EDITORIAL : TRASH IT.

TODAY is Election Day for some in Los Angeles County, but not in the city of Los Angeles, where it's only Decision Day.

Today our elected City Council members are scheduled to vote on one of the most important public works projects in their tenure - one that will affect the San Fernando Valley well into the next century.

Despite a torrent of protest from the five council members who represent the Valley and a slew of residents, the council is expected to approve the reopening of Sunshine Canyon Landfill.

This fateful decision will bring to Granada Hills nearly every piece of garbage that is generated within the city limits - be it from Jackie Goldberg's residence or from John Ferraro's or Cindy Miscikowski's or Mark Ridley-Thomas' - for 26 years.

Huge, noisy, polluting trash-hauling trucks will invade the Valley. Potential health hazards in the form of unknown noxious fumes will float into the nearby schools and homes, some of which are a half-mile from the dump.

There are many questions about Sunshine Canyon that need to be answered in public before the matter goes forward.

And then there is the question of cost.

Would it really be that much more expensive to haul our trash to San Bernardino or Riverside counties, where it would be disposed of far from homes?

City officials claim it would cost 96 cents per month per household to long-haul Los Angeles' trash - although officials from the remote dumps told the Daily News they could do it for half that.

If ever there was an issue for the Valley council members to cash in their chits and get a majority of the council to reject the deal or postpone it, this would be it.

Sunshine Canyon may be the best place for the city's trash, but the public needs to be convinced. If the proposal is best, then it will stand up to public scrutiny.

But if it's not, well, then its supporters might try to rush it through.

So we say stand up for the Valley. Don't approve the landfill today.

The future of Los Angeles as a city may depend on it.