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More on Huell Howser and the Evil TCA

Friday, Sep. 12 2008 @ 10:05AM

By Gustavo Arellano in 241 Toll Road

The strangest part in my interview with Huell Howser this week was learning that the Transportation Corridor Authority tried to get his special on San Onofre State Beach delayed. I knew the TCA hated ol' Huell for his opposition to extending the 241 Toll Road through San Onofre State Park, further testimony that the TCA is the county's most-evil organization since the only people possible who'd rag on Huell are Nazis and Satanl, but to actually, actively try to fuck with Huell's scheduling? Not that we didn't believe Huell, but his claim was so outrageous that my jefe asked me to call the TCA to see what they had to say about it.

TCA spokeshole Jennifer Seaton said they tried to rat out Huell to KCET-TV Channel 28 because they wanted to get "their side of the story," a strange position given Huell does specials on California treasures, not bloody freeways (at least, if they're not historic in some way). Seaton claimed they knew the San Onofre episode was going to be a "one-sided look at the issue." When I asked her how the TCA could have any idea about the content of an episode that hadn't even screened, Seaton responded by saying there was a "summary available" on Huell's website.

Problem is, the summary gives no clue whatsoever about the show's content.

For readers, here's the summary:

San Onofre State Beach in San Diego County covers some 2100 acres and has five miles of beach, including Trestles – one of the most famous and truly iconic surf spots in the world! Park Supt. Rich Rozzelle showed Huell a spectacular section of the park that most people don’t know exists. Turns out the park goes four miles inland, contains several archeological sites, is the home of seven threatened or endangered species and protects significant portions of San Mateo Creek, which is one of the last relatively unspoiled watersheds in Southern California. San Onofre State Beach is now the focus of a huge controversy! Tune in to find out all about it.

"Huge controversy"--how is Huell showing his hand here?

But Seaton didn't stop there. She then said that the episode was problematic because Huell didn't disclose that he's an advisory board member of the California State Parks Foundation, which opposes the 241 extension. Yeah, as if that matters. As if viewers and the public already didn't know that Huell is a staunch defender and celebrator of all California state parks. This is the biggest non-controversy since Barack Obama's terrorist bump.

It amazes me that the TCA tried to pick a fight with Huell, who's too much of a Southern gentleman to demand satisfaction. As I said earlier this year:

"Saying Huell Howser is an alarmist when it comes to California state parks is like saying Vin Scully overreacts during Los Angeles Dodgers broadcasts, that John Wooden cheers too much whenever the UCLA Bruins play at Pauley. Lance: You don't question Huell when it comes to California treasures; you shut up, learn, and hope you can ever have an ATOM of the respect Howser commands amongst Californians."

To conclude, here's Huell's special on San Onofre--and screw the TCA:

6 Comment(s) / Post a Comment

huell nation says:

TCA sucks- Huell rules

Posted on Friday, Sep. 12 2008 @ 11:45AM

Debby Bodkin says:

Living in the United States guarantees public participation in matters of interest... so the letter of the law states. Often, the intent of the law is swept under the rugs of the politically-connected with self-serving financial, religious and/or corporate agendas.

However, what I cannot understand is why a government agency has not thoroughly investigated the business and billing practices of the TCA. It is not a secret that the TCA is a private organization with investors from all sectors of our society, government, law enforcement, religious, etc. What is so concerning is that the TCA enjoys the benefit of government sponsorship. Unfortunately, speaking from personal experience, the TCA has abused its association status with government. Anyone who would like a copy of a fraudulent judgment that was entered, please email me at bodkind@hotmail.com.

Why is it the TCA can enter fraudulent judgments against citizens, garnish wages and harass the unsuspecting, without due process of the law, but no government intervention and corrective action is required? I can only hope the abuses of the TCA will soon be publicly revealed. In addition, if any TCA investors implemented political retaliation using the TCA as a tool, I hope that too will be exposed to the public.

Until all the truths are revealed, the TCA should lose all government sponsorship privileges and private investors that have used the TCA to politically punish an unsuspecting American, should be prosecuted to the full extent of the law. When the TCA has cleaned its house, only then should public debate relating to expansion of the TCA be addressed.

As an alternative, maybe the TCA and government should evaluate the attorneys that ENABLED the TCA to violate multiple civil rights of citizens, all in the interests of financial gain. The TCA needs to ask government for a full investigation into the attorney practices that exposed the TCA to such illegal billing practices.

Posted on Sunday, Sep. 14 2008 @ 2:50PM

Anonymous says:

Debby, you must be very confused. The TCA "IS" a government agency for the state of CA. The Toll Roads "ARE" public roads, not private.

Posted on Monday, Sep. 15 2008 @ 11:11AM

Anonymous response says:

If you have to pay to drive on it, it is not "public."

Posted on Sunday, Sep. 21 2008 @ 9:02PM

KaRi from LBweekly says:

HuellHowser.com was just in Long Beach's East Village Arts District Saturday for Soundwalk. I watched him film inside Gallery Eleven/Seven.

Nice to see him in SOcaL upclose and personable!

Posted on Monday, Sep. 22 2008 @ 1:34PM

Anonyms says:

Anonymous, we pay for everything public, toll roads and user fees are just another way to pay and we went to those because people didn't want to pay more in taxes.

I think the foothill corridor road was designed to benefit developers and go through to trestles, (it's useless unless it connects to the 5) and the people that approved it should be jailed for wasting taxes by building the first half of the road when they didnt have approval for the second half. Once again the Rich get Richer and the Poor get Poorer under our current Government of Business by Business and for Business.

Enough! Vote Change

Posted on Thursday, Oct. 9 2008 @ 6:39AM