Red Line Tunnel Project Under Runyon Canyon

Runyon Canyon residents opposing the Metro Rail Red Line tunnel underneath Runyon Canyon Park (Times, Nov. 7) are either misinformed or just plain hypocrites.

These folks claim that they are against the tunnel project for environmental reasons. This is ludicrous! The very fact that these people live where they do has a tremendously greater negative impact on the Runyon Canyon environment than the proposed tunnel ever will.

The tunnel is going to be deep beneath the ground--except for a ventilation shaft that will be burrowed for the construction only--whereas the residents who hide behind a false pretense of care for the environment come up and down the canyon daily on paved roads that are a permanent scar on the landscape.

These roads--as well as the lots on which resident’s homes sit--have been carved out of acres of wild land that had been home to countless creatures. Also, let’s not forget that most (if not all) of these people drive alone daily in cars built for four to six passengers, wasting natural resources as well as polluting our air, land and water.

The Red Line tunnel will provide an opportunity for those who have real concern for the environment to live a sustainable life that has a more benign impact on the land. The vision of such a society has no place for the greedy bourgeoisie who live their cancerous, high-impact lifestyle where they want, how they want and with no regard for the environment.

It seems to me that what the Runyon Canyon residents are really trying to protect is not the environment of the canyon, but rather their doomed lifestyles.

ROBERT CONSTANT

Venice