HISTORICAL SOCIETY TO BUY CROSS SITE IN FACE OF ACLU SUIT THREAT.Byline: Angie Valencia Staff Writer SIMI VALLEY Simi Valley (sē`mē, sĭm`ē), city (1990 pop. 100,217), Ventura co., SW Calif. in an oil, fruit, and farm region; laid out 1887, inc. 1969. - Rancho Simi Rancho San José de Nuestra Senora de Altagarcia y Simi is one of the land grants in California by the Spanish government. The name derives from Shimiji, the name of the Chumash village here before the Spanish. Parks directors have agreed to sell a portion of Mount McCoy containing a historic Latin cross - dodging potential legal action over a religious icon on public land. Sale of the 0.61-acre lot - appraised at $1,980 - to the Simi Valley Historical Society would preserve the landmark and satisfy an American Civil Liberties Union American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), nonpartisan organization devoted to the preservation and extension of the basic rights set forth in the U.S. Constitution. challenge. The Historical Society's board of directors will review the purchase at its Thursday meeting. The deal could be sealed at a June 17 parks district meeting. ``I don't expect any problem,'' said Caryl Barefoot bare·foot also bare·foot·ed adv. & adj. With nothing on the feet: walking barefoot in the grass; a barefoot boy. , Historical Society president. ``So many people in the community are interested in saving the landmark for various reasons.'' Public support for preserving the 63-year-old cross was overwhelming at a parks district meeting Wednesday.} Stuart Bechman, president of the Ventura County chapter of the ACLU ACLU: see American Civil Liberties Union. and a Simi Valley resident, first criticized public ownership of the land three years ago, saying it was a violation of the constitutional separations of church and state. He attended the meeting but did not speak. ``It went as well as I hoped,'' he said. ``I reviewed their proposal and talked to the general manager. I didn't have any need to speak about the issue.'' The historical society made an unsolicited $800 bid last May to purchase the land where the 12-foot concrete cross sits. Councilman Glen Becerra has told the historical society he will donate $1,000 toward the purchase to make sure the cross stands on the hill forever. ``I'll cut my check,'' Becerra said. ``I am committed to meeting my offer.'' Some supporters of the cross called for a legal fight with the ACLU, but said they were satisfied with the proposed dea. ``I'm more concerned that the ACLU has targeted Christianity all across the nation, and I don't know Don't know (DK, DKed) "Don't know the trade." A Street expression used whenever one party lacks knowledge of a trade or receives conflicting instructions from the other party. where they're going to stop next,'' said Pastor Rick Fish of Live Ride Christian Church. ``Are they going to spread worldwide? I fear it's a real threat. ... They're trying to erase our history.'' The cross was granted historical designation in 1986. Spanish priests erected a wooden cross in the early 19th century to guide travelers between the Ventura and San Fernando San Fernando, city, Argentina San Fernando (săn fərnăn`dō), city (1991 pop. 144,761), Buenos Aires prov., E Argentina. It is a district administrative center in the Greater Buenos Aires area. missions. The concrete cross version of today was established in 1941 by the Simi SIMI Sea Ice Mechanics Initiative SIMI Search for Intelligent Monkeys on the Internet SIMI Students Islamic Movement in India SIMI Society of Irish Motor Industry SIMI Smallholder Irrigation Markets Initiative Valley-Moorpark Lions Club. The open space land was donated to the park district in 1995. Angie Valencia, (805) 583-7602 angie.valencia(at)dailynews.com |
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