SCVNews.com | Opinion/Commentary: Strange Tactics

[Sign Up Now] to Receive Our FREE Daily SCVTV-SCVNews Digest by E-Mail

Inside

Weather

Calendar

Today in
S.C.V. History

July 4

1932 - Robert Poore wins the greased pole climbing contest and $2.50 at Newhall's July 4th celebration [story]

Strange Tactics

Now and Then in the SCV | Commentary by Darryl Manzer

Darryl Manzer | Monday, Sep 29, 2014

Click Here to Get Our 'SCV This Morning' Newsletter

Tweet This

Facebook

Digg This

Bookmark

Stumble

RSS

I really can’t believe some of the tactics Waste Connections, operator of Chiquita Canyon Landfill, has used to get the expansion approved.

They spread money around to various charities and organizations like they were printing it themselves. Take a look at the irony of some of the donations.

The SCV Latino Chamber of Commerce recently had the landfill as an event sponsor. Did they know the Draft Environmental Impact Report for the expansion was not printed in Spanish as required by law and regulation? It’s odd, since more than half of the population of Val Verde is Hispanic. The company has called it an “oversight” but has yet to correct the problem.

Does anyone find it funny that the smells Val Verde residents report from the dump happen only when the wind is blowing from the dump into Val Verde? Isn’t it also odd that the dump now has had someone write about how septic systems are the problem and not the dump? Folks, I’ve seen and smelled bad septic systems in various homes I’ve owned over the years. What the odor is in Val Verde isn’t from septic tanks.

Blaming residents’ septic tanks is a classic way of shifting the focus of the problem from what the dump is doing to what they want you to think.

Did you know that within the Draft Environmental Impact Report, there is a section stating there will be an increased risk of cancer not only in Val Verde but in Hasley Hills and other neighborhoods near the dump?

Chiquita Canyon Landfill has also approached a school board (SCVi) to distribute information about the dump in hopes it would support the expansion. That board said “no,” since supporting a dump isn’t a function of the board.

Don’t you find it strange that John Musella has been nominated as one of the 51 most influential individuals in the SCV when his very job is to influence various boards, town councils, county offices and boards, plus the citizens of the community most affected by the dump? That is what a lobbyist does.

One of the most egregious examples is a flier printed and distributed by the dump – note: in the flyer, they called themselves a “dump” – which did not have any mention of the author, company or organization distributing the flier. It did have, in large letters at the bottom of the page, “Val Verde Civic Association.” VVCA had nothing to do with the flier but one would think so, looking at it. Muscella admitted the dump distributed it, not the VVCA.

The tactics the dump used with the Castaic Area Town Council were simply an offer of large sums of money in return for support and keeping quiet about the expansion and, if I read it right, anything else, for the life of the agreement. This agreement included just about anyone living or operating a business in the area the Town Council represents. That act was so divisive that the Town Council is now split along geographic lines and may become ineffective.

Chiquita seldom states how it is operating in an environmentally safe and efficient manner because, if one knows the truth, it has accepted waste that is clearly not permitted for this type of dump. Sewer sludge, chemicals and other substances have been dumped there, and it has been cited by various regulatory agencies.

Landfill reps have stated that if they cease operations, the entire SCV will not have as much funding for various charities, organizations and functions. For instance, the YMCA got $3,000 from the dump. Can that organization afford the loss?

The dump has funded the Val Verde Community Advisory Committee for many years at a rate of $20,000 annually. The VVCAC has more than $200,000 in the bank, unused. Isn’t that odd? Equally strange is how the members of the VVCAC are from outside of Val Verde and recently the head of that committee moved to the Antelope Valley from Val Verde. Will she remain on the board? We know the dump would love for her to remain in the position.

The SCV Chamber of Commerce, state Assemblyman Scott Wilk, the West Ranch Town Council and the SCV Economic Development Corp. are supporting the expansion, but they know nothing of what the dump has been doing in reality.

The dump is not a good neighbor. Folks in Val Verde don’t trust the operators of the dump, and many other organizations don’t either. Our own Santa Clarita City Council requested, by letter, that the county extend the comment period for the expansion by another 30 days. Why? The matter needs additional study by the city and SCV residents.

Don’t let the dump dupe you, folks. How much money it spends in the community does not make it environmentally safe and efficient. It just means it is buying influence. We don’t know what is getting into the water table and going down the Santa Clara River. We do know the liner ripped in the last earthquake. Just what is heading downstream?

The dump isn’t telling us, but from what we read on the test well reports, it isn’t pretty. All of it has been reported, but apparently none of the organizations the dump contributes to has heard of it. It took a lot of research by folks in Val Verde to find the information.

