Burning Coincidences
I’m not one for paranoid conspiracy theories, and I hate to cast cynicism upon injury, especially with respect to an event as sad as the recent fire in Griffith Park — a park much-enjoyed by me for nearly five years.
But I couldn’t help being struck by the similarity between the footprints of the fire damage and the highly controversial master plan for developing the park. I’ve been musing on it for a couple of days, and a friend convinced me to at least put the thought out there for public rumination.
Here’s the master plan map - click thru to a larger size and look for the dotted lines. (Complete plan here.)
Here’s the LA Times info-graphic of fire damage.
Now, it’s undoubtedly true that undeveloped areas are more likely to catch fire, given that developed areas are generally irrigated or paved. It’s equally likely that developed areas would be more strenuously defended by firefighters. And I do believe that coincidences happen.
But politics are already happening around this, including at least one group claiming quicker development would have prevented this fire. Maybe they are right.
In situations like this, I can’t help pondering questions like:
- Are there, say, hundreds of millions of dollars of private-sector money at stake?
- Does this event advance the agenda of those with the money at stake?
- Does it hurt the agenda of those opposing?
The first two are clearly yes. As for the last, I’ll let you decide for yourself. Here is how the agenda of the Parks Committe of the Los Feliz Improvement Association (with whom I’ve sided in petitions, etc.) is described on their website:
The PARKS COMMITTEE, chaired by Chuck Soter and Chris Laib, is fighting to preserve Griffith Park and protect it from those who view it as a vast vacant land that somehow needs to be “improved.” Griffith Park, a de facto preserve within the limits of Los Angeles, is one of the few places where people can readily experience nature. It is the habitat to a variety of mammals, reptiles, and birds rarely seen in other parts of the city.
Huh.
Again, I’m not taking the cynical position. And it’s not like there’s a history of corruption, conspiracy, or collusion in this city or anything.
UPDATE: Loads of good ripostes in the comments to a link-post over at blogging.la, including a link to this map of the proposed park features.
