One fun fact, little-known by many Angelenos, is that Los Angeles is the only major city in the world bisected by a mountain range. That would be the Santa Monica Mountains… the raison d’etre of this Task Force. It rises in Griffith Park and Hollywood Bowl in the east, and stretches to Point Mugu Rock on the Pacific Ocean in Ventura County, on the west. These mountains, straddling approximately Mulholland Drive/Highway, separate the San Fernando Valley from the “Westside,” and the Verdugo Mountains and San Gabriel Valley from the heart of the city. Along with other agencies, the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy, a state agency, is the curator and protector of this asset and legacy.
The crown jewel of the Santa Monica Mountains is the Backbone Trail, running along the spine of the mountains from Will Rogers’ house in Pacific Palisades to Point Mugu, about 67 miles in length. A few years ago, the last sections of this trail in private ownership were conveyed to the County or Conservancy, meaning that today this resource is secure for generations of our posterity. Some years ago, when I was younger and fitter and nimbler than today, I through-ran the entire length of the Backbone Trail in 21 hours. One of the hardest things I’ve ever done. Most hikers take about a week to complete the trek.
These mountains are constantly under threat from spec-developers seeking to grade, build, and develop in what is now open space wilderness. The mountains, in turn, are subject to jurisdiction by a patchwork quilt of public agencies and political entities. These include the City of Los Angeles, the County of Los Angeles, the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy, the Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority, National Park Service, California State Parks, Coastal Commission, and other agencies. If your mission is to look out for the mountains, and to seek, protect and enlarge them, that’s a lot of politicians to keep track of.
As you may have noticed from what is filling your mailbox, we’re now in the middle of “Election Season.” The first big primaries are coming up on June 7, with run-offs in November. Like I said, that’s a lot of politicians to keep track of. Those folks will be deciding what development shall be allowed, versus what pristine acreage will be acquired and put up for public use.
The Sierra Club is bureaucratized, and has a “Political Committee” devoted to evaluating and endorsing candidates for national, state and local public office. I’m not on it, thankfully, but two of our members are. It would be improper for me to issue personal endorsements, but I can tell you of some of the key races.
The sprawling, massive City of Los Angeles (population 4 million, second-largest in the country) is divided into 15 districts, each represented by a member of the City Council. By comparison, the state of Wyoming has about half a million people. Three of these 15 districts are highly relevant to the Santa Monica Mountains: 4, 5 and 11.
Mike Bonin, the controversial councilperson for District 11 — including Brentwood and Palisades up to the Valley — is stepping down, and will not run for re-election. That vacuum is being filled by about 8 candidates, each with their own views about development, the environment, building housing for the un-housed potentially in open space, fire danger, and expansion of public wilderness open space. I happen to live in District 11, and have been invited to fundraisers, meet-and-greets, and candidate debates. And I’ve been attending, meeting the candidates and questioning them.
The County of Los Angeles is much bigger than the City. With a population over 10 million, over 4,000 square miles, and with 88 incorporated cities, it’s home to more than one-quarter of all Californians. The County has jurisdiction over a huge section of the Santa Monica Mountains, and is governed by a five-member Board of Supervisors, dubbed the “Five Little Kings.” Each of these “kings” commands more governing and financial power ($35 billion total) than the Governors of most states. The race to watch is Supervisorial District 3, which includes most of the mountains. Four candidates are leading: State Senators Henry Stern and Bob Hertzberg, West Hollywood City Councilmember Lindsey Horvath, and small business owner Jeffi Girgenti.
Rob Bonta, California’s Attorney General, is also up for re-election, and is opposed by several candidates. The Attorney General is critical in enforcing environmental protections throughout the state, and represents state agencies like the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy, State Parks, and Coastal Commission. All of which are hugely critical to the preservation of our mountains.
Finally, the Mayor’s race for the City of Los Angeles has attracted lots of attention and press. The two leading candidates are billionaire developer Rick Caruso and Congresswoman Karen Bass, representing the 37th congressional district in Washington. Two other candidates, City Attorney Mike Feuer and City Councilman Kevin DeLeon, representing the 14th District, lag far behind. Last week I attended a meeting of community leaders from the Valley and Westside interviewing Karen Bass.
So there’s a lot percolating in the pot right now, and Yours Truly is struggling to stay on top of it all. Regardless — please vote on June 7!
Eric Edmunds, Chair
Santa Monica Mountains Task Force