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 Daily News Op-Ed
Sun Valley's history is one of transformation
By Mary Lou Steinfeld
Sun Valley's natural riches -- gravel and rock -- have helped build many of Los Angeles' neighborhoods and streets.
In fact, the core industries of Sun Valley continue to build communities throughout the L.A. Basin and provide essential services, such as recycling, waste disposal and electrical power to all the city's residents. That's why many of us in Sun Valley are fighting back against the frequent negative portrayals of our community.

With this abundance of natural resources come challenges. With limited space (Sun Valley covers less than 10 square miles), as well as a combination of nearby airports, freeways and train lines, the residential and industrial sectors are in close proximity to one another. That creates a potential for conflict and an equally strong need for leadership, planning and cooperation.

And the Sun Valley business community is stepping up to the challenge.
Businesses and residents have to approach issues and problems as a team, and be committed for the long term. Many people are working toward solutions for Sun Valley, including Councilman Tony Cardenas, who recently sponsored a City Council motion to secure federal funding for air quality monitoring in the San Fernando Valley, and who continues to push for the establishment of a Sun Valley environmental justice improvement area. Traditional civic groups like Rotary, the Sun Valley Neighborhood Improvement Organization, our Neighborhood Council, local churches and schools have all stepped up their efforts to transform Sun Valley.

Additionally, Sun Valley businesses, through the Sun Valley Area Chamber of Commerce, recently came together to form Sun Valley Beautiful, an initiative to improve the quality of life for the residents of Sun Valley, particularly in the areas of environmental beautification and public health. With these recent steps toward partnership and collaboration, Sun Valley Beautiful was able to bring more than 1,000 Sun Valley residents together on April 17 for Sun Valley's first ever Earth Day Expo in an effort to improve the community's environment.

The stakes are high for Sun Valley's businesses and 17,000 residents. Businesses such as solid waste management, sand and gravel, truck transport and distribution, stone and marble, and auto salvage are committed to giving back to the community in more ways than paychecks. Some businesses have been doing good deeds for years, but with a low profile and receiving little credit.

The stakes are high for the city of Los Angeles, as well, since Sun Valley hosts two major city facilities -- the Department of Water & Power Valley Generating Station and the East Valley Solid Waste Resource Management Complex.

Sun Valley's history is one of transformation, not of being a victim. The products we make here have transformed Los Angeles from a small, sleepy outpost in the West to a major metropolis. The issue at hand now is how we -- businesses and residents -- leverage new ideas and new activism to create a new day in Sun Valley that brings the community together rather than tear it apart.

Businesses' charge in Sun Valley is to cultivate a true, grass-roots movement that doesn't accept the status quo but takes our fate into our own hands for the better. We helped build L.A., now we have to make our own back yard a better place to live and work.