The biggest lie we keep hearing from the dump is that the SCV needs it to expand. Our future growth is dependent upon the dump getting bigger. Well, with a little over 80 percent of the stuff being dumped in Chiquita today coming from outside of the SCV, what would be wrong with stopping that and using it for the SCV only? Anaheim, Santa Monica, Santa Barbara, Victorville and many other cities will just have to dump on someplace else.

So there you have it folks. You decide. Take the money and keep quiet about the lies, or stop the expansion. Do we want our valley to be the dumping ground for the greater Los Angeles area? Do we want the Santa Susanna Test Lab’s toxic waste to be dumped in our valley? Don’t forget that in the Final Environmental Impact Report by NASA, the Chiquita Canyon Landfill is at the top of the list to get that material.

Can we say, Love Canal? By another method of reasoning, do we need another Bermite-style superfund site in our valley? You say no? That’s what Val Verde said.

Let’s stop it from getting bigger. It is up to us.

Oh – come to think of it, I can believe the tactics the dump is using. They want the expansion, so whatever means they use to get it approved is how they are going to operate. Just like when they took in sludge from Santa Barbara.

Comment On This Story

COMMENT POLICY: We welcome comments from individuals and businesses. All comments are moderated. Comments are subject to rejection if they are vulgar, combative, or in poor taste.
REAL NAMES ONLY: All posters must use their real individual or business name. This applies equally to Twitter account holders who use a nickname.

7 Comments

Shelly says:

Monday, Sep 29, 2014 at

I wish Darryl would cite specific sources with links in his commentary. It would be much more informative and believable if people could fact check his discussions. In this day and age a lot of people dismiss these types of columns/opinion without the sources cited. Just my opinion.

Reply
Bonnie Nikolai says:

Monday, Sep 29, 2014 at

The dump does need to expand… to continue their business without interference from the Environmental Protection Agency. Landfills built prior to 1979 are not under the same rules as those built after 1979. Chiquita was built in 1972. Of course they want to expand, because closing as promised would get the EPA involved. The EPA oversees closures and monitors gases coming from the closed landfills. Currently Chiquita doesn’t have the EPA on their backs. There is also a very real chance there are chemicals and toxins, that were made illegal in 1976, are sitting in the part of the landfill without a proper liner. PCB’s, Asbestos, Lead paint and a slew of other toxins made illegal in 1976 are very likely seeping through to the aquifer. So yes, the dump needs to expand… to possibly keep all their dirty secrets buried.

Reply
Susie Evans says:

Monday, Sep 29, 2014 at

Shelly, what kind of documentation do you want? I have all of it. There are lawsuits from LA County against an auto shredder from Orange County who dumped his toxic waste at Chiquita(LA County won), there is nuclear waste from Rocketdyne, and then the wonderful sludge that Santa Barbara refused to take because it was full of arsenic.

Reply
Natalie Tate says:

Monday, Sep 29, 2014 at

Mr. Manzer,

Many residents believed 2019 would be the closure of this local landfill, if I am not mistaken was agreed upon by very important people, the same people that are supposed to protect the communities.

Some people are ill in our community as there are ill people in other communities, but one needs to be real, there is stink all over the SCV area and bad air quality too, for many reasons that no one seems to be able to honestly control, so many people are unaware of the history of the entire SCV, Castaic, Saugus, Canyon Country and beyond areas there is only so much many of us can to to help people know the history of these areas.

I found this site of the articles written by the Los Angeles Times in regards to the past history of the prior expansion, so we will all have to see if history repeats itself…

http://articles.latimes.com/keyword/chiquita-canyon-landfill

I hope you have a wonderful day, your articles are getting my attention.

Reply
Katie Coyle says:

Monday, Sep 29, 2014 at

Wonderful article

Reply
Greg Kimura says:

