WAITING FOR?
REBUILD LA CONCHITA - SAVE THE RINCON CORRIDOR
by Rodleen Getsic
Rodleen is the former spokesperson and public relations for the community of La Conchita, California. This article was published in Fall 2005 in several local newspapers.
LA CONCHITA, CA.-- You remember. It wasn't too long ago. Less than a year ago was that day the deadly mudslide hit La Conchita, California. The mud came down hard and fast. The interstate and railroad were flooded and blockaded, bringing major commerce to a halt. Homes were destroyed and people were killed in La Conchita. Three percent (3%) of the community died, including some small children.
Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger walked along the streets of La Conchita. He called out heroically, "We will rebuild!" He said he would help make the community safe again. In his own career campaign, he has claimed, “I'm here as your warrior, remember that. I want to protect you." Though, he has left La Conchita a gaping wound right here in California’s front yard.
Nothing has been done to aide in the rebuilding of La Conchita since the bodies were pulled out of the mud and rubble. Crushed houses still sit rotting at the base of the mudslide. Roads are muddy, unkempt, and in some cases completely blocked by hills of fallen mud. “Road Closed” and other warning signs block some of the intersections. More than 6,000 gallons of water pours onto the streets of La Conchita daily, riveting sloppily down the middle of the roads in small streams. This water is high in toxicity and seeps down from irrigation sourcing from the avocado ranch on top of the hill.
Recently, there have been outlandish theories of doom printed up about California falling into the ocean. Some folks think that everyone in La Conchita should just move. Did you know that generations of families reside in this little town? This area was established in the 1800’s as Punta Gorda. Some people still living today in La Conchita once played in the Punta School House even before La Conchita del Mar was established in 1924. This community is unique, and it is a core part of California history. It is filled with people that love their neighbors. It is filled with tax paying citizens. La Conchita de serves to be saved and safe.
Until the hill above La Conchita is stabilized, The State of California is in danger. When the mud slides, it covers the federal interstate and the federal railroad, and it causes a halt in commerce. It also kills and destroys. In America, when a National Disaster is declared, the government is mandated to administer safety and disaster relief to its citizens. The government is required to make sure that the region where the disaster occurred is safely reconstructed.
“Four years after the frightening experience of September the Eleventh, Americans have every right to expect a more effective response at a time of emergency,” says Bush. There has been no response in La Conchita since it was declared a National Disaster in January of this year. The rebuilding of Laguna Beach, South of Los Angeles, is already well on its way toward completion after the landslide they experienced around the same time this year. It is shocking that nothing has been done to rectify the situation in La Conchita, California.
In order to save lives, preserve this community, and to protect the coastal corridor of Highway 101, The United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) should be called in for Environmental Protection and Disaster Response. Recently, Patricia Sigur of USACE in D.C. told La Conchita that she is concerned nothing has been done. She sees the need for assistance, and stated, “Though we cannot lobby for work, we stand ready.” Taking the same stance as other State and Federal Officials, she says that the local government, in this case, the county of Ventura, is required to request assistance from the higher levels of government in order to fulfill administration of Disaster Relief.
Ventura County has not asked for any help. At the South Coast Sub-Regional Planning Committee Meeting on October 26, 2005, Supervisor Steve Bennett stated that he would like The State and The Federal Government to take on the liability of fixing the hill above La Conchita, “But…” shaking his head, he continued, “I think that’s highly unlikely.” Nearly a year after the tragic incident, Ventura County has still not asked for any help to rebuild and protect La Conchita.
Why not terrace the hill now, before it falls again? Steve Bennett expresses such concern about “costing Ventura taxpayers.” This year, when the highway was shut down for ten days at La Conchita, it cost our state $10 million a day, resulting in a loss of approximately $100 million. The railroad was shut down for 3 weeks, resulting in a loss of $33 million. According to plans drawn up by private engineers, terracing the hill will cost an estimated $20 to $40 million.
How is not terracing the hill saving tax dollars? It will certainly save dollars. It will certainly save lives. It will certainly save time. Each workday, 15,000 commuters drive past La Conchita (SBCAG). This very corridor of the 101 where Santa Barbara County and Ventura County meets is deemed a Geological Hazard Zone, according to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). Until this area is reconstructed, The State of California is in danger.
