What Ladera Health Watch Has Been Working On

I want to give everyone a broader update on what Ladera Health Watch has been working on since the beginning, because there are a lot of moving pieces and it can be hard to follow everything through Facebook comments.

Since May, our focus has been very simple: to try to figure out if something unusual is happening in Ladera, and if so, why?

We have been looking at every reasonable environmental factor we can think of. That includes but is not limited to pesticides, water, soil and grading history, nearby landfill issues, old wells, nearby former aerospace/defense sites; and regional utility/fuel infrastructure.

On the well issue specifically, we looked into the wells people were asking about and found that they were exploratory wells that were dug in 1920 but never used and were closed in 1921.

We have submitted public records requests to the Orange County Agricultural Commissioner, DPR, the school district, SMWD, and other agencies to understand what products were used in and around Ladera Ranch, where they were used, when they were used, and in what quantities. We are still waiting on many of the most important records, including the pesticide use/application records that would show what was actually sprayed here.

We have open communication with Supervisor Foley’s office, Assemblywoman Sanchez’s office, Senator Blakespear’s office, and Congressman Levin’s office. We have also been in contact with the Orange County Health Care Agency, the Orange County Agricultural Commissioner, DPR, CDPH/California Cancer Registry, UCI, and EPA Region 9.

The OC Agricultural Commissioner has confirmed that his office has opened an investigation into pesticide-related issues within its jurisdiction and is coordinating with state and local agencies. UCI has also indicated it will be able to assist once the California Cancer Registry results are in, which we expect in the next month or two.

We are also working to bring in real scientific help. Researchers from USC and CSUF have offered to help, and we are continuing to pursue legitimate independent review, including environmental testing and a broader look at possible exposure patterns.

We have also set up a donation fund through Southern California Environmental Health Sciences Center that will help fund investigations into the causes of childhood cancer in Southern California.

On the LARMAC side, the advisory board has now started meeting. LARMAC has indicated it is willing to move toward an organic-first policy, and the board will be providing education towards this purpose.

One thing I want to clarify: Ladera Health Watch is not affiliated with any other outside groups, pages, or people who may be posting about this issue. We are grateful for everyone who wants to help, but the records work, agency outreach, expert outreach, and LARMAC education described here are being coordinated through Ladera Health Watch.

We are going to stay focused on the actual work: records, agencies, experts, testing, and getting Ladera to the safest we possibly can. We are keeping in touch with affected families, and everything we are doing is because families in this community have been through something devastating. The families affected by this deserve answers, and the children and families living here now deserve every reasonable protection we can fight for.