The California Coastal Commission voted at 11:18 pm Wednesday night to deny a coastal permit to the Transportation Corridor Agencies. It will now be much more difficult for the TCA to construct the Foothill-South (241) toll road extension.
The vote was 8-2 in favor of denying certification. More to follow!
VOTES BY COMMISSIONER:
Blank – NO Burke – YES Clark – NO Kram – YES Neely – NO Reilly – NO Shallenberger – NO Wan – NO Kruer – NO (some voters were inaudible due to cheering)
Some Coastal Commissioners had very tough questions and very tough language for the TCA. Here are my favorite excerpts:
Commissioner SARA WAN, herself a scientist, was "appalled" at what she called the TCA's "false science". She even suggested the TCA's management plan for the mouse was "not a management plan at all except perhaps as a plan to drive the Pacific pocket mouse into extinction."
Commissioner MIKE REILLY cited the "limited value" of the TCA's $100 Million offer, and declared that "there is no legal way for us to concur with certification of this project."
The real kicker was Commissioner STEVE BLANK, who grilled the hell out of new TCA CEO Tom Margro. Citing TCA's claims that the 241 would serve as an evacuation route in a nuclear disaster,
BLANK said, "I was led to understand [San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station's] operating license was contingent upon having an approved evacuation plan. Has the government declared their plan inadequate?"
MARGRO: No - but can I elaborate?
BLANK: No, thank you, you've answered the question.
Margo then cited the TCA's threat that it could cost $70 Million to renew the lease for the state park.
BLANK: "Has the Navy ever denied the renewal of a lease of a state park?"
MARGRO: "I can't answer that question."
BLANK: "I believe the answer is no."
Burke went on to cite law discussed in this blog (State Park Scare Tactics) which would potentially allow for the lease to be renewed at less than $70 Million .
BLANK: "Doesn’t this mean there is a clear path for the lease to be renewed at a price other than $70 Million dollars?"
MARGRO: "It's possible."
BLANK: “Since Navy didn’t ask for $70 million dollars … Is it possible that they might ask for a dollar in 2021?”
MARGRO: "If they make findings."
BLANK: "So really at best it's a $30 Million dollar proposal"
MARGRO: "I would say it is a $100 million dollar proposal – for state parks."
BLANK: "Or a $30 Million dollar proposal?"
MARGRO: "Or $30 million – which still benefits state parks."
BLANK: "I have another question - Is there a price tag for a state park?
There's not a lot I can say that hasn't already been said. But I'm here because the thought of what our beautiful State Park and beach will become if that toll road is allowed to be built, is the most helpless feeling I can remember. We walk up in the hills above the park and breathe in the beauty of it all. I can't imagine taking my grandchildren up there to see everything paved over and the park gone, never to come back.
The craziness of the everyday going to work and coming home is somehow okay, when know we have a place like this to go - to see the beauty of it all, to watch the wildlife, to feel the peace. There will be no peacefulness if there are wide blacktopped lanes, supported by huge pillars, dug and drilled into the landscape, holding them up.
My daughter was married on the beach by Trestles. There were beautiful birds at the mouth of San Mateo creek.. their sounds and the sounds of the surf added to the specialness of the day. Our family spends every Thanksgiving on the beach at San Onofre - sharing a meal with whomever comes by. The water there is clean - no pollution, safe for my children and grandchildren.
Please think about these very special places. Think of them without sound walls and barriers, without the sounds of cars and trucks, without artificial lighting to ruin the night sky, without a polluted ocean. We're counting on you to do the right thing. Please don't let this toll road be built.
Today we will be at the Coastal Commission Meeting to express our opposition to the completion of the Foothill South 241 Toll Road.
"I firmly believe one of the greatest legacies we can leave to future generations is the heritage of our land. This expanse of acreage, San Onofre Bluffs State Beach, Now has it's future guaranteed as an official state park."
Governor Ronald Reagan in establishing the State Park at San Onofre April 3 1971
If Arnold was to have just one ghost of Christmas past dream, I wish Governor Ronald Reagan would make that late night visit to Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger... .
World champion Kelly Slater broke a year-long drought to break Tom Curren's record and beat Pancho Sullivan in the final of the Boost Mobile Pro in California.
Despite admitting to being 'bummed' for not making the most of his waves, Slater did enough to win his 34rd career title on the elite tour, eclipsing the previous mark set by Curren 16 years ago.
To say it was a long time coming for Slater would be an understatement, as he equalled Curren's tally 16 months ago at Bells Beach.
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I don’t know about you, but nothing gets me jazzed more than the season finale of a great show. Sure, on one hand it sucks that the show is going away for three or four months, but on the other hand, we know that the story we’ve been following all year is going to come to a thrilling and pulse pounding climax that will give us plenty to talk about during the slow TV months... .
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