Los Angeles, Ca
Orange County residents say weed-killing chemical sprayed near homes is making them sick
Residents in Aliso Viejo are speaking out against local officials, saying the herbicides being sprayed in their neighborhoods are making them sick.
Locals said they’ve been complaining about the chemicals for months, however, the Aliso Viejo Community Association claims there’s nothing to worry about.
Carolyn McCuan, an Aliso Viejo resident, said the chemicals have caused her to suffer a variety of symptoms.
“I had headaches, rashes on my face and arms, chronic fatigue,” said McCuan.
McCuan is part of a Toxic-Free OC, a group of Aliso Viejo residents who aim to stop the chemical’s continued use in the city. The group is greatly concerned about the chemical’s lasting health effects on locals.
The herbicide, called Cheetah Pro, was recently sprayed at Canyon View Park which is located behind McCuan’s home.
-
Workers contracted by the Aliso Viejo Community Association spraying herbicides at a local park. (Carolyn McCuan) -
The weed killing chemical, Cheetah Pro, is being sprayed at local parks and green spaces in Aliso Viejo. -
Carolyn McCuan’s test result shows she had over 18 times the amount of glufosinate in her urine than 95% of women her age. (Carolyn McCuan) -
Carolyn McCuan’s test result shows she had over 18 times the amount of glufosinate in her urine than 95% of women her age. (Carolyn McCuan) -
Workers contracted by the Aliso Viejo Community Association spraying herbicides at a local park. (Carolyn McCuan) -
Workers contracted by the Aliso Viejo Community Association spraying herbicides at a local park. (Carolyn McCuan)
Cheetah Pro, which contains glufosinate, carries health warnings similar to Roundup, a glyphosate-based herbicide at the center of more than 100,000 lawsuits nationwide resulting in at least $11 billion in payouts to cancer patients, the Orange County Register reports.
“I actually had a toxins test done and it was very clear the herbicides were extremely high in my system and was causing my illness,” McCuan said.
The test results showed that McCuan had a concentration of glyphosate in her urine that was 18 times greater than 95% of women her age.
The Aliso Viejo Community Association landscapes and maintains hundreds of acres of public parks and green spaces in the city where Cheetah Pro is likely used.
Concerned residents believe they have been unknowingly inhaling the toxic chemical for months.
“The landscaper’s workmen were actually spraying the herbicide right up to my fence,” said Melissa Christian, a resident.
Christian said she and her dog had both gotten sick from exposure to toxic fumes during their daily walks at a local park. She believes there are better, non-toxic ways to remove weeds.
“They can pull the weeds out, they can use organics,” Christian said. “I mean, we all know that there are other things available but they just won’t consider it.”
The community association maintains that the spraying procedures are conducted according to state and federal guidelines.
In a statement obtained by the O.C. Register, Aliso Viejo Community Association officials said:
“AVCA has at all times met or exceeded all applicable state and federal laws for pesticide use. AVCA’s board and staff have collectively spent thousands of hours studying this topic and working with expert consultants to find alternatives that are effective, legal, safe and affordable.”
However, local residents remain concerned and frustrated and are asking the city to consider alternative solutions.
“Why does anybody else’s child, dog, adult, anybody have to go through this thing?” said a resident who did not wish to be identified.
“The risk outweighs the benefits,” McCuan said. “We just need to stop. It’s 2024, let’s do better.”
A 40-year-old Los Angeles millionaire, well known for his success in real estate, has deleted his X account, after facing intense criticism for pleading on the social media platform for private firefighters to save his Pacific Palisades home on Tuesday.
Keith Wasserman, whose X bio used to read “entrepreneur, investor, contrarian, compounding,” is a partner and co-founder at Gelt Venture Partners, described on his Linkedin page as “Multifamily Real Estate Investments with High Net Worth Individuals and Families.”
“Does anyone have access to private firefighters to protect our home in Pacific Palisades?” the 40-year-old posted on X Jan. 7 as the fire raged. “Need to act fast here. All neighbors houses burning. Will pay any amount. Thank you.”
The Palisades Fire, which was first reported at around 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, quickly spread through residential and commercial districts, prompting immediate evacuations for tens of thousands of people and has since destroyed thousands of structures across more than 19,000 acres.
The wildfire is believed to be the most destructive natural disaster in L.A. history, with the damage estimated to be somewhere in the $50 billion range.
-
A firefighter battles the Palisades Fire as it burns a structure in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles, Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope) -
Sky5 view of devastation from the Palisades Fire in Los Angeles, California on Jan. 9, 2025. (KTLA) -
A structure is burned by the Palisades Fire in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles, Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) -
The devastation from the Palisades Fire is seen from the air in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles, Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Wasserman, who, according to the Daily Beast, had previously posted about his disdain for paying property taxes, writing “real estate ballers don’t pay any,“ was immediately “dragged” by other X users.
“Congratulations on no longer having to pay property taxes,” one user wrote, tagging Wasserman whose home reportedly burned down in the fire.
“You really can’t make this stuff up,” another X user said. “The rich guy Keith Wasserman bragged about not paying taxes & now wants private firefighters to protect his home while neighbors’ home burn.”
Not all the comments were entirely negative, however. Some users came to the real-estate investor’s defense.
“It’s deeply disheartening to witness the backlash against Keith Wasserman,” a user from San Diego wrote. “Keith was fighting to save his home and the cherished memories of his family. Almost anyone in his position, faced with flames at their doorstep, would have acted similarly.”
“If you’re sitting in the comfort of your home judging Keith Wasserman for trying to save his home – maybe realize that you are lucky and be thankful. We all need to be more gentle,” yet another X user posted.
