Ahmanson Ranch Development

Re “Bargain Hard on Projects,” editorial, Oct. 4.

Here we go again. The public gets ripped off in yet another savings and loan scandal by paying $27.5 million for the Ahmanson Ranch one-sided development deal. Why is the public footing the bill for a multibillion-dollar corporation’s proposed development of a new city in zoned open space?

Our group, Save Open Space, doesn’t buy into the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy’s philosophy that you have to destroy open space to save it.

According to its own documents, obtained by a public records act request, the conservancy is accepting the liability for any and all contaminants on the Ahmanson Ranch open space property. This property is located directly adjacent to Rocketdyne and is in close proximity to Rocketdyne’s noxious sodium burn pit.

Accepting this open space just doesn’t make sense. It brings up health and safety concerns for future residents of Ahmanson Ranch and residents who live near the proposed new city.

There has been absolutely no chemical testing for Rocketdyne contaminants on the adjacent Ahmanson Ranch property. Washington Mutual, the new owner, apparently is more interested in making money than in the health and safety of our communities.

Wake up, Washington Mutual. Take the high ground and consider selling your newly acquired asset as public parkland instead of developing it with an unwanted Love Canal.

MARY E. WIESBROCK, Agoura