California Coastal Commission Meeting:Save SCST

[KeepsWhatHappens]

Help Stop the proposed 241 Toll Road extension and save San Clemente Singletracks and Trestles Beach!

When:
February 6th 9am

Where:
Del Mar Fairgrounds—at Wyland. Hall. There is a large whale mural on the building 2260 Jimmy Durante Blvd. Del Mar, CA 92014 - Just off the I-5 in Del Mar at Via de la Valle exit.Visit here for complete directions. Continuously check this website for updates:

Details:
Attend Coastal Commission Hearing—this is the BIG ONE!!

Join hundreds of Surfrider Foundation activists and other opponents of the toll road at the CCC hearing. This is it!!!! This meeting could help decide the fate of our beloved Trestles/San Onofre State Beach.

We have limited space on our buses/carpools. If you are coming from Orange County, email Robin of the Sierra Club, robin.everett@sierraclub.org. If you are in San Diego, email Stefanie and indicate if you would like to leave from Ocean Beach or Oceanside. SSekich@surfrider.org

As you may know, it’s very challenging to know how long the meeting will take. Public hearings can take a few hours, or can go into the night. Our best advice is to be flexible and put positive energy toward the meeting ending in a timely fashion. But also be prepared to stay late.

If you are driving yourself, please note there is a $9 parking fee.

This is a once in a life time chance to be part of such a HUGE meeting. We anticipate hundreds of people will attend. We truly appreciate your flexibility and willingness to take time off of work to show your support for Trestles and San Onofre State Park.

KeepsWhatHappens

[KeepsWhatHappens]

Uh oh!! It seems like not too many folks are able to take the day off to save San Clemente and Trestles from the toll road extension. If you can't make the meeting please contact the California Coastal Commission to voice your opposition to the toll road before tomorrow.

Thank you,

KeepsWhatHappens

[bighit8]

I am going for sure, I don't work that day. My roommate is taking the day off as well to come along.I will take pics if it is picture friendly type thing.

[bighit8]

Bump becuase it is important. As craig/cjwally said about the oaks, quit talking about it and do it.. I say this in a nice way.

[bighit8]

Is anybody else going?????????

[bighit8]

Robin Everett just called me. Please show up if you can, we need to save our open space.

[bighit8]

Bump. Common peeps.

[mtnbikej]

Nice......nothing like having an important meeting at a time when most cannot attend.

[KeepsWhatHappens]

Originally Posted by mtnbikej

Nice......nothing like having an important meeting at a time when most cannot attend.

That's our brilliant government for you...

You can be guaranteed all the paid employees of the toll road agency, developers, Mission Viejo Co, etc will be attending.

KeepsWhatHappens

Originally Posted by bighit8

Bump. Common peeps.

Thank you for bumping this up to the top.

We can only hope if people can not attend they are voicing their opinion by writing or calling.

Thanks,

KeepsWhatHappens

[sir crashalot]

I'll be there for sure... and I'm bringing a couple of others. See ya there.

[Rob]

Can anyone carpool from Dana Point?

[KeepsWhatHappens]

bump

[sir crashalot]

"Can anyone carpool from Dana Point?"

pm sent

[dirtmistress]

Just saw this LIVE on ABC7. They said 1500 people are there opposing this in the meeting. Hooray to the STR folks and all the others that are there to fight this.
I sure don't have my hopes up about it though. These officials are so narrow minded. We need new thinkers in office. "They paved paradise and put up a parking lot"!

[Rob]

I just got back from the Coastal Commission meeting with Gary. There was a HUGE turnout(2000+) for people against the toll road. From what I saw there I am pretty sure it's going to get turned down.

What's funny is most of the people that were for the Toll roads were all paid to be there and were all construction workers. They all left simultaneously when their 8 hours was up

If this Toll road goes through it's going to be a huge loss and will open up the door for more major roads through State Parks.

Surfrider has a pretty cool page that shows virtual before and after pics.

http://www.surfline.com/surfnews/pho...?id=13362&ad=1


One of the pics shows what will happen to our SCST.

