EF! Press release – Mendocino Commentary, May 21, 1987
Monday of this week, Earth First! held nationwide direct actions targeting Maxxam offices. At issue was the possibly illegal takeover of Pacific Lumber and the ongoing liquidation of the last virgin, roadless redwood forests, necessitated by the $750 million debt incurred by the takeover. The wheeling-dealing of Ivan Boesky, Drexel-Lambert, and Charles Hurwitz of Maxxam, is currently under investigation by the SecuritiesExchange Commission.
In Humboldt County, there was direct action in forestlands in Pacific Lumber vicinity. An EF! spokesperson said, “We will be upholding the laws; it is Maxxam / PL who is breaking them. They are in violation of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA); Forest Practices Act; Endangered Species Act, and more. Earth First! should be embraced as an Environmental Police Force.”
In New York City, the NY Greens and EF! gathered in front of Maxxam’s unlisted office at 350 Park Avenue, at Noon, delivering the message, “New Yorkers must realize that transactions on Wall Street and the Upper East Side affect the environment in Northern California and all over the world.”
Houston, Texas: The renowned Texas EF! clan engaged in “a peaceful takeover to protest the hostile takeover.” Direct action occurred at 2200 MCO Plaza, aka 5718 Westheimer Avenue, at Noon, MCO’s office. Charles Hurwitz is Chairman of the Board of MCO, Maxxam & Federated Development Corp. Hurwitz resides in Houston.
In Los Angeles a Noon rally was held at 10880 Wilshire Boulevard, where the new Pacific Lumber office is holed up together with MCO and Maxxam.
In Mill Valley there was direct action at PL’s Sales office (“The buck’s made here”) at 100 Shoreline Highway, Building B.
A rally was also planned, tentatively, in Washington, DC, at the Securities and Exchange Commission, 450 5th Street NW, to remind folks that Ivan Boesky is entangled in the destruction and may have conspired to facilitate the takeover by holding PL stock de facto for Charles Hurwitz, giving them collectively over 5% of the shares, which is illegal in a takeover. Boesky purchased PL stock just three days before the takeover. S.E.C. investigation is ongoing while giant, 100-year-old redwoods are falling fast.