Obama To Declare 346K Acres In San Gabriel Mountains A National Monument
LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — President Barack Obama is expected to declare 346,000 acres of land in the San Gabriel Mountains as a national monument.
"I am overjoyed and thrilled," said Rep. Judy Chu, D-El Monte. "This is a historic moment for the Los Angeles area, and it has been a long time coming. The San Gabriel Mountains are a treasure, providing 70 percent of the open space for Angelenos and attracting more than 3 million visitors a year.
Chu had proposed declaring more than 600,000 acres of the San Gabriel Mountains as a national monument, a proposal that was blasted by Republican lawmakers and critics who feared the designation amounted to a "federal land grab."
In an apparent effort to appease critics, Obama's executive order is expected to exclude some areas, such as Mt. Baldy and Wrightwood.
The president is scheduled to arrive in Los Angeles at 2 p.m. Thursday for a discussion on the economy and an evening fundraiser. Officials say Obama will make the announcement during an event at 12:40 p.m. Friday at Frank G. Bonelli Regional Park in San Dimas.
(©2014 CBS Local Media, a division of CBS Radio Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Wire services contributed to this report.)
