Radio Campaign Launched Featuring Martin Sheen Targets Washington Mutual's Planned...

Business/Entertainment/Metro Editors

LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 15, 2002

Sheen Speaks Out Against Bank's Plan to Destroy Santa Monica

Mountains Site and Dramatically Increase Traffic for

Luxury Housing and Golf Resort

Washington Mutual Bank

will be the target of an upcoming advertising campaign in which Emmy Award-winning "West Wing" star Martin Sheen attacks the financial services giant for its environmentally destructive plans to build a luxury housing development in the pristine Santa Monica Mountains.

The ad campaign also points out the banks refusal to support a new study of the 3,000-home development's traffic impact. Rally to Save Ahmanson Ranch, a broad-based community organization, is demanding that Ventura County conduct a new environmental impact study to replace a study that was based on outdated, 22-year-old traffic information.

Sheen, serving as spokesperson for Rally to Save Ahmanson Ranch, reminds radio listeners that traffic in Southern California is already intolerable, but points out that "it's only going to get worse, thanks to Washington Mutual Bank."

"You see, Washington Mutual has plans for our community -- BIG plans," Sheen continues. "They are trying to build a whole new city of 10,000 people in the Santa Monica Mountains -- right on top of the pristine open space called Ahmanson Ranch.

"It's not just the 45,000 additional car trips on the Ventura Freeway and local roads. Or the 20 tons of additional air pollution. It's not just the threat to water quality at downstream beaches such as Surfrider Beach. And it's not just the destruction of some of the last open space in the area. All of these problems spell disaster for the quality of life -- and the environment."

Sheen concludes with a call for residents of both counties that will be affected by Washington Mutual's plans to join Rally to Save Ahmanson Ranch in the fight to stop the project.

The ads will run in heavy rotation on news, talk and music radio stations in both Ventura and Los Angeles County beginning Tuesday, January 15, 2002.

The ads come on the heels of major public victories for Rally to Save Ahmanson Ranch, and signal a new phase in the campaign.

"Washington Mutual has run a misleading campaign, and our efforts are intended to ensure the public of Southern California understands the plans that their community bank has for our neighborhood," said Rally Executive Director Tsilah Burman. "With the help of a broad base of community supporters, we will continue to reveal the truth about this disastrous project."

Burman added that Sheen was a perfect spokesperson for the ads not only for his recognizable voice, but also because he is a well-respected community leader on environmental and housing issues. Sheen volunteered to assist Rally to Save Ahmanson Ranch when he learned about Washington Mutual's disastrous development scheme, even taking the dramatic step of closing his accounts from Washington Mutual in September.

"Rally to Save Ahmanson Ranch" is a broad based coalition of community and environmental groups whose mission is to educate the public about Washington Mutual's disastrous development at Ahmanson Ranch, which is located in the Santa Monica Mountains on the border of Los Angeles and Ventura Counties. In early 2002, the Ventura County Planning Commission and Board of Supervisors will consider approval of the project's Supplemental Environmental Impact Report (SEIR). "Rally to Save Ahmanson Ranch" believes that an entirely NEW environmental impact report is warranted given new traffic projections suggesting 45,000 car trips per day would be added to the 101 Freeway which is already running at 160 percent capacity, PCH, and connector roads. To learn more about Rally to Save Ahmanson Ranch, visit www.RallyfortheRanch.org.