6 comments:
Can't you understand, NO ONE CARES ABOUT LA CONCHITA, EXCEPT SOME OF THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE THERE! Look at New Orleans. Trust me BRAD PITT isn't coming,,,,nor is Arnold!!!!
SCREAM ALL YOU WANT, WRITE YOUR CONGRESSMAN, SOMEDAY THE RATS WILL TAKE OVER AND THE BULLDOZERS WILL COME.
YOU HAVE RESPONDED TO A BLOG THAT WAS POSTED OVER A YEAR AGO. WITH SO MUCH NEGATIVITY COMING OUT OF YOUR COMMENTS, IT CERTAINLY CAN'T BE A CASE OF "IGNORANCE IS BLISS". MOST OF THE HOMEOWNERS IN THIS COUNTRY, LIVE ON LAND, THAT IS A "NATURAL DISASTER WAITING TO HAPPEN", IN SOME SHAPE OR FORM. IF YOU LIVE ON AN EARTHQUAKE FAULT, YOU WILL HAVE EARTHQUAKES. IF YOU LIVE IN TORNADO ALLEY, YOU WILL HAVE TORNADOES. IF YOU BUILT YOUR HOME ON THE OCEANFRONT,YOU JUST MIGHT HIT THAT 100 YEAR STORM, AND I CAN DEFINITELY SAY THAT THE FOLKS WHO LIVE IN FLORIDA AND THE GULF, WILL YET AGAIN TRY TO PERSEVERE AGAINST THE INEVITABLE HURRICANE THAT WILL KILL MANY, AND DEMOLISH HOMES, HOPES AND DREAMS. I AM SURE THAT THE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE, WHO RECENTLY LOST HOMES IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA DUE TO THE RECENT FIRES, DON'T WANT TO HEAR THAT THEY SHOULDN'T HAVE BUILT THEIR HOMES IN THOSE BEAUTIFUL CANYONS AND MOUNTAINS, BECAUSE CALIFORNIA'S ALWAYS GOING TO HAVE PERIODS OF DROUGHT AND EXTREMELY HIGH FIRE CONDITIONS AND THE ODDS ARE, THERE WILL BE A FIRE AT SOME POINT.. I GUESS THE REASON YOUR COMMENTS HAVE IRRITATED ME SO MUCH, IS THAT MY KIDS LOST THEIR DAD IN LA CONCHITA AND THEIR BEST FRIEND, LOST HIS WIFE AND HIS 3 BEAUTIFUL LITTLE GIRLS, AND IT JUST SEEMS THE HOLIDAYS SHOULD BE A REMINDER THAT WE ALL HAVE A LOT TO BE THANKFUL FOR, NOT FOR MAKING NASTY COMMENTS ON OUR FRIEND'S BLOG, A YEAR LATER . I HOPE THAT WHOEVER YOU ARE AND WHERE EVER YOU LIVE, THAT YOU NEVER HAVE TO EXPERIENCE THE TRAGEDY THAT MY FAMILY AND FRIENDS HAVE, AND YOU NEVER FALL VICTIM TO ANYTHING, BECAUSE OF WHERE YOU LIVE. HAVE A HAPPY HOLIDAY.
DONT YOU THIS IS DULL. PS IS IT REAL?
stupid man
I feel so sad for the families of those poor people, those beautiful little girls and their mama. It is so sad that people can be so hateful (those kind are always anonymous, right? It shows they know they should be ashamed), but I just wanted to let you know that there are still people out there thinking of them and praying for you all. La Conchita is a magical little place and it always will be. Robin, I hope you did have a happy holiday (or two since then).
Update... instead of terracing Rincon Hill, just like all of the other hills along the highways of California, Ventura County ended up putting in mud ducts, or what they call tunnels, to the beach. The highway exit and entrance were rerouted, too. Now, if or, God-forbid when, Rincon falls again, the mud will flow over the community, and then beneath the highway and train tracks. The town still looks like a third world country, just drive up Santa Barbara Avenue to see the wreckage. Nothing has been done to make it safer for the residents. In fact, there is a massive sign that greets you as you enter the community. It says: Warning! You are entering a geological hazard zone. I pray for La Conchita every day. I dont live there anymore, but my friends and family are still there. I love La Conchita, and all of its people, dead or alive. I love you all.
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