[sir crashalot]

Just got back from the hearing. I went with my GF, her mom, and Rob from str. We left a little early because my gf needed to get home. (the hearing probably won't be over till late tonight). It seemed very positive. There were more than 1500 opposing, at least 2000 or more, compared to maybe 200 supporting it, and most of those were obviously paid to be there; especially the 75 or so overweight construction-union stereotypes wearing prison orange, whose main argument was "we need the work!" Weak. What was hilarious was when they all left at exactly the same time. I guess their 8-hour shift was over, and the tca didn't want to pay them overtime! (even though their stereotype mobster-lookin' union bosses were also present)! It was awesome to be part of an overwhelming majority, consisting of people from all walks of life (but admittedly mostly surfers protecting Trestles), taking time off from life to stand up for what is right. The suppoorters of the road had nowhere near our passion.
on to what happened. It started with the Coastal Commission staff individually reciting their unanimous rejection of this project, for all the various environmental, hydrological, archaeological, and ethical reasons. then lunch, during which the Surfrider Foundation held a rally including chanting by the Native Americans whose ancestors lived in the park.
Then, the president? of TCA gave his slimy little lecture on why the toll road won't impact the environment. He made a big red herring argument, about the sedimentation from construction not affecting the surf break, the water quality not being polluted, and how it's the only way to reduce traffic. He sidestepped the real issue:that private roads, by law, are not allowed in State parks, and it is not the function of a State Park to alleviate traffic. He then had an ecologist from UC Santa Cruz (400 miles away, who was educated in New York, 3,000 miles away) state that the project would have no impact on endangered species.
Then, it was the time for many speakers from the organized opposition to speak, and their refutements and arguments absolutely blew the TCA guys out of the
water. I won't go into much detail, honestly the acoustics were terrible and it was hard to hear every word, but all the arguments were very compelling, stating that the project would compromise endangered species, the hydrology of the watershed, water quality, and the integrity of the surf break. Their ecologist was way more believable than the TCA's. It was also demonstrated that the toll road would not alleviate traffic as well as widening I-5 would. Also mentioned were ethical and legal arguments, such as the fact that it is not the function of any of the agencies involved; State Parks, the TCA, or the Coastal Commission, to reduce traffic. This was said in a way to make it clear that TCA's sole function is profit for the TCA, and their
"concern about relieving traffic" is simply rhetoric. also, it is worth sitting in a little traffic, to protect public natural land. we left after the organized opposition spoke, so we missed the elected officials allotted time, and the public speakers' who signed up that day to speak (still going on, ending at 8:30.) At 8:30, the tca will rebut, and then the commission will convene and make a decision late tonight or tomorrow. From what I saw today, I am optimistic. Let's keep our fingers crossed! Of course, if the commission doesn't permit the project, be sure TCA will fight it in court.
Did anyone from str go besides Rob and I? John?

[dirtmistress]

Thanks for that update! I drive to San Diego a lot and I have never seen horrible traffic unless there was an accident or fire. I'm sure it's there and maybe I got lucky but another highway?? Ridiculous! Clearly it is a for profit road. I have no faith in the system but I will still keep my fingers crossed.

[KeepsWhatHappens]

Gary (Crash) If I could give you a 1000 thanks I would! Thank you SOOOO much for your report.

I could not get the day off as I am in the middle of a big shoot for Acura. Two of my good friends AlpineRob (Rob) and WhiteChocolate (Steve) (who every once and a while post on STR) went to the meeting. We had all three planned to go but I just couldn't swing it at the last second. I felt terrible about not going but did everything I could in terms of writing, etc other than attending. Your account of the event gives me hope that we might prevail.

I wonder if anyone you-Tubed any parts of the meeting?

Again, many thanks.

KeepsWhatHappens

[Rob]

John, tune in to the 11PM news on ABC channel 7, they're going to replay the piece.

[mazda-monkey]

Thanks for the support, I'm sure it helped.