homes.