Meeting to Consider Landfill Investigation

Assemblyman Scott Wildman (D-Los Angeles), who is running for a state Senate seat, has called a meeting of politicians, residents and regulatory agencies to decide whether to launch an investigation into expansion of the Sunshine Canyon Landfill in Granada Hills.

The meeting is scheduled for 3 p.m. Friday at Van Gogh Elementary School in Granada Hills.

In December, in an 8-7 vote, the Los Angeles City Council approved a zone change allowing Browning-Ferris Industries, the landfill operator, to accept 55 million tons of trash on 194 acres at Sunshine Canyon over the next 26 years.

Residents have vigorously opposed the expansion. Earlier this month, a coalition of north Valley residents filed a lawsuit against the city in a bid to overturn the expansion. The lawsuit contends that the city failed to adequately consider alternatives to the expansion as well as the alleged cumulative negative impacts on the surrounding community.

The list of those who have said they will attend the round-table discussion include Assembly Speaker Antonio Villaraigosa (D-Los Angeles), Los Angeles Unified school board member Julie Korenstein, the North Valley Coalition and various city and county regulatory agencies.

“It is likely that after this meeting we will be in a position to decide whether we want to actively pursue an investigation,” said Wildman, who heads a legislative audit committee.