Will you please help save a wildlife corridor in Los Angeles?

[amborin]

Developers are in the process of constructing some mega-mansions in a protected wildlife
area of Laurel Canyon in Los Angeles. The city of Los Angeles is basically giving them
carte blanche with the project, by failing to uphold any environmental regulations and by
failing to uphold city zoning regulations.

People are fighting to stop this developer and to force the city to uphold its own
regulations but it's an uphill battle.

Can you please help in any way possible?

Perhaps by signing the petition to the city?

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/895/968/054/help-us-set-precedent-and-make-the-city-of-los-angeles-do-the-right-thing-for-once/?cid=FB_TAF_CIT


Or by sending emails to various people on the City Council? templates that you can copy and paste are below, along with more info.

Can you please circulate this post in as many other places as possible?

Thanks a lot in advance!


Here's more info and templates:

Dear friends and supporters of the wildlife corridor:



As many of you know we filed the lawsuit against the city and it sure seems like building went into double-time. That’s why it is more important than ever that we raise funds to file an injunction. Our court date has been set for January so if we want any chance of stopping the developer from building right on the wildlife corridor then we must file for a restraining order and injunction immediately. The wildlife corridor has been sealed up by the construction fence for almost a year now. the possibility that it would remain so until 2013 is unconscionable and our injunction can force the developer to open it back up, to un-fence it and stop using it as a staging area.


Here are some tools for how you can help:


SIGN: Here’s the petition: http://www.thepetitionsite.com/895/968/054/help-us-set-precedent-and-make-the-city-of-los-angeles-do-the-right-thing-for-once/?cid=FB_TAF_CIT


GIVE: Thanks again to the Laurel Canyon Association (www.laurelcanyon.org) for directing your tax-free donations to our cause. If you prefer to use PAYPAL, please give your contribution as a "gift" to: [e-mail] (NOTE it will not be tax free). We are relying on donations to afford our lawsuit – please help if you’ve ever given to save a puppymill or the Brazillian rainforest – please help us. We are just neighbors – not a professional non-profit and we need help.


WRITE: If you live in Laurel Canyon or even Los Angeles and/or especially in the neighborhood it would be a great help if you would take 10 minutes to write actual letters too.


UPDATES: We plan to keep updating our new blog: http://stanleyhillswildlifecorridor.blogspot.com/ so bookmark that page but we need some immediate help from you.


Also, we have created a Stanley Hills Wildlife Corridor page on Facebook -- come 'like' us for updates.


Letter templates follow.


Please copy & paste Your messages from letters below (feel free to add your own words):

Linn Wyatt
Chief Zoning Administrator
[e-mail]
213-978-1318

Subject: The Stanley Hills Wildlife Corridor
Dear Ms Wyatt,
There is nothing unclear about the Stanley Hills wildlife corridor condition
1. Why did you step in give special attention to Yossi Attia?
2. Why did you change the boundaries of this corridor with your special letter?
After it was found that your special letter was in error,
3. Why did you change the planning commissions’ designations and protections behind closed doors?
4. Shouldn't you recuse yourself from this case?

5. In the Central Area Planning Commission ruling dated Dec 7, 2011, (ruling #3 explicitly states: SMMC be consulted in determining compliance of the proposed wildlife corridor alignment". why do you disrespect the CAPC? Why have you refused to follow their ruling?

6. Condition 19 clearly and unambiguously states that: "prior to sign off of plans by the Zoning Adminstrator, evidence of compliance with condition 19, such as.... a letter from the SMMC shall be submitted..."Why have you neglected to follow the clear and unambiguous instructions of Condition 19?


I would like answers to these questions.
Thank you.


Michael LoGrande
Planning Director, the City Of Los Angeles
[e-mail]
213-978-1271

Subject: The Stanley Hills Wildlife Corridor
Dear Mr LoGrande,
Chief zoning Administrator Lynn Wyatt's special letter was determined to be in error and did not provide for a functioning wildlife corridor. It was clear that she over-extended her assistance to the benefit of the developer, so:
1 - Why was she allowed to remain in charge of the case?
2 - Why haven't you stepped in and used your leadership to protect this wildlife corridor and to ensure that your department follows proper protocol.
3 - Why isn't your office responding and working shoulder-to-shoulder with environmental agencies like the SMMC.

4 - Why are you allowing Ms Wyatt to disregard the clear and unambiguous ruling of the Central Area Planning Commission that the smmc should be consulted in determining compliance of the wildlife corridor allignment?

I would like you to answer these questions.
Thank you.

Tom LaBonge
Councilmember, Council District 4
[e-mail]
213-485-3337

Subject: The Stanley Hills Wildlife Corridor
Dear Mr LaBonge,
We Know that Griffith Park is the crown-jewel of your Council District. The Laurel Canyon wildlife corridor is a part of that crown jewel's eco-connectivity. The Stanley Hills Development and this huge environmental loss is in your council district. We are asking that you ensure that this stretch of the wildlife corridor is returned to the original SMMC recommendation of a 20 foot width. It has currently been diminished to 10 foot minimums though stubborn opposition by developer Yossi Attia. Over the last 100 years the animal access at this Stanley Hills development site has been 150 feet wide and today the city has allowed it's reduction to 0 feet. We are asking for your support in rectifying this situation.
Thank you.

Carmen Trutanich
City Attorney
[e-mail]
213-974-3512

Subject: The Stanley Hills Wildlife Corridor
Dear Mr Trutanich
You can clearly see the 2004 destruction of a 100 year old oak tree that is protected by law In our video. It was destroyed by the developer, Yossi Attia without a permit and went unpunished. In 2012 seven more protected trees were destroyed by Mr Attia without permits which are issued to ensure mitigations with bonding and replacement trees. Your office is aware of this. We not only want the bonding and mitigations ensured, we want these violations punished to the full extent of the law.
Thank you

[Liberal_in_LA]

1. along Laurel Canyon boulevard between city and Valley?

[amborin]

2. yes,

there's a stretch in there that is a protected wildlife corridor; unfortunately, a developer is constructing on it,
with apparent impunity.