Both Sides Now
The article published in Los Angeles City Beat titled “Real Hot Property” [May 18], by Michael Collins, provided a great deal of misinformation and misrepresentation of the facts about the Veterans Affairs' property. The purpose of this letter is to clarify the actual status of the property referred to in that article, and request that the Los Angeles CityBeat publish this letter to ensure that the public is made aware of the actual facts regarding this land. Let me begin by stating that the property has been evaluated extensively and environmental experts have determined that the property is not a hazard to the health of the community. All of the environmental reports are a matter of public record.
An arroyo on the West Los Angeles property of the current VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System (GLA) was used for burial of low level radioactive waste during the 1950's and I960's. This area was officially deemed a closed site by the Los Angeles County Department of Health Services, the Environmental Protection Agency, and the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
The land that GLA currently shares with the City of Los Angeles for use as a park has been studied extensively and is considered safe for use by environmental experts. The Brentwood School leased area has also been studied and deemed safe. My staff spent several hours with Mr. Collins presenting documentation demonstrating the safety of these areas. Unfortunately, he chose to ignore that information and misinform your readers.
Charles M. Dorman
Director, Department of Veteran's Affairs
Michael Collins responds: Mr. Dorman states that CityBeat's expose of the Brentwood nuclear dump provides “misinformation and misrepresentation of the facts,” yet he is unable to provide a single example to back up his claims. Such a blanket dismissal is not surprising, however – the VA has been engaged in sloppiness, deception, and cover-ups regarding the dump for decades. We stand by our facts.
Dorman reassures us that the dump is a “closed site,” thereby implying that it is safe. But how safe can this radiation-impacted arroyo be when highly radioactive shards of glass are exposed on the soil surface? The dump is easily accessible to kids chasing errant soccer balls from adjacent Macarthur Field, and the shoddy warning signs that were posted prior to the publication of CityBeat's article have recently been removed.
Dorman claims that I ignored “documentation demonstrating the safety of these areas.” Actually, I detailed Dorman's staff's unsubstantiated claims that their own contractor, PricewaterhouseCoopers, was wrong in reporting that the dump is also underneath the athletic fields leased by Brentwood School. The maps provided by Dorman's staff are posted on EnviroReporter.com, as CityBeat noted. Those maps, including those areas underneath the Barrington Dog Park, appear to be mysteriously and inaccurately redrawn to make it appear that the dog park isn't over the nuclear dump when, in fact, part of it is.
Sadly, like other government agencies under the Bush administration, Dorman plays fast and loose with the term “experts.” As reported by CityBeat, Dorman's staff radiation “expert” repeatedly stated that the most prevalent radionuclides in the dump, including carbon-14, are “short-lived,” when carbon-14 continues to radiate dangerously for thousands of years.
Whether it takes years for the VA to deal with the danger of its forgotten nuke dump remains to be seen. Judging from Dorman's feeble attack and continued reliance on inaccurate information, unwittingly or not; it's going to be a long time. How the community reacts is another matter entirely.
More Warehouses!
Regarding the eviction of a bunch of poor people from an urban garden, [see above and “Plowed Under,” page 8] the mayor said “Today's events are disheartening and unnecessary. After years of disagreement over this property, we had all hoped for a better outcome.”
Its too bad he doesn't know anyone who could have helped make a better outcome. Maybe he knows someone in charge of the city who could have done it. Something I think all Angelenos can agree on though, is that the city desperately needs another warehouse.
Patrick Wright
San Gabriel
Someone Please Vote
I read in the paper that illegals might have voted in last week's elections, and oh, what an outcry. But judging from the record low turnouts at the polls, I say let ‘em. Someone's got to make electoral decisions for us, since, apparently, citizens don't want to. Perhaps those who've crawled through mud and dodged vigilantes to get here will actually appreciate the privilege.
Bill Carlisle
Via E-Mail
More Confused Than We
I really don't understand. [Re: “A Daughter's Death,” July 8.] You publish an article in which the reporter makes a legitimate attempt at fairness, accuracy, and investigation. Indeed, it's a serious subject. What then is the purpose of the photograph accompanying the article depicting the family standing in a swimming pool? Am I missing an obvious metaphor here, or is that just gratuitously stupid? Would it be so dreadful to have them just sitting on a sofa, or is that not flamboyant enough? I wish you would just make up your mind: Do you want to be artsy or authentic? But let's not intermingle the two – at least not in the context of an article such as that. Sorry, but you can't have it both ways. Or can you?
Markus Edwards
Calabasas
Send Letters!
Letters to the editor should include a return address and telephone number. All correspondence becomes property of Los Angeles CityBeat and ValleyBeat and may be edited for space. Send to LETTERS, CityBeat, 5900 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 2211, Los Angeles, CA 90036. Or by fax (323) 938-1661 or e-mail: editor@lacitybeat.com.Published: 06/15/2006
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