Conservancy Purchase of Wilson Canyon

* Your editorial blasting the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy for purchasing Wilson Canyon was as inaccurate as it was elitist. (“Conservancy Should Keep Its Focus Local,” Dec. 18.)

Wilson Canyon was designated for Rim-of-the-Valley projects. Years ago, I attended a workshop held in Lake View Terrace by the Conservancy seeking public input for possible purchases with Proposition A dollars. Wilson Canyon was by far the most popular project nominated. Its purchase was supported by equestrians, hikers, hang-gliders, business owners, civic organizations and environmentalists from the north Valley. Workshops were held throughout the Valley so everyone had an equal shot at funding. According to your editorial staff, however, the West Valley and Los Feliz are simply more “worthy” despite public support elsewhere.

I’m sick of The Times and the rest of the city thinking that it’s just fine to site landfill after landfill in the north Valley, filling our canyons up with garbage. Kudos to the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy, Cantwell/Anderson Development, Assemblyman Richard Katz and the people of Sylmar for demonstrating beauty is worth saving in the north Valley. Shame on The Times for such disservice to its readers.

STEPHEN REYNOLDS

Sylmar

* In a newspaper that prides itself on having a Valley Edition and boasts about its commitment to the Valley, the editorial slamming the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy’s purchase of Wilson Canyon is preposterous. It’s clear that the folks on the editorial board believe that the only land worth preserving is on the Westside or at the beach, surrounded by wealthy landowners.

The snide comments and cheap shots questioning whether open space in the north Valley can be as valuable as land in the Santa Monicas is offensive to the working men and women who live in the Valley and demonstrates an elitist attitude that I find appalling. Not only is much of the plant life similar, but I’ll match the oak woodlands in Wilson Canyon with most of the Santa Monicas. In fact, in many ways Wilson Canyon is a more valuable purchase because it is one of the few critical sites that can still be saved in the Valley.

Maybe those in the ivory tower at The Times have forgotten, but Valley residents pay a lot in taxes and, at the urging of The Times, have supported park bonds when they’ve been on the ballot. Lots of that money has gone to protecting worthwhile open space in the Santa Monicas and it’s only fair that some of that money be used to protect environmentally sensitive land along the rim of the Valley corridor. After all, our quality of life depends on more than just what you can see from the ivory tower.

RICHARD KATZ

Assemblyman, 39th District