Astroturf in the Valley?

In recent years, public relations and marketing firms have increasingly embraced astroturf or phony grassroots community groups to support corporate causes and counter real community opposition.

So some Sunland-Tujunga residents were suspicious when two groups _ Stop Racism and Friends Involved in Restoring Sunland-Tujunga _ popped up to support a proposed Home Depot that has been blasted by the local neighborhood council and Councilwoman Wendy Greuel. The Web sites looked awfully similar. They were created around the same time and they're hosted by the same Web hosting company.

Is it real? Or is astroturf?

Dakota Communications, one of Home Depot public relations and lobbying firms, said it's real. Yes, the founder of the group, Daniel Haro, worked for Dakota a month ago. But he quit the well-paying job to form Stop Racism because he was troubled by the hateful, anti-immigrant, anti-Mexican sentiments he encountered as he tried to drum up support for Home Depot.

Rick Taylor, a principal with Dakota and political advisor to Los Angeles County Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky and former LA Council President Alex Padilla , was appalled that people would question the group's motives.

"Here's a guy who leaves a paying job to come and fight the fight for people," Taylor said. "He should get an award, not get criticized."

The Daily News story today covers the debate. The North Valley Area Planning Commission makes the final decision on the Home Depot today.