Members of the councilmember’s office walked to the base of George Wolfberg park, which overlooks the Pacific Ocean.
No Pesticides in George Wolfberg Park:
There is no need for herbicide spraying in George Wolfberg Park, there are other means to control weeds, other than resorting to chemicals. The park is an environmentally sensitive area, because all ground water drains to the ocean. The Canyon is surrounded by homes and spraying a chemical that could affect residents is problematic.
Cheetah Pro, a broad spectrum nonselective postemergence herbicide was sprayed in the park last week. The active ingredients listed are glufosinate-ammonium (24.5%) and other ingredients, which are not listed are (75.5%).
This editor observed the spraying: the men doing it were wearing protective clothing. As a precautionary measure, the gate closest to the baseball fields was locked, so people wouldn’t enter that area when they were spraying. It did not appear that homes around the rim had been warned.
In a 2020 letter from the United States environmental Protection Agency to the maker of the herbicide hazards were acknowledged.
Environmental hazards: DO NOT apply directly to water or to areas where surface water is present. DO NOT apply to intertidal areas below the mean high-water mark. DO NOT contaminate water by cleaning of equipment or disposal of equipment washwaters or rinsate. This pesticide is toxic to vascular plants and must be used strictly in accordance with the drift and run-off precautions on this label in order to minimize off-site exposures. Under some conditions, Cheetah may have a potential to run-off to surface water or adjacent land. Where possible, use methods which reduce soil erosion, including no till, limited till and contour plowing; these methods also reduce pesticide run-off. Use of vegetation filter strips along rivers, creeks, streams, wetlands, etc. or on the downhill side of fields where run-off could occur to minimize water run-off is recommended.
Chemical Hazards:
DO NOT mix or allow contact with oxidizing agents. Hazardous chemical reactions may occur. Combustible. DO NOT use or store near heat or open flame.
Medical Emergencies:
Call (877) 325-1840 FIRST AID • Take off contaminated clothing. IF ON SKIN OR CLOTHING • Rinse skin immediately with plenty of water for 15 to 20 minutes. • Call a poison control center or doctor for treatment advice. IF SWALLOWED • Call a poison control center or doctor immediately for treatment advice. • Have person sip a glass of water if able to swallow. • DO NOT induce vomiting unless told to do so by a poison control center or doctor. • DO NOT give anything by mouth to an unconscious person. IF IN EYES • Hold eye open and rinse slowly and gently with water for 15 to 20 minutes. • Remove contact lenses, if present, after the first 5 minutes, then continue rinsing eye. • Call a poison control center or doctor for treatment advice. IF INHALED • Move person to fresh air. • If person is not breathing, call 911 or an ambulance, then give artificial respiration, preferably mouth-to-mouth if possible. • Call a poison control center or doctor for treatment advice. HOT LINE NUMBER Have the product container or label with you when calling a poison control center or doctor, or going for treatment. You may also contact 1-877-325-1840 for emergency medical treatment information. NOTE TO PHYSICIAN If this product is ingested, endotracheal intubation and gastric lavage should be performed as soon as possible, followed by charcoal and sodium sulfate administration.
According to resident Sarah A. who posted about the spraying on another social site, the person to contact about ensuring this never happens again is Elaine Lei elaine.lei@lacity.org.
Wolfberg Park Walk and History Talk:
The Pacific Palisades Democratic Club initially planned a walk through George Wolfberg Park on March 23. Then, the weather had other ideas and the walk was rained out.
The newly scheduled day for the event is Sunday, April 28 at noon. The walk will be followed by a lunch and a talk about the history of the park with a local expert and a member of the Wolfberg family at Veterans’ Gardens (picnic tables near the bocce court), 851 Alma Real. There was a free Thyme Café lunch for the first 20 people to respond—and there are two left. https://palidemsforms-palidems.nationbuilder.com/wolfberg_park_walk_lunch?utm_campaign=one_wk_from_wolfberg_dnc_vote&utm_medium=email&utm_source=palidems
Tickets to attend are $20 for members, $25 for nonmembers. If you are not one of the 20, here are other options: 1) Walk the park and bring your own lunch or snacks 2) Let us order for you from Thyme Café, 3) Walk the park and don’t worry about food, just sit with us for the talk or 4) Skip the walk and join at the picnic table for the talk, with or without food.
Stop Park Graffiti:
A reader wrote on April 20 that “Today I noticed about 15 signs at Potrero canyon were tagged, and also the restrooms. I ran into some kids and they told me the kids responsible.”
If you are the parent of Lucas, Alex, Thaddeus, Remi, or Eli, your child has been implicated in tagging. It might be time to instill community service or a commitment to community beautification and go to Anawalt and pick up a graffiti remover. It could be fun for the entire family to remove the red paint.
Sings and the bathrooms were tagged with graffiti in George Wolfberg Park.
The red paint is very hard to remove. The destruction these kids caused is disturbing and shocking. 14 signs, Boulders, informational signs with photos… this level of harm done to public property is on a whole other level. These kids must be identified with last names and charged and reprimanded. The parents should publicly apologize and pay for the clean up.
It’s hard to imagine that a person, anyone with a half a brain would spray the GWP with any pesticide of any kind. WOW – and with a direct flow right to the ocean!!
Hard to Imagine. And we wonder why we are on the road to self-destruction?
What a Legacy!
Who’s in charge here?
Don’t let dogs eat or tear into any grass that has been sprayed!
Weeds can be eaten by goats or spayed with 30 % vinegar which is safe. Then they can be easily pulled out.
Knowing that the city is using poisonous methods is scary and appalling!