Nature for All is a supporter of the plans developed for the Puente Hills Landfill property as a critical new expansive park in a park-poor region of the San Gabriel Valley. However, it has recently come to our attention that actions being considered by the Sanitation Districts TODAY will have a huge impact on the ability to fund this vital project for the region. Therefore, we are strongly urging that each of the Sanitation Districts governing boards meeting today VOTE NO on the staff recommendation regarding the Districts Employee Pensions Unfunded Accrued Liability (UAL) Funding Strategy Utilizing Landfill Post- Closure Funds.
Please join us in making public comments today to help us save the future Puente Hills Landfill Park, which was promised to our communities decades ago. There is a 1:30 pm LA County Sanitation Districts Board meeting today, and Public Comment will be the first item on the agenda, so you won’t have to stay on too long to give your statement. Or you may email your public comment to info@lacsd.org, if received before 11:30 am today.
Thousands of community members have been involved in the park process going back decades, when a future park was promised once the landfill was closed. The Puente Hills Landfill, which operated from 1956 until it closed in 2013, was formerly the nation’s second largest landfill. In 2016, a months-long public engagement process with huge meetings brought together hundreds of community members to shape their vision of a landmark regional park to provide education about environmental issues, mix passive and active recreation, feature dramatic views and artwork, and reclaim the land as a gathering space for many communities which lack parks in the area. (Supporter petition) The County Sanitation Districts were obligated to save money over those decades to build the park. After the Plan was done, the Sanitation Districts did an about-face and said they didn’t have enough money. (More on the history here.) But today the Sanitation Districts says they do have money — for other uses — and are considering taking away those park dollars. This is about fulfilling a promise to the community. Your public comments are needed to convince Board members to do the right thing!
Interested members of the public may call in to listen and provide comments by calling the number listed on the agenda, or may submit public comments to: info@lacsd.org up to two hours prior to the start of the meeting. Click here to join the meeting or enter the Meeting ID 809 143 8308into the Zoom app on your smartphone or computer. Alternatively, you may join by phone by calling(669) 900-9128 and entering the Meeting ID. Click here to find more information on the Los Angeles Sanitation website.
Sample Comments:
My name is ______. I am a resident of _______(city/neighborhood) in District #____*. [Share briefly your community need for parks or history with the landfill park planning process.] I urge that each of the Sanitation Districts governing boards meeting today VOTE NO regarding the Districts Employee Pensions Unfunded Accrued Liability (UAL) Funding Strategy Utilizing Landfill Post- Closure Funds. This action must be delayed until funding for the Puente Hills Landfill Park is resolved by the Sanitation Districts with the LA County Department of Parks and Rec. Meeting your commitments to fund this park is critical. Most importantly, the residents of your cities are people who desperately need access to parks and have for decades lived with the impacts of having the second largest landfill in the Country, in their backyards and communities. This is an equity and social justice issue. Thank you for your consideration.
* To find which District # you live in, enter your zip code here.
