There is an expression “speaking out of both sides of your mouth.” That was in evidence at the February 13, Pacific Palisades Community Council with Vahid Khorsand (Board of Public Works Director), Julie Allen (Assistant Director of LASAN), Ted Allen (Bureau of Engineering and Debris Removal) and Jenny Delwood (Mayor Karen Bass’ Deputy Chief of Staff). The County under Supervisor Lindsey Horvath did not have anyone at the meeting to address this issue.
One PPCC member had to leave the meeting early because five homes on upper Santa Monica Canyon were being flooded with mud.
Sharon Kilbride, who is a sixth-generation native of Santa Monica Canyon, spoke about the flood control channel that parallels Entrada under Short Street.
“The color of the water is black soot, it is splashing up into yards. This water is going into the ocean,” Kilbride said. “Is anyone doing anything about this?”
Allen responded, “There’s no way to stop the water. They are testing the debris when it’s on the beach and we have tested the water and there is no asbestos.”
Palisadians have been told to wear masks and personal protective equipment (PPE) when in their yards because the ash and chemicals are so dangerous, according to Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer. Now that waste is flowing into the ocean.
Westside Current ran February 10 story (“Protesters Demand EPA Scrap ‘Reckless’ Plan for Toxic Fire Debris at Will Rogers Beach). More than 100 people protested the Environmental Protection Agency’s decision to use the Will Rogers State Beach parking lot as a toxic waste sorting site to process debris from the Palisades Fire.
‘What these chemicals and toxins can do long term to our beaches, and oceans and ecosystem is irreversible,” actor Eric Balfour said. “The beach will become synonymous with toxic waste.”
Then after addressing the debris, ash and soot flowing into the ocean at the PPCC meeting, government officials then pivoted to draining swimming pools. “Do not drain water out of swimming pool until after Phase 2 is completed,” officials said. Supposedly, the Army Corps of Engineers can use that water to hose down the concrete as it is being removed (keeping the dust down).
But, the Corps of Engineers do not remove pools. That clean up will fall to individuals, which will be able to hook up a hose in the pool and put the water in the sewer system. The City is working on a reservation system for pool drainage – so it won’t overwhelm the Hyperion Treatment Plant – and will keep the foul water out of the ocean.