The Ahmanson Ranch battle must continue

The Ahmanson Ranch battle must continue

The massive and continuing opposition in Calabasas and in the neighboring communities to the Washington Mutual Bank Ahmanson Ranch development project is based on respect for the importance of the quality of living and the rejection of the need to degrade and obliterate our surroundings for the financial benefit of a few.

This common cause opposition instantly arose almost 10 years ago when the Ahmanson project was first suggested by the predecessor to Washington Mutual, and this opposition has continued undiminished, gaining strength in the convincing articulations and reasoned evaluations of those who want to ensure and maintain our living standards.

Washington Mutual is making a big mistake if it thinks that it can ignore the fierce and justified opposition which the residents of our community of Calabasas and nearby cities have to the disastrous consequences of the project and to the project’s selfish decimation of natural habitat.

Washington Mutual should realize the soundness and sense of this widespread opposition and not waste its money and resources trying to dispute and disguise the ill effects which its project would foist on the affected, unwilling, determined and united residential areas which are impacted.

The catastrophe which Washington Mutual is proposing in the Ahmanson project has been condemned by many responsible groups, public representatives, and community individuals as evidenced (1) at the recent very effective town meeting sponsored in part by Fran Pavley (California state Assembly) with Brad Sherman (U.S. Congressional representative) attending and (2) the TV coalition event coverage with prominent actors and local community officials, including actor Martin Sheen and Calabasas Mayor Janice Lee.

The ongoing legal opposition undertaken by the city of Calabasas and other informed and concerned parties is money well spent. It is very unfortunate that Washington Mutual does not cut its losses and terminate the project (before costing its shareholders further distress and damages), this being a questionable project which it took over and which has caused many to wonder why it would see fit to injure the lives and well being of so many of the residents and citizens of our community.

Washington Mutual is not being a good neighbor with this Ahmanson project, and it should understand that responsible development does not devastate and infringe so unreasonably on its neighbors.

Washington Mutual can expect our concerned and affected citizens to continue to inform and mobilize public awareness and civic responsibility to declaim against this threat to our region and way of life until it is eliminated.

Leon Koziewicz

Calabasas