Letters to the Editor: Angelenos need to stop trashing the majestic San Gabriel Mountains

Los Angeles Times Opinion
·1 min read
1
A discarded inner tube in the East Fork of the San Gabriel River in the San Gabriel Mountains National Monument
Trash is seen at the East Fork of the San Gabriel River in the San Gabriel Mountains National Monument in 2023. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

To the editor: It’s great that President Biden expanded two protected areas in California, including the San Gabriel Mountains National Monument.

My question is, will the people of Los Angeles, with increased access as well as the institutions charged with protecting it, actually respect what they've been given?

I've spent lots of time working with volunteer organizations to pick up trash and break down swimming dams along rivers. We have begged the U.S. Forest Service to deal with graffiti. Nothing seems to work.

Respect for nature begins at home, and that respect is sorely lacking for our newly expanded treasure.

Jim Burns, San Gabriel

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.