When I wrote “Yay for LA County,” I meant "Yay" for LA County.
I did not mean “Yay” for Briggs Road.
Los Angeles County officials did accomplish something
difficult. I complimented and thanked them for it. Then I laid low for a while,
reluctant to spoil the moment.
The difficult thing that the County of Los Angeles pulled off
was to reverse an unjust policy that had stood for ten years, while saving face
and allowing it to look like that accomplishment was a win for the Briggs Road
community. Legitimizing the railroad crossing was not difficult. It was easy.
Friends write and ask, “Is it over at last?” No, my friends,
you must read very carefully. It is not over. We could well be just the butt of
a cruel joke. A month ago we were a railroad crossing, a private parcel, a
river, and a piece of state land away from the legal access that even Norm Hickling
says he believes is right.
Now we are a private parcel, a river, and a piece of state land away from that legal access.
We are just ten feet closer. Though legally permitted to
cross the next private parcel, we are physically barred from it by a barricade
we dare not touch. When we ask Los Angeles County Supervisor Michael Antonovich’s
deputy, Norm Hickling, to enforce its proper removal, he changes the subject.
And the barricade is still there. What a token of good faith, of truth, it would
show us if that barricade were to be caused to be moved! It’s illegal, right
now! Norm talks of future adjustments of our easement, but right now, now, that barricade should not be there.
What is the message given by its continued existence?
We are just ten feet closer to Soledad Canyon Road. We still
have to cross the Santa Clara River. Los Angeles County officials can wring
their hands and plead that the river crossing is up to the State of California,
but all LA County has to do is say to the State of California, “Move your arm,
honey, and snuggle up closer.”
 |
| The Mighty Santa Clara River |
First of all, there is extreme variability in levels of
enforcement regarding disturbances of that delicate river. Stay in touch,
because we’ve got some doozies for you.
Second, the State of California and the County of Los Angeles
are intricately interconnected in this matter. Forgive me, but it reminds me of
two malignant cancers intertwining, with disastrous consequences for the host.
We have a lot for you about that, too. (If I were a conscientious office-holder
in either the state or the county, I would be very worried right now that the
two cancers will devastate one another. I’d ask a conscientious office-holder,
if I could be convinced I had found one. I’d love to be convinced that Norm
Hickling is one, but he has to prove himself. We’ve been here before, you see.)
Third, come on! Given
all of the above and all the facts about the magnitude of Los Angeles County and
the power of her supervisors, do any of us really believe that Los Angeles
County officials have no influence over the crossing of a tiny stream? Heck,
even disregarding all of the above, who in their right mind would believe that
the California Department of Fish and Wildlife would ignore recommendations
from a Los Angeles County Supervisor who represents two million people, in the
most populous county in the nation?
Yes, now we are only ten feet closer. And at the other end of
that torturous dirt track, we must pass through a parcel of land that was deeded
over from Los Angeles County to another state agency for—not even a song—a gesture!
More on that, too.
 |
| Beautiful, huh? Could you blame someone for wanting to steal it? |
This is going to get interesting. This current post is just the barest of outlines of things to come.
The railroad crossing is legitimized. Now for the private
parcel, the river, and the state parcel.
So tell your friends to tune in and read these next blog
posts. And, if you are new to this blog, please understand that this is a
running story. You need to read all of it from the beginning in order to
fully understand the history and the issues.
Thank you to all of you who are following: in the county, in
the nation, and around the world!
wow just when I was going to buy the champagne .So what is going are you not going to get access after all. My wife have been watching the blog for some time and are pulling for you
ReplyDeleteWe really appreciate your good wishes! Briggs Road community members hold varying degrees of optimism that we will ultimately have access. But the media reports that made it look like we were already now out on the blacktop were grotesquely exaggerated.
DeletePlease direct everyone you know to this blog for the real story. By the way, if any of our access-blockers feel we are misrepresenting the story, their participation is welcome here.
I think there are more people watching the current events than your realize. And we are waiting for the county to do the right thing. I think everyone raises their eyebrow at the fact the county somehow provided the land to the MRCA - who just isn't sure they want the few residents on the hill using "their" land as an exit in case of an emergency. Another raised eyebrow towards Fish & Game. They are very different attitudes about people or vehicles crossing through the steam...depending on who is doing the crossing. And Manney Fernandez..does anyone think it is an accident this newcomer to Agua Dulce decides his first order of business after purchasing the property is to put a gate up - denying access to the residents on Briggs Rd....the fact he was convicted of felonies since his arrival is probably testimoney to his character. I think we have long run out of eyebrows to raise. Is it amazing that - even though calls were made about the illegal moving of water from an uncertified well - that the county could not catch that water truck once. There are only two ways to go on Soledad and we all know how fast a water truck can go. It would appear someone with influence did not want him caught. There is the apperance of a conspiricy here and the only way that is going away is for all of these injustices to be fixed. Hopefully, we are going to see that happen. There are many eyes watcing.
