National Recreation Area, good or bad?

Dear Editor:

Congressmember Judy Chu is traveling the 27th Congressional District in an effort to bring attention to her proposed legislation for the National Recreation Area (NRA). What is the NRA? It’s the expansion of our national recreation area which covers more than 1000 square miles of LA County and parts of Orange and San Bernardino counties.

Approximately 1.5 million residents live within the proposed boundaries, which includes over 50 communities, our local mountains, and the San Gabriel and Rio Hondo Rivers. If our rivers and other waterways come under the control of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act, how will that affect our overall controls and rates?

I’m having a problem with only one side of the issue being presented with the proposed legislation. At all the forums and workshops, those with opposing opinions have only been given a few minutes to voice their concerns. If Congressmember Chu has nothing to hide, then please present an open forum or a panel discussion that includes experts on both sides so we can make an informed decision as to whether this will be good or bad for our communities.

I’m all in favor of protecting our mountains and recreational areas, but at what cost to our local governments, schools, water and property rights? 

Why does the NRA need to turn Route 66 (Foothill Boulevard), our waterways and other highly populated areas into a national recreational area?

On September 7, Congressmember Chu will conduct a town hall meeting to discuss the NRA. Please mark your calendars and plan on attending to get a more informed perspective of the proposed legislation. The meeting will take place at 10 a.m. at Taylor Hall, 1775 N. Indian Hill, Claremont.

Judi Neal

San Dimas

Al Leiga

Dear Editor:

I remember Al Leiga as a staunch member of the troop Committee for Boy Scout Troop 403, when his son Steve was a member of the troop while preparing to become an Eagle Scout. The troop was then sponsored by Our Lady of the Assumption Catholic Church in Claremont. Al and the others, most of them members of OLA, always welcomed me as the only Jewish member of the board, and later accepted me as their committee chair as well as Scoutmaster. I remember him fondly.

Don Fisher

Claremont

For the record

Dear Editor:

Thanks to Annie Carlson and the COURIER staff for the nice piece in the Almanac about Claremont music. I’m honored to be mentioned in the article  alongside such illustrious musical company. For the record, I should point out that my good friend Mark Takeuchi is the bass player in the Squeakin’ Wheels and not me. Mark is a first-rate player and, as the drummer for the Squeaks, I’ve enjoyed a good musical relationship with Mark for a number of years.

Again, thanks for the great work on reporting on our town.

Roy Durnal

Claremont