Preservationists Stage Mock Salute at Adobe

A handful of Calabasas residents sarcastically saluted five public officials Monday in a staged event they hope will help halt a Ventura Freeway project.

Although none of the five officials were present for the “black hat awards” at the historic Leonis Adobe, members of the Coalition to Save Old Town Calabasas said they intended to hand-deliver the prizes--black cowboy hats and certificates issued for “profound indifference to the needs and desires of the citizens of Calabasas.”

“We hope these awards will spur them to look at this project again,” said Jack H. Rubens, who hosted the event.

Members of the coalition fear that the $40-million Valley Circle Boulevard interchange and flyover bridge will lead to increased traffic and development. They want a comprehensive environmental report.

But the project has already undergone a preliminary review, and Caltrans officials said that further study is unnecessary because there will be no significant impact.

Recipients of the awards were Jerry Baxter, director of the state Department of Transportation’s Los Angeles district; Robert Best, Caltrans’ state director; Los Angeles City Councilman Marvin Braude; state Sen. Ed Davis (R-Valencia), and John Fisher, an engineer with the city’s Department of Transportation.

Caltrans officials were unavailable for comment. Jack Hallin, Caltrans’ chief of project development, has said the flyover offers the best alternative for the area because it would eliminate left turns onto the freeway and reduce congestion.