Keep Parkland but Rein in Conservancy

The Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy was established to acquire parkland through negotiation with willing sellers of suitable land. The attempt to acquire the Soka property through condemnation was not its mandate, and to proceed with the cost of such litigation is not what the taxpayers envisioned, as clearly expressed in their rejection of Proposition 180.

The idea of selling several parcels of existing parkland, which the conservancy was once so enthusiastic about, to support the Soka lawsuit certainly destroys its credibility. This ever-expanding bureaucracy beyond the Santa Monica Mountains to Santa Clarita and Ventura County, not to mention the proposal to purchase Central American land to provide a flyway for birds, is far beyond anything the taxpayers ever imagined. When the voters said no to Proposition 180, they clearly said the government must cut to essentials at this time.

Perhaps we should terminate the conservancy and save $578,000 administration costs this year. We still want the parkland we have already purchased. What we don’t want at this time is more bungling and mismanaged bureaucracy. When our budget is in order is time enough to try another approach to securing parkland.

JACK COLLIS

Encino