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LOCAL HEALTH HAZARD - Residents of Val Verde and nearby Castaic gathered this week at the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors meeting, calling for immediate action in response to the health risks posed by the Chiquita Canyon Landfill. The protest came on the heels of Supervisor Kathryn Barger’s announcement of a lawsuit against the landfill owner, but local families say this step alone is not enough to address the severity of the situation.
While some view the lawsuit as progress, many residents argue that the landfill’s ongoing impact on their health and safety requires more urgent intervention.
"We’re grateful that the county has recognized the serious impact of the landfill, but a lawsuit won’t do enough to protect our children or close the landfill in the immediate future," said Oshea Orchid, resident, local leader and managing partner at Sethi Orchid Miner, LLP.
Orchid is also helping to coordinate legal efforts to address the environmental health risks from the landfill, which has been one of California’s largest methane emitters for years.
The landfill’s toxic emissions have been linked to various health problems in the surrounding communities, including headaches, nausea, asthma, and nosebleeds. Some residents have reported more serious conditions, including cancer.
“Our kids shouldn’t have to breathe in toxic air at school or at home,” said Jennifer Elkins, a mother from Val Verde. “We need our schools relocated and our community protected”.
The demand for relocation was echoed by local children, including Kailee Elkins, a student at Live Oak Elementary, who described her experiences with the air quality at school.
“We go outside for P.E., and I can feel the air is bad,” she said. “I get headaches and itchy skin, and a lot of people in my neighborhood have cancer. We need our schools to be moved somewhere safe”.
The rally and public comment at the Board of Supervisors meeting were organized by Citizens for Chiquita Canyon Closure, a group formed by local residents, parents, and legal advocates. They are pushing for more immediate action, including the declaration of a state of emergency, which they believe would expedite the relocation of schools and provide health-related support to the affected community.
“The landfill has caused long-term problems for our community, and a lawsuit is not enough to address the damage,” said Orchid. “We need a state of emergency to ensure that our children can go to school safely and that residents can get the help they need”.
As the legal battle against the landfill continues, Val Verde residents remain steadfast in their call for urgent action. Many feel that declaring a state of emergency is the necessary step to secure the resources needed to protect their community and to ensure that no more children or families suffer from exposure to toxic chemicals.
For more information or to arrange interviews with local leaders and residents, please contact Lindsay Turpin via email at [email protected] or phone at (415)763-2412.