Monday, Sep 29, 2014 at

I have some facts for the readers here:
1. The landfill is banned from accepting sludge by their 1997 permit from LA County
2. The landfill signed a contract with the community of Val Verde in 1997. In this contract, the landfill is banned from accepting sludge.
3. The landfill has bid on more than one RFP for sludge and received the contract for at least one.
4. The landfill accepted sludge for a year and if they hadn’t been caught by LA County, they were planning for another year.
5. 3,600 tons of sludge were brought into the landfill during the year.
6. The same sludge was banned from Toland landfill in Santa Paula.
7. The landfill rep came to various community meetings claiming they did not take in sludge.
8. When proof was provided, the story changed to admitting they took in a material which is a solid or semi solid from a water treatment plant, but they still denied it was sludge
9. The landfill rep claimed that there are many definitions of sludge
10. The EPA, Cal Code of Regulations and Waste Connections defines sludge in the same manner. It’s the waste from a water treatment plant. One definition of a material = sludge
11. The landfill rep claimed that they had changed the words on the invoice, so it no longer read sludge – the implication is that changing the words means that the material is no longer sludge
12. The definition of sludge still remains and the material the landfill took in fits the definition.
13. The landfill received a Notice of Violation for accepting the sludge
14. In the NOV, the landfill was warned that if they continued to take in this sludge, they would lose their permit.
15. The NOV states that the material the landfill took in is sludge
16. The landfill has not removed the sludge from their property. It is still improperly disposed of.
17. At a public meeting, the landfill rep claimed that the sludge was tested and is safe.
18. The community asked for the test results and the landfill at first denied they every said it was tested
19. The landfill rep later admitted that they made the claim about testing the sludge, but refuses to provide the results.
20. There is a worry in the community that this sludge contains Arsenic.
21. At a public meeting, the landfill rep went as far as saying that the test results are proprietary and they will not share them.
22. Here is the Merriam Webster definition of proprietary: http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/proprietary One can wonder what is so secret about the test results?

23. The landfill accepted radioactive waste from Rocketdyne, on at least one occasion, yet the landfill rep says they never did.

24. The landfill rep told us that they received almost no violations or citations. This website shows otherwise. http://chiquitalandfill.net/elevated-gases/

The bottom line is that the landfill has not been the “good neighbor” that they claim to be. It is very upsetting to hear the landfill push their propaganda on us, but when we do some research, we find out they were not being honest. So much for being a “good” neighbor.

Reply
Steve Petzold says:

Tuesday, Sep 30, 2014 at

My good friend Darryl is finding out how the sausage gets made in the SCV. During spring, the city council votes to approve a Development Agreement with METRO and two days later Arthur Sohikian and Hunt Braly (allvision lobbyists to the city) co-host a fund raiser for Marsha McLean and Laurene Weste. Suddenly- allvision is a sponsor of an charity event for the Boys and Girls Club, that money does not show up on a campaign disclosure. They know all the tricks. It is not a pretty picture Darryl, and they will ignore your concerns. But they do sponsor SCVTV’s banner don’t they?

Reply

Click here to cancel reply.

Opinion Section Policy

All opinions and ideas are welcome. Factually inaccurate, libelous, defamatory, profane or hateful statements are not. Your words must be your own. All commentary is subject to editing for legibility. There is no length limit, but the shorter, the better the odds of people reading it. "Local" SCV-related topics are preferred. Send commentary to: LETTERS (at) SCVNEWS.COM. Author's full name, community name, phone number and e-mail address are required. Phone numbers and e-mail addresses are not published except at author's request. Acknowledgment of submission does not guarantee publication.

Ken Striplin | Enjoy Fourth of July Responsibly

Monday, Jul 1, 2024

By day, the sounds of music and laughter fill the streets as we celebrate Independence Day in true Santa Clarita fashion with the annual Fourth of July Parade.

Laurene Weste | Celebrating Our Heroes, Open Spaces

Thursday, Jun 27, 2024

“Everybody needs beauty as well as bread, places to play in and pray in, where nature may heal and cheer and give strength to body and soul.”

CIF-SS Commissioner Mike West | Year in Review

Monday, Jun 24, 2024

The 2023-2024 school year has come to a close and along with it a very successful year of high school athletics.

Kathryn Barger | Fighting Fires

Monday, Jun 24, 2024

I know I speak for everyone when I say the passing of firefighter Andrew Pontious in the line of duty just one week ago was heartbreaking.

Ken Striplin | Enhancing Safety, Efficiency in Our Community

Monday, Jun 24, 2024

As a city manager, father and community member — the safety of Santa Clarita residents will always be my top priority - especially on the roads.

Jason Gibbs | Get Ready for Concerts in the Park Summer Soundtrack

Thursday, Jun 20, 2024

Every summer, Santa Clarita’s very own Central Park, located at 27150 Bouquet Canyon Road, transforms into a premiere venue for live musical performances where friends, families and neighbors come together to sing and dance the night away.

