Which Way, L.A.?
Residents Push for Toxic Cleanup in Santa Susana Mountains
After decades of effort by local homeowners, one of the nation's most contaminated military and industrial sites is finally on the verge of a clean-up. The site is surrounded by homes built before residents ever learned that the ground in the Santa Susanna Mountains was laced with toxic chemicals and radioactive waste. We hear how they did it. Also, the increase in hungry people has LA Food banks economizing on Thanksgiving. On our rebroadcast of To the Point, Obama, Karzai and the war in Afghanistan.
By Warren Olney • • 52m ListenAfter decades of effort by local homeowners, one of the nation's most contaminated military and industrial sites is finally on the verge of a clean-up. It's in the Santa Susanna Mountains between the San Fernando and Simi Valleys, and it's surrounded by homes built before residents ever learned that the ground was laced with toxic chemicals and radioactive waste. We hear how they did it. Also, the increase in hungry people has LA Food banks economizing on Thanksgiving by handing out chicken instead of turkey. On our rebroadcast of today's To the Point, forget the start of withdrawal from Afghanistan in July of next year. The US and NATO have now extended major combat until 2014, even though President Karzai wants forces reduced. We look at the aftermath of the summit in Lisbon.
Banner image: Santa Susana Field Laboratory aerial photograph, March, 2005. Photo: US Department of Energy
In this episode
3 storiesWill a Massive Source of Potential Cancer Finally Be Cleaned Up?
The Santa Susanna Mountains between the San Fernando and Simi Valleys is among the most contaminated places in the United States. For decades during and after World War II, it was used to test rocket fuel and nuclear materials. In 1959, a small nuclear reactor actually melted down there, an incident kept from the public for 20 years.
Read the story20 minDemand Is Up for Food at Local Area Food Banks
With the official unemployment rate at 12% and the unofficial measure higher than that, more and more new people are lining up at 1000 food distribution sites in Southern California. Michael Flood is President of the Los Angeles Regional Foodbank .
Read the story6 minObama, Karzai and the War in Afghanistan
Before this weekend's NATO summit , Afghan President Hamid Karzai told reporters he wants fewer foreign troops in his country to reduce what he called "intrusiveness" of the war against the Taliban into daily life. After the meeting, President Obama said he'll have to settle for increased drone strikes and nighttime raids whether he likes it…
Read the story27 min
