ojai news at The Ojai Post :: blog, newspaper, events in Ojai, California

"...It has been an uphill battle. Stop the Trucks! Coalition has been battling two new gravel mine expansions, one by the Diamond Rock Mine in Santa Barbara County and another from the Ozena Valley Mine in Ventura County.

Now two additional Santa Barbara County mines have submitted applications. The GPS mine, just north of the Diamond Rock Mine in Ventura County, is looking to move its operations a few miles west of their current northern Santa Barbara County location…"

"…The other new Santa Barbara County sand and gravel mine, Richard’s Holding Company, has also proposed to begin excavating gravel in the northern Santa Barbara County area…

Coalition member, Michael Shapiro said, “As long as there is another alternative route, that is just 45 minutes longer, there is no reason they should approve the industrialization of our community’s main artery,”

For the full article please go to:
http://ojaivalleynews.blogspot.com/2007/11/gravel-mines-eye-expansion.html

And according to a December 10th article by Erin Cline Davis in the Los Angeles Times:
"Air pollution is hardest on kids. The closer to a freeway they live, play or attend school, the more likely it is that their developing lungs' capacity will be reduced…"

"...Mounting scientific evidence reveals that exposure to air pollution interferes with the development of children's lungs, reducing their capacity to breathe the air they need…"

"…To help protect children from the heightened effects of this extra dose of air pollution, California passed a law in 2003 prohibiting schools from being built within 500 feet of major roadways…"

"…USC researchers reported that children living in areas with higher pollution..., had stunted lung development compared with children living in areas with lower pollution..."

…"Poor lung function in later adult life is known to be a major risk factor for respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, as well as for mortality," said W. James Gauderman, an epidemiologist at the USC Keck School of Medicine and leader of both studies…

For the full article, go to:
http://www.latimes.com/features/health/la-he-smog10dec10,0,3495522,print.story?coll=la-home-middleright

The Coalition Needs Your Help:

Why Are We Raising Money: Members of the coalition are all volunteers who have donated their time because like you, they believe the Ojai is worth saving. Our fundraising efforts help pay mounting legal expenses in our efforts to challenge the Ozena Mine and others from trying to gain approval to send hundreds of mine transport double hopper trucks through Ojai as well as our efforts to challenge Caltrans so that the City of Ojai may end up reasserting control and jurisdiction on whether or not massive industrialization or our two major road arties can proceed.

How can I Help or Donate Funds: The Ojai Valley Chamber of Commerce is helping the coalition collect funds. Please either call the office at 640-2524 or see our “Pledge Form” at:
http://www.ojaipost.com/2007/05/stop_the_trucks_pledge_form.shtml

How can I File a Complaint about Trucks that Appear to be Violating the Rules: We have posted a “Catch the Trucks” complaint form at: http://www.ojaipost.com/2007/06/catch_a_truck_violation_report.shtml

What are the Rules: Some of the mines currently have little or no restrictions imposed upon them. On weekdays Ozena is limited to sending trucks in either direction between Casitas Springs and Ojai from 6:00 am to 7:00am and from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm.

How can I Contact “Stop the Trucks”: You can call “Stop the Trucks” at 640-2524. Leave a message if no one is available or you can email at smythe@ojai.net and we will try to direct your query to the right person. For periodic news updates or for background information go to: http://www.ojaipost.com/stopthetrucks.shtml

This information is as accurate as we can provide as of 12/12/07, and are subject to revision