This stinks, Baldwin Park residents say
Foul odors, traffic, noise, pollution, and declining property values are among just a handful of concerns Baldwin Park residents have about a proposed trash sorting facility to be located at the edge of the city of Irwindale at Live Oak and Arrow Highway.
On Monday, more than 200 residents crammed in to the Irwindale Council Chambers to hear Athen's Services proposal for the 17 acre site. The materials recycling facility would receive a maximum of 6,000 tons of trash a day. Here is a mock up of the proposed facility.
The site would not be a place where trash was dumped -- it would only be a place where trash is sorted from the recyclables. It would also bring in an estimated $2 million to $4 million annually to the Irwindale's coffers. Baldwin Park residents seemed especially irritated because even though it is Irwindale's project, it wasn't Irwindale that notified them about the meeting -- it was Baldwin Park City Hall. Baldwin Park Mayor Manuel Lozano and Councilman Ricardo Pacheco were at the meeting. Lozano prepared a statement to read at the meeting expressing his disappointment in Irwindale. Irwindale Mayor Larry Burrola was there, as was Upper San Gabriel Valley Municipal Water District President Al Contreras and a director from the Valley County Water District. Apparently, Valley County has been considering purchasing that property through the years. More to come later on Tuesday.
Al Contreras is not a director of Valley County Water District and has no business at that meeting. I hope he is not charging his time to the taxpayers for this meeting.
Ahhhhhh....good old Athens again. Wonder how much they have donated to the various council members and other players involved in this decision? Might want to also check out donations by Athens employees, spouses, etc........another favorite Athens technique.