City should have listened to residents' concerns

I was one of the people who got up in front of the City Council to oppose the Larwin project.

After several attempts to show that the approval of this project would be a huge mistake, including identifying area environmental and overpopulation issues, the council went forward and allowed it to happen.

One question I asked of the council is, "If all these people are here tonight (and it was packed) opposing the Larwin project, how can you still be considering its approval? Is it not your job to represent the citizens of Simi Valley- the very people who voted you into your positions?"

I was told that they are to do what was best for the city. I guess what was best for the city was to continue what I term "the greed factor" and not listen to the cry of the local tax-paying citizens who were fighting so hard to keep what little open space was left in Simi and to enjoy what was sweetly referred to as Happy Face Hill.

You would think that now that this decision has backfired in the City Council's face, they would force Larwin to fully return this piece of land to its natural state, oak trees and all, or finish the project as originally agreed.

Now, let's talk about the Runkle Canyon project. Will the council also sell out on this project just to make a buck for the city?

Is it not bad enough that we all live with the fact that contamination is, and has been, present for years. People who have lived in these areas have died from cancer possibly due to this contamination.

To dig up the dirt and set these contaminants free into the air for us and our children to breathe does not make any sense to me no matter what the levels are. Radiation contamination is contamination at any level. What is there to think about?

I have lived in Simi Valley for 26 years and have watched its tremendous growth. Now, growth can be a good thing as long as it is done in moderation and with an overall thought process on how the growth will impact our city and citizens.

I really believe that the greed factor is running or, more appropriately, ruining our city. Maybe it's time for the citizens of Simi to re-evaluate who should be the decision makers regarding city growth and improvements and think about replacing local politicians with people who really care about what's best for Simi and its citizens. Marc Munkres Simi Valley