Imagine living in a place where a coyote can safely walk over a freeway on a brand new 100 million dollar animal only bridge near Calabasas, California, and right under that bridge dumping 4.5 million tons of toxic ash?
This is exactly what local politicians from the state agency Cal Recycle intend to do. They also refuse to test the debris for asbestos, and the LA County Public Health department is doing nothing to protect children that live and play nearby.
One must ask, exactly how and why are decisions made in the state of California? In an environmentally aware state like California where 100M dollar bridges are built for our animal friends in the mountains, who is protecting the children? How can a decision like toxic dumping be made in a vacuum, and in a rush? Residents are being left out.
This is exactly the point raised by a local mom and property manager Kelly Martino who helped start Protect Calabasas, an organization started to advocate against the dumping of toxic and hazardous materials in the Calabasas Landfill. The customer experience of living in California is getting harder and harder.
The Impact On Children
Ten days ago I was at a book club with a group of moms discussing the fires and what our children were going through. We shared stories of our children feeling scared. One mom said her normally joyful and jubilant four year old said, “can I kill myself so I don’t have to die in a fire?”
It’s a strange time to live in California. On the one hand there is so much discussion about Skittles in the candy aisle at Costco – everyone now seems to know “Red 40” so well that it has become its own meme. But the newly appointed Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. – who is taking on American health by the horns – has not addressed the fire debris debacle unfolding in Calabasas right now. Local government wants to dump the hazardous waste in the Calabasas Landfill, and residents are fighting it, but Calabasas residents might lose. They need more money to pay for environmental lawyers to continue their fight in court.
Why The Rush To Dump?
Government leaders want to allow residents to begin rebuilding their homes. But how much of a rush should it be when the implications of dumping in Calabasas impact children, and the property values of the area?
Neighbors are in a mad dash to raise money, and also get influential people to care like neighbors Kim, Khloe and Kourtney Kardiashian. They’ve posted to social media but have not donated a dollar. Mom and Landfill activist Kelly Martino went to knock on environmental activist Erin Brockovich’s door who lives nearby in Agoura, and spent one hour talking with her. In a phone call Martino told me she believes that because it’s a wealthier neighborhood, when it comes to protests she’s organized and social media posts, people have accused her of being privileged, of being a “karen.”
What Long-Term Metrics Will We Use?
In my day to day world of customer experience we like to measure things. That way we know if we’ve done a good job or not. When we think about making decision from a business perspective we use game theory – what is the best possible outcome for me, you and the group.
California is a fertile incredible land. The people running the state seem to be only out for their own political and financial gain.
But when it comes to politics, particularly with natural disasters, no one knows how to measure success. No one seems to be driving. No one is looking at the long term repercussions of short term decision making.
Why can’t we come up with a better solution than one that harms children and families? We’re in the process of making a decision that is very bad for an area of Los Angeles that is set to actually uplift Los Angeles.
To learn more visit www.ProtectCalabasas.org.