Latest Additions to SCVNews.com


Today in SCV History (July 4) 1932 - Robert Poore wins the greased pole climbing contest and $2.50 at Newhall's July 4th celebration [story]	Celebrate Fourth of July in the Santa Clarita Valley Celebrate the Fourth of July in Santa Clarita with a full day of festive events including a run, pancake breakfast, parade and fireworks.	Sheriff’s Department Gives Vehicle Theft Awareness Tips In an effort to prevent vehicle thefts or thefts from vehicles, remember the following simple safety tips.	Veteran Homeless Drops 22 Percent From Previous Year The Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority annual Point-in Time count of residents experiencing homelessness revealed a 22.9% reduction in the level of homeless veterans.	County Kicks-Off Annual Youth@Work Program The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors and the County’s Department of Economic Opportunity kicked off its award-winning Youth@Work program, announcing the availability of up to 10,000 paid employment opportunities for local county youth.	The Big I Do Returns With Lavish Giveaways The city of Santa Clarita’s The Big I Do event is returning on Valentine’s Day, 2025, with chances to win big.
Start Summer By Upgrading to a REAL ID More than 17.7 million Californians now have a REAL ID, an increase of 137,929 from the previous month, according to California Department of Motor Vehicles data.	L.A. County Rent Registry Now Open Those who own rental properties or mobile home parks, it’s time to complete the Rent Registry 2024-25 registration.	Local Leaders Look to Attract Major Investors SCVEDC recently participated in two major investment conferences: SelectLA hosted by the Los Angeles Economic Development Corporation, as well as the SelectUSA Investment Summit in Washington D.C.	State Schools Chief Celebrates Passage of LGBTQ+ Legislation State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond today applauded the passage of AB 1955, Support Academic Futures and Educators for Today’s Youth Act (SAFETY Act).	County Health Issues Excessive Heat Warning Through Monday The Los Angeles County Health Officer has issued an excessive heat warning as high temperatures have been forecast for the following areas:	Barger: Do Your Part to Prevent Wildfires As the Fourth of July holiday approaches, accompanied by dangerously hot temperatures and excessive heat warnings in portions of Los Angeles County’s Fifth District, Supervisor Kathryn Barger is reminding residents to do their part to lessen the threat of wildfires. She issued the following statement today:
Today in SCV History (July 3) 1925 - By letter, Wyatt Earp beseeches his friend William S. Hart to portray him in a movie, to correct the "lies about me." Hart never did. [story]	Stay Cool, Safe During the Fourth of July Holiday With an excessive heat warning in effect this week, the city of Santa Clarita strongly urges residents to prioritize heat safety and preparedness during the Fourth of July Parade and the holiday weekend.	Wilk’s Bill to Make Wildfire Settlements Tax-free Clears First Assembly Committee California State Sen. Scott Wilk (R-Santa Clarita) has announced his bill to make wildfire settlement payments tax-free cleared its first hurdle in the Assembly, passing out of the Committee on Revenue and Taxation.	MADD Awards Presented to Pair of SCV Sheriff’s Station Deputies Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) recently presented deputies from the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department with the highly esteemed MADD Award. This award recognizes their unwavering commitment to road safety and dedication to preventing the devastating consequences of drunk driving.	Sept. 15: Presbyterian Church Hosts Grief, Loss Recovery Group The First Presbyterian Church of Newhall is hosting an eight-week grief and loss recovery group, scheduled to run 2-3:30 p.m. on eight consecutive Sundays, Sept. 15 through Nov. 3.	DMV’s Driver Safety Team Provides New Online Access The California Department of Motor Vehicles has introduced a new online case management system that provides faster response times. The modern digital system provides drivers, as well as their attorneys, with a more convenient way to interact with the Driver Safety office at the DMV.
Main Entrance to Central Park Closed for Parking Lot Paving The city of Santa Clarita has issued a traffic alert for residents traveling to Central Park, 27150 Bouquet Canyon Road, Santa Clarita, CA 91350.	County Offers Cooling Centers, Summer Pool Program As an excessive heat warning descends upon portions of North County this week, including the Santa Clarita Valley, Los Angeles County officials remind SCV residents of county resources that bring free or low-cost heat relief.	Oct. 26-27: Mission Opera Presents ‘Cold Sassy Tree The Santa Clarita Valley opera company, Mission Opera opens its seventh Season Oct. 26-27 with "Cold Sassy Tree" by Carlisle Floyd, an American opera in English, based on the 1989 historical American novel by Olive Ann Burns.	Tau Fruit Fly Quarantine Lifted in SCV Thanks to the cooperation and diligence of Santa Clarita Valley area residents and local agricultural officials, the California Department of Food and Agriculture, working in coordination with the United States Department of Agriculture and the Los Angeles County Agricultural Commissioner, has declared an end to the Tau fruit fly quarantine following the eradication of the invasive pest.	Hello Auto Group Launches Annual Back-to-School Backpack Drive The Hello Auto Group has announced its third annual Back-to-School Backpack Drive. This year, the Hello Auto Group will partner with three Santa Clarita Valley school districts, Sulphur Springs Union School District, Newhall School District and Castaic Union School District, to support students preparing for the upcoming school year.	Family Movies $1 During Regal Summer Movie Express The Regal Summer Movie Express is underway offering family movies for $1 a ticket now through Aug. 7.