Ahmanson Ranch

* Re “Hayden Proposes State Purchase of Ahmanson Land to Protect Species,” June 15.

The Valley Industry and Commerce Assn. respectfully disagrees with state Sen. Tom Hayden’s proposal for the state to purchase Ahmanson Ranch. It just doesn’t make sense for the state to buy all or a portion of the remaining acreage within Ahmanson Ranch for additional open space.

Why would any elected official want to spend state bond funds for this purpose when the project already has resulted in 10,000 acres being dedicated as permanent open space for the enjoyment of area residents? This represents the largest addition to the park system in Southern California in the 20th century!

VICA and other business and community leaders believe that the Ahmanson Ranch project is just the kind of development that the area needs, not just because of the unprecedented preservation of public open space but for other critically important reasons as well.

The housing crisis in the San Fernando Valley and throughout Los Angeles is acute. For every six new jobs that are being created, only one home is being constructed. The lack of housing near jobs, along with urban sprawl, has translated into clogged freeways and related air pollution. If this trend continues, businesses will find it increasingly difficult to attract employees, which could seriously impact our now-thriving economy.

The Ahmanson Ranch project would address these issues head-on by providing more than 3,000 homes within 20 minutes of major high-paying employment centers in the San Fernando and Conejo valleys.

Ahmanson Ranch would also provide direct economic benefits to Los Angeles city and county--more than $1 billion is anticipated to be spent locally during project construction, and more than $750,000 in sales tax revenue will be generated annually.

This project has been under review for more than a decade. It’s time to get off the dime and move it forward.

BONNY L. HERMAN

President, Valley Industry

and Commerce Assn.