ReplyDeleteThank you for your observations--food for thought, and let's hope everyone is tasting.
DeleteI do have to raise a caution about statements concerning Mr. Fernandez and company. They were not convicted of anything, as I understand it, but pleaded nolo contendere, or no contest, according to a couple of newspaper stories. But let's be very careful about what we say regarding a private individual. It is my understanding that there is no legal record of any of that alleged water business. Please understand when I say again, there is NO legal record of any of those alleged offenses. There are only a couple of newspaper articles from nine years ago, and no documentation to prove them correct.
I'm out here all alone. All of you folks are going anonymous, and I cannot approve a comment containing accusations against a private individual that cannot be backed up. Also, though, I cannot edit the comments, so if I want the world to read your other thoughts, I have to publish the whole thing. Readers, please understand that I would have deleted allegations if I had had the option to edit, and that any such allegations are the opinion of the commentators and do not reflect the opinion of the blogger.
The way this post sounds the State of California and the County of Los Angeles have you on there want list. Are you or any of the other people in your area in fear of what two of the most powerful governments in the world may do to you for fighting back against what sound tyranny at the highest level. Do you have any one with legal background on you side
ReplyDeleteWe are aware of legal guns friendly to our cause. We want to give Mr. Antonovich every benefit of the doubt and allow him to show us his benign intentions, so are not actively pursuing the legal options right now. We are hoping it is all one big misunderstanding and will soon go away.
DeleteWe sure hope that LA County comes to their senses and corrects all that
ReplyDeleteis wrong so these people get back to having a life.
Thank you! We hope so too.
DeleteHas the governor of the good state of California been copied in on this . the problem you are facing sounds like you need help from way up the food chain .
ReplyDeletewhen the co. of L.A. and the MRC have there hands on you it will be hard to break free. Good luck
What is being done about the barricade that is in the way, can you and your
ReplyDeleteneighbors move it and use your prescriptive right? What is the County doing
about that blockage to your road?
The barricade lies on private property, albeit in the path of our easement, which was won in court in 2006. The owner of that property is apparently still angry about that and we don't want to provoke him over it, especially considering that we would be stopped by the river anyway. If Los Angeles County stretched itself to a full and just stature, a balanced exertion of authority would send the signal to all that things are going to progress according to law--not our preferences only, and not the landowners'. But LA County remains inactive, fueling suspicions that county officials are pursuing a secret agenda.
DeleteSince whatever route we end up taking to Soledad Canyon Road will be used by everyone, including the landowner, the most intelligent course of action for us would be to join forces for the benefit of all. Which leads me to a blogpost...
Nice picture! "The Mighty Santa Clara River". Check it out and see the timbers from the Oasis Park bridge that washed out some years ago. You should post a picture of this bridge prior to this wash out showing the railroad ties in the river bottom that are now downstream most likely in the stream bed. For a picture caption, how about,.... " What Will The Wildlife Agencies Think Of This"..... Showing railroad ties in the river bottom at the Oasis Park bridge.
ReplyDeleteI'd like to see the picture of the rail ties in the river at Oasis Park. Creosote from the railroad ties in the river is toxic.
ReplyDeleteIf there are railroad ties in the Santa Clara River somebody should notify Fish and Game, U S Fish and Wildlife, Army Corps of Engineers, The Sierra Club for starters as railroad ties will kill things in the river.
ReplyDeleteWhoa wait did I miss something what is this about rail ties in the river .I don't remember seeing anything about rail ties in the river .If there are then I would like to know more. For one do you know how they got there and why they got there and when they got there . Who in there right mind would put rail ties in the river with the little fish.
ReplyDeleteYeah, railroad ties comin' up. I am not an expert on their origin but I will share what I know.
DeleteYou are all in my thoughts and prayers. This has been a nightmare that has gone on way too long. I have good friends that live on Briggs Road. L.A. county evidently has no concern for their well being. Traveling on a dirt road over three miles in an emergency is unthinkable when there is another way out and L.A. County has chosen no to do the RIGHT THING. Perhaps if the county supervisors family lived on that road it would have been fixed by now. Can't someone figure out how to get to the Governor's office???
ReplyDeleteI hope that all those that are replying anonymously are not afraid of retaliation by the County of L.A....just a thought
ReplyDeleteI can't help suspecting that is exactly what they are afraid of. I hope they are being overly cautious!
Delete