LETTERS RIVER HAS TOADS, BUT CITY HAS WARTS FOR FAILING TO ACT.

I would like to express my total dissatisfaction with the city Planning Commission's approval of a negative declaration related to the plan to bring in fill dirt to expand Auto Row in front of the William S. Hart PONY League and adjacent to the Santa Clara River.

As usual, the city's hypocrisy related to endangered species rang very clear when the commission approved a negative declaration where arroyo toads are likely to occur.

The fact of the matter is that U.S. Fish and Wildlife has not yet completed its biological opinion regarding the arroyo toad within the project boundaries.

The Newhall Land and Farming Co. was aware as far back as 1994 that the arroyo toad lives in the Santa Clara River, and yet Newhall Land and the city opposed critical habitat designation along the river, arguing throughout their letters that the arroyo toad had never been documented in the river adjacent to their properties.

After Friends of the Santa Clara River did some investigations, we learned that Newhall Land and its biologist observed arroyo toads in 1994, 1996 and 2000.

Now, because these findings were never submitted to Fish and Wildlife, proper mitigation to protect the endangered toad has not occurred and in fact almost all of their habitat along the Natural River Management Plan, which includes the Bridgeport projects, Jefferson Apartments and the entire San Francisquito Creek, has been destroyed.

Remember that the toad requires uplands, it cannot burrow into rip rap or into soil-cement bank stabilizers. They cannot live on residential roads and in commercial parking lots.

How in the world can this city face the public? I recognize that the city wants this project because of the revenue it will produce. Why do our river and its species always get the short end of the stick when it comes to projects Newhall Land and the city wish to pursue?

Yes, the city wants the revenue, and I understand that. What I don't understand is why it is necessary to destroy the last uplands within a project area that has been destroyed. Why not somewhere else?

Yes, the city wants the revenue just like Transit Mixed Concrete wants the revenue from their proposed sand and gravel mining project.

Another very frightening situation is that all developers are watching what Newhall is doing. All of them have now witnessed clearly that if you fail to report the findings of an endangered species and later that species is found within the project, no one anywhere is prepared to take a stand for the species, apparently not even the city of Santa Clarita.

What's to keep developers honest? What's to keep their biologists honest if there are no repercussions from concealing the presence of an endangered species?

- Teresa Savaikie

Saugus

Patriots deserve heartfelt salute

The people of the Santa Clarita Valley have illustrated what it means to be an American.

The response of the people of your community to the loss of sheriff's Deputy Dave March was overwhelming.

On May 4, as I joined the nearly five-mile procession to the cemetery, I was greatly moved by the crowd that gathered along the route to show their support.

Signs of ``You're Our Heroes,'' ``We love you Dave March'' and ``God Bless America'' were everywhere. Families with small children and entire soccer teams stood outside in the sun holding American flags. In one case, I saw a parking enforcement officer who appeared to be in his 80s standing at attention saluting the motorcade, which took nearly on hour to weave its way through town.

At a time of such profound loss, your community has reached out to show its support for the men and women of law enforcement, as well as a son of Santa Clarita who paid the ultimate price of his chosen honorable profession.

I salute you, Santa Clarita.

- Steve Cooley 

Los Angeles County district attorney

End the bickering and open the gate

After 16 years of bickering, there still isn't a solution to the traffic issue involving Valley Street and Calgrove Boulevard.

The elimination of easy access was not the solution most had hoped for. I believe it is time for the Santa Clarita City Council to revisit the issue. The only correct solution still is to open the road to all.

Those of you who think you are still living in the ``country,'' get real. Buy a farm in the Midwest if you want country living.

The infamous gate is trivial compared to other issues we are faced with. I hope someday you will recognize just how silly all the bickering has been and maybe start treating each other as neighbors.

Anger begets anger - isn't 16 years enough?

- Phyllis Nelson

Newhall