We are writing on behalf of concerned residents of the Stewart Park neighborhood, Santa Monica.
The 90404 zip code of Santa Monica faces yet another chapter of injustice as it is threatened by the MTA Construction Authority's proposal of placing a train maintenance facility literally on its residents' front doorsteps.
The neighborhood is in an uproar over what appears to be an environmental injustice to the community. The proposed maintenance facility threatens to expose its residents to hazardous materials, noise and substantial air pollution, as well as other safety and security risks.
Residents and stakeholders were not adequately informed of the proposal, as it was buried in a 1,000-page Draft Environmental Impact Report that is not easily accessible to an interested party.
One resident was quoted as saying, “We are bi-sected by the 10 Freeway, but thanks to many proud residents and community leaders, our area has been able to maintain our cultural and socio-economic diversity that Santa Monica is well-known for.
We fully support the light rail train alignment from Culver City to Santa Monica, but for Exposition Construction Authority to fast-track this project and literally railroad this community and surrounding environment is an injustice to all citizens.”
Another Santa Monica resident stated, “We didn't even know about this maintenance facility. I only found out about it because my neighbor said he got a postcard that was placed on his car windshield. I hope that everyone else will see how unjust this is.”
As some may know, the history of this part of the County and Santa Monica includes racial covenants, segregation and widespread gang activity.
In addition, the neighborhood has weathered the environmental impacts of being directly adjacent to a trash facility.
Here is a link to a good story on the history of the neighborhood. http://www.surfsantamonica.com/ssm_site/the_lookout/news/.
The area has shown dramatic improvement and promise over the past 15 years.
Homeowners and renters alike have taken immense pride in the safety and improvement of the area. In turn, property values have increased and high-end commercial properties have sprung up throughout the area. Most importantly, the diversity of the area remains. Individuals of all ethnicities and socio-economic backgrounds still live side by side, acting with the common goal of creating a better area for everyone to live in.
With that as a backdrop, the residents of this area now face the potential impact of another environmental hazard. The Exposition Construction Authority, the governmental body constructing the new light rail throughout L.A. County, has proposed the placement of a 24-hour train maintenance yard in the Stewart Park neighborhood on Exposition Boulevard, between Centinela and Stewart Street, the 2900 and 2800 block of Exposition.
This proposition was released in the Draft Environmental Impact Report a few weeks ago. Legally, this report is required to be a worst-case scenario that disclosed all the environmental impacts of constructing the light rail line through Santa Monica.
The report clearly does not sufficiently address the environmental impacts of placing a train maintenance yard in a neighborhood. In addition, it does not address other potential locations for the maintenance yard and it does not offer a comparison of the environmental impacts of other alternatives.
If the maintenance facility is constructed, the Stewart Park neighborhood will be blocked in by the 10 Freeway, two trash facilities and a train maintenance yard. The neighbors are outraged about the proposed location. They have held several meetings, circulated petitions throughout the neighborhood, attended Santa Monica City Council and Expo Authority comment sessions.
Given the history of this area being ignored by politicians and state authorities, we are reaching out to the news media to assist in bringing attention to this issue and hopefully finding an alternative location for the maintenance yard.
The Rannes may be contacted at katiej33@gmail.com