It’s not entirely uncommon for those with the financials means, like Kim Kardashian and Kanye West in 2018, to get for-hire firefighters, though they were also heavily criticized at the time as well.
It’s unclear if Wasserman has any intentions of returning to X, but his account no longer existed by Jan. 9.
As devasting wildfires continue to burn Southern California, residents and organizations are stepping up to provide aid to those affected.
Here’s how you can support wildfire victims on their path to recovery.
- KTLA 5 parent company, Nexstar Media Group, has partnered with the American Red Cross to launch a donation page for Southern California wildfire victims. Donations can be placed here.
- Baby2Baby is accepting donations to support children impacted by the wildfires.
- GoFundMe has compiled a list of verified fundraisers for people impacted by the ongoing wildfires.
- SPCALA’s Disaster Animal Response Team is seeking donations to support emergency services, such as temporary animal shelters and front-line veterinary care.
- The Los Angeles Fire Department Foundation is accepting donations to support firefighters on the front lines. The foundation is seeking monetary donations, wildland brush tools, hydration backpacks, and emergency fire shelters.
- The California Fire Foundation is looking for donations to support surviving families of fallen firefighters, firefighters, and the communities they serve.
- The Salvation Army is accepting monetary donations and items to support those affected by the wildfires.
- World Central Kitchen, spearheaded by Chef José Andrés, has a relief team in Southern California to assist first responders and families. The organization is accepting donations to support the ongoing relief effort.
- The Los Angeles Regional Food Bank is accepting donations and looking for volunteers.
- Direct Relief is also accepting donations to support those impacted by the wildfires.
- Community Organized Relief Effort, or CORE, is accepting donations to support wildfire victims.
One of the five confirmed fatalities from the destructive Eaton Fire was identified on Wednesday morning when his family found his body on the side of the road by their home – with a garden hose still in his hand.
According to his loved ones, 66-year-old Victor Shaw died trying to defend the home that had been in his family for nearly 55 years.
As of Wednesday night, Victor’s body was still on his family’s property in the 3000 block of Monterose Avenue as conditions were not yet safe enough for the coroner’s office to retrieve him.
Victor lived in that home with his younger sister, Shari Shaw, who said that she tried to get him to evacuate with her on Tuesday night as the fire moved toward them.
Those close to Victor said he had some health problems that prevented him from moving around very well.
As she was running out the door, Shari said Victor told her he wanted to stay behind and try to fight the fire.
“When I went back in and yelled out his name, he didn’t reply back, and I had to get out because the embers were so big and flying like a firestorm – I had to save myself,” Shari told KTLA’s Rick Chambers. “And I looked behind me, and the house was starting to go up in flames, and I had to leave.”
A family friend, Al Tanner, told KTLA that the next morning, they found Victor’s charred body on the side of the road with the hose.
“It looks like he was trying to save the home that his parents had for almost 55 years,” said Tanner.
“I fell to the ground, and I didn’t know – I didn’t want to look at him,” said Shari. “They just told me that he was lying on the ground and that he looked serene, as if he was at peace.”
As of early morning Thursday, the cause of the 10,600-acre Eaton Fire remained under investigation.
The Eaton Fire was one of four large, active wildfires in the Los Angeles area. The largest, the 17,234-acre Palisades Fire, destroyed an estimated 1,000 structures. A separate 855-acre fire, the Hurst Fire, burned in the L.A. neighborhood of Sylmar. A fast-moving fire in the Antelope Valley called the Lidia Fire has burned at least 348 acres and forced evacuations. Crews have made progress on the 43-acre Sunset Fire which forced rapid evacuations in the Hollywood Hills.
Delaware volunteers honor President Carter’s legacy at Habitat for Humanity in Wilmington
SpaceX readies for next Starlink launch from Florida coast. Here’s when
Carter ushered in new era of race relations after Georgia’s long racially segregated history • Georgia Recorder
Trade winds to bring sunshine and windward showers this weekend
Legislative committee introduces bill to address DEI programs at colleges and universities in Idaho
Colorado Rockies game no. 116 thread: Zac Gallen vs José Ureña
Why Marjorie Taylor Greene was ‘kicked out’ of the Freedom Caucus according to Rep. Buck
See it: Tesla crashes into Columbus convention center at 70 mph
Fox News Politics: Georgia the whole day through
Death of missing Oregon girl found in stream ruled homicide
Mapping the Damage From the Palisades Fire
Appeals court will not block partial release of special counsel Jack Smith's Trump report
‘Much more persecution’: Venezuela braces for Nicolas Maduro’s inauguration
Mondale and Ford’s eulogies written for Carter read by sons at funeral
Elon Musk Downplays the Role of Climate in L.A. Fires, Scientists Say
-
Business1 week agoThese are the top 7 issues facing the struggling restaurant industry in 2025
-
Culture1 week agoThe 25 worst losses in college football history, including Baylor’s 2024 entry at Colorado
-
Sports1 week agoThe top out-of-contract players available as free transfers: Kimmich, De Bruyne, Van Dijk…
-
Politics1 week agoNew Orleans attacker had 'remote detonator' for explosives in French Quarter, Biden says
-
Politics7 days agoCarter's judicial picks reshaped the federal bench across the country
-
Politics5 days agoWho Are the Recipients of the Presidential Medal of Freedom?
-
Health4 days agoOzempic ‘microdosing’ is the new weight-loss trend: Should you try it?
-
World1 week agoIvory Coast says French troops to leave country after decades