LETTERS DOES HAHN THINK BEYOND ONE TREE?

I think it is wonderful that Mayor Jim Hahn is urging the county of Los Angeles to save ``Old Glory.'' I wonder if Mayor Hahn is prepared to look at the bigger picture. This road leads to a development on Southern California's last natural river, the Santa Clara River, where endangered southern steelhead trout live, along with 12 other endangered plants and animals, and will remove 1,600 oak trees.

Of course I'm speaking about Newhall Ranch, proposed by Newhall Land and Farming Company. I would also question Mayor Hahn if he has read all the negative impacts that Newhall Land has already relinquished on the Santa Clara, such as harming the arroyo toad, destroying the spineflower and putting up hazing machines to scare away endangered migratory birds. I wonder what Mayor Hahn has to say about Newhall Land requiring their biologists to sign confidentiality agreements that promise to file lawsuits against biologists should they disclose their findings to any agency.

I know that Mayor Hahn is working to fight Ahmanson Ranch in Ventura County, so where is he on the massive Newhall Ranch project, estimated to create 387,000 additional traffic trips per day, destroy an already declining air quality and harm 13 threatened or endangered plants and animals?

- Teresa Savaikie

Saugus

Burn victim needs blood donations

The Bible Tabernacle and family of Robert Bjorner, who was burned over 60 percent of his body on Dec. 10, thanks the community for its outpouring of concern, along with the Sheriff's Department, emergency medical personnel and Fire Department. Mr. Bjorner remains in critical condition at the Grossman Burn Center at Sherman Oaks Hospital. Blood is still needed. Please call [phone] to donate blood.

- The Rev. Milton Wilson

The Bible Tabernacle