NO REINER, NOR REASON IN PORTER RANCH CASE.

Byline: Patrick Weir Local View

DESPITE the efforts of concerned citizens for reasonable development policies impacting their community, the city and county approved the building of 3,500 homes in the Porter Ranch development, along with a huge shopping center and all other infrastructure that goes along with it.

All of this in the hills formerly roamed by the Chumash Indians and, until recently, the hills and topography formerly available for cyclists, hikers, equestrians and others.

After similar efforts to convince ``the system'' to consider our neighborhoods rather than tax rolls, county officials are almost ready to breathe their collective sigh of relief and issue the permits to Presidio, a Northern California development concern, so that they can proceed with the first of many development projects to come.

When completed, all land north of the Ronald Reagan Freeway will be developed all the way to the Santa Susana Mountains and then extending through the corridor to connect the Valley with the Santa Clarita Valley.

Thousands of homes.

It should come as no surprise, then, to hear that we were insulted by the dog and pony show reported by all the major news channels, as well as the Los Angeles Times and the Daily News - Mayor James K. Hahn's ``indignation'' and promise to stop the development of 3,000 homes in the Ahmanson Ranch.

The current development in our area already has 3,500 homes. By the time the connection is made with Santa Clarita, there should be approximately 10,000 new homes.

So, why the television coverage and the newspaper coverage for Ahmanson Ranch?

The Daily News stated it quite succinctly with its use of the descriptive adjective ``influential'' people. Rob Reiner or, Meathead, whichever one prefers, was the ``influential'' part, along with Councilman Dennis Zine and, as mentioned, our one-term Mayor Hahn.

We do not object to Reiner's fight against this development. We are insulted that our problem is three times greater and the media ignore our situation.

Do we apologize that we don't have a Reiner? Hahn has refused to get involved in our situation. Do we have to rent an ``influential'' person to get any help from Hahn and the media? It would appear to be the case.

Do citizens have any voice at all? We fight our way through the bureaucratic overload, research all the issues, make our presentations to the appropriate city/county agencies and, just like Porter Ranch, the citizens lose again! Beaten by the influence pedaling of an interloper from Northern California.

Our City Council member sends his assistant to smile and to assure us of his support. Our county representative sends his deputy to smile and assure us of his support. The county Planning Commission members listen politely to our concerns and express their support for proper planning. How nice of them all.

Since none of these people lives in the area, none of them will be affected and I suppose we should recognize that their interest in our problem is minimal. To this I can only say that their turn will come.

The county makes its money on property taxes and every development is another raise in salary for the county. Check the records. Every community that fights the battle loses in the end. Our system doesn't work. Our system is a joke.

Presidio has hired lobbyists in its effort to accomplish a victory. You tell me why, if the system is legitimate, is it necessary to hire lobbyists? Lobbyists are deal makers and influence peddlers. If that is how victories are secured then you can bet your sweet one the system is stacked.

Career bureaucrats. Ya just gotta love 'em.