Politicians Yank Endorsements of Earth Day Trek

Environmentalist Mary Altmann appeared to be staging your basic Earth Day celebration, complete with a march, concert and catchy name: Earth-Water-Air-L.A. Trek ’97. The event would culminate at the Ballona Wetlands, next to the site of the proposed DreamWorks SKG movie studio in Playa del Rey.

Seeking to honor one of the few remaining water-bound sanctuaries in the state, Altmann collected high-powered political endorsements for her event, including those of Los Angeles County Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky, U.S. Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.), even Vice President Al Gore.

But Altmann’s plan exploded when promotional fliers went out last month declaring that the purpose of the gathering was to generate a “national outcry” against the destruction of “a world-class wildlife refuge” by DreamWorks, a cornerstone of the massive Playa Vista plan to build offices, housing, hotel rooms and a marina on mostly undeveloped land.

Now, all five politicians named on the fliers--including Assemblywoman Sheila Kuehl (D-Santa Monica) and Los Angeles City Councilwoman Laura Chick--have withdrawn their endorsements. In the aftermath of the episode, Altmann and members of her group find themselves in the unusual position of fending off criticism from the developers they have long attacked, while having to explain their motives to angry elected officials that they can ill-afford to offend.

“I felt deceived,” said Kuehl, the first one to withdraw support. “We all felt they kept the information from us in order to get our endorsement. That doesn’t work with me.”

Altmann, an Agoura resident and a director of the Santa Monica Mountains Resource Conservation District, insisted that her motivation has been clear from the start. An endorsement of the Earth Day event, she believes, amounted to an acknowledgment of her group’s anti-development position.

“I didn’t intentionally mislead anyone,” Altmann said. “The elected officials should have been aware enough to know that the Ballona Wetlands are the site of the huge development by DreamWorks. . . . We are trying to save the endangered habitat.”

The incident began in November, when Altmann sent requests seeking the endorsements for her Earth-Water-Air-L.A. Trek ‘97, in which environmentalists would walk from the Ahmanson Ranch in Ventura County to the Ballona Wetlands over four days. The march would culminate with a concert at the Ballona Wetlands on Earth Day, April 22.

Altmann’s letter did not specifically mention DreamWorks--the brainchild of Hollywood moguls Steven Spielberg, Jeffrey Katzenberg and David Geffen--or the larger Playa Vista development. She wrote that the environmentalists would symbolically link “the last two remaining open space areas near L.A., both threatened by massive, unsustainable developments.” Then last month, a volunteer worker sent out about 70 fliers to performers soliciting their help at the concert. The flier stated that the purpose of the 50-mile trek was to raise a “national outcry against the destruction of the Ahmanson Ranch and the Ballona Wetlands, a world-class wildlife refuge.” Altmann says she approved the wording and endorsement list.

“I think the tone [of the flier and my original letter] are different, but the essential nature is the same--protecting these lands,” Altmann said.

The flier made it into the hands of DreamWorks officials, who promptly notified at least two of the lawmakers. All five revoked their endorsements, objecting to the way the situation was handled.

“We were asked to endorse an Earth Day event that was described to us as a walk for the environment,” said Karen Constine, chief of staff for Chick, who voted recently for a $70-million package of tax incentives for Playa Vista. “Clearly, the press release indicates otherwise.”

The project, among the largest development proposals in city history, has been delayed by financing problems and lawsuits by environmentalists. It is supported by Mayor Richard Riordan and City Councilwoman Ruth Galanter, who represents the area.

Joel Bellman, a spokesman for Yaroslavsky, said the event initially appeared “innocuous.” But Bellman added “it’s disingenuous” for the supporters to contend that because the walk was to conclude in the Ballona Wetlands it was a protest against DreamWorks. “That is not the way you do business.” Boxer also objected to DreamWorks and Playa Vista being singled out for protest, said spokesman David Sandretti.

The case of Gore presented its own odd twist.

Altmann had inquired about the vice president’s endorsement several times. In January, she received a letter from Gore commending her for her efforts. Altmann said she took that letter as an official endorsement, and Gore’s seal wound up on the flier.

A spokeswoman for Gore said that the vice president does not endorse services, products or initiatives as a matter of official policy, and that the letter Altmann received simply acknowledged her diligent efforts.

Meanwhile, DreamWorks and Playa Vista officials have seized on the controversy.

The developers complain that the endorsement issue is an example of what they say is a larger problem with the umbrella group Altmann belongs to, Malibu-based Earth Trust Foundation, one of the organizations that have filed suit to derail the Playa Vista and DreamWorks proposals.

“It seems to be part of a consistent pattern of misinformation and half-truths related to Playa Vista being spread by this organization or its affiliates,” said DreamWorks spokesman Andy Spahn.

An Earth Trust affiliate, Social Environmental Entrepreneurs, is planning the upcoming trek. Earth Trust officials defended their organization and Altmann, saying both are seeking to protect the delicate wetlands from the destructive forces of development.

Playa Vista project manager Doug Gardner countered that wetlands will be restored. Plans include the restoration of 340 acres of wetlands, dunes and bluffs, he said.