A group of concerned citizens in Granada Hills spent their Monday evening protesting a decision to dump waste and debris from the Eaton and Palisades fires into Sunshine Canyon Landfill.
It was one of many protests in recent weeks – the biggest concern was having potentially hazardous materials so close to schools, homes and a water reservoir without sufficient testing.
KTLA’s Angelie Kakade reported watching a group of five to 10 people grow to more than 60 within minutes of the protest’s start on Monday afternoon, with people holding signs on several sides of the intersection at Balboa Boulevard and Rinaldi Street.
“We’ve had so much going on here with Aliso Canyon gas leaks, and the wind blowing here with the fires,” said Beverly Spooner, a concerned resident. “And now talking about this toxic dump, it’s just too much.”
Republic Services, which owns Sunshine Canyon, issued a statement, saying in part that “The landfill has a state-of-the-art liner system, cover system and robust gas collection system to help ensure material is managed safely and responsibly.”
But Monday’s protest came a day before the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors scheduled to vote on a proposal to increase the amount of waste going to Sunshine Canyon, Calabasas and Lancaster landfills to accommodate the additional fire debris.
“Spend the money,” said resident Michael Spooner. “Why aren’t you spending the money necessary to truck all of it away from any community? I don’t care where it is in L.A., where you plan on putting it, just care for us instead.”
L.A. Councilmember John Lee has also been outspoken about this vote, attempting to fight it alongside these community members.
“As a resident of Council District 12 for over 40 years and a father of two, the health and safety of this community is my number one priority,” said Lee in a Facebook post earlier this month. “The proposal for Sunshine Canyon Landfill to accept this debris, without sufficient testing and oversight, is an insult to the communities that are located near this landfill. Our district has already faced numerous environmental challenges, and I simply can’t allow another one to make its way to our neighborhoods.”
KTLA also reached out to Lee on Monday and he again said that he stands with the community on this matter and that he’s tried to file petitions and legislations – but the vote still stands for Tuesday.
