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Surf punks

Posted by Matt Coker in 241 Toll Road, A Clockwork Orange

July 14, 2008 12:27 PM

Permalink | Comments (5)

swindle_page3.jpgSocial Distortion, the Adolescents and even bubblegummy Blink-182 are among the bands whose scheduled UC Irvine shows were canceled at the last minute over the years because fraighty cat campus security fretted onslaughts of scary, leather-clad, facially pincushioned punk rockers.

A quick glance at the surfers, beachcombers and plain ol' average folks lined up against the extension of the 241 Foothill South toll road extension through San Onofre State Beach and other environmentally sensitive areas does not produce evidence of an overwhelming punker presence. But they are apparently just as menacing to UCI officials, who have backed their Bren Events Center out as the venue for a July 25 U.S. Commerce Department hearing on the toll road.

"They feared that the turnout from supporters of San Onofre State Beach and Trestles would overwhelm the facilities at UCI, estimating that over 10,000 of you would show up," reports the San Clemente-based Surfrider Foundation's Save Trestles blog.

"Clearly there is strong community opposition to this destructive highway project, and those voices need to be heard. Unfortunately no other venue has been identified, and the Commerce Department has made no definitive decision on how or when to move forward with the hearing."

The Orange County Register's Pat Brennan reported Friday that the Commerce Department's National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration may postpone or cancel the hearing altogether. The NOAA is weighing the toll road builder's appeal of the state Coastal Commission's February denial of the project.

Like the Bren, which only has 5,000 seats, the NOAA says it does not have the funds in its budget to cover the cost of an increased police presence needed to handle the large crowd expected.

But an audience of 10,000 mostly surfers, beachcombers and plain ol' average folks would not be as unruly as, say, the occupants of your typical Adoloescents mosh pit. Then again, the Save Trestles blog's "The Great Toll Road Swindle" opening logo does resemble "The Great Rock & Roll Swindle" logo employed by the punk pioneering Sex Pistols. Hmmm...

 

Comments (5)

  1. OC Driver says:
    July 14, 2008 16:37

    The anticipated crowd was going to include many, many supporters of the toll road, since the Bren Center is closer to where most of us live and work than the Del Mar Fairgrounds. Getting off work to attend wasn't going to be easy but it's important. We need the road because of growing gridlock. Of course, gridlock doesn't effect the unemployed, who had time to go to Del Mar. Also, for an update on the facts, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Servicce issued a biological report saying the road won't jeapordize any endangered species. The beach is protected, too. Even Surfer Magazine noted that the change in sediment discharge from the toll road would only be enough to fill up a public restroom at San Onofre. “Spread along the entire beach that is considered immeasurable.”

  2. Fedup says:
    July 14, 2008 16:54

    Just pave everything.. If Fish and Wildlife doesnt apporve it.. we'll claim its for national security.

  3. Jacques Maurman says:
    July 15, 2008 19:19

    I can't believe it!

    A piece discussing the 241 toll road (among other things), that was NOT written by Brant-Zawadski!

    Could this be a sign of the apocalypse? :-0

  4. Matt Coker says:
    July 18, 2008 11:12

    No, I just got tired of misspelling my last name, so I trudged out this old byline that was lying around.

  5. The TCA sucks! says:
    July 22, 2008 18:02

    OC Driver's post is a real gas! Oh, where to begin?

    "We need the road because of growing gridlock."

    Unfortunately, it seems you've bought into the TCA's myth that the toll road will actually do something about gridlock on I-5. It won't. (I'm sorry that I have to be the one to break this news to you)
    The toll roads' usage is, and always has been, way below what was the TCA had hoped for (and it's been dropping further, recently). Why? The average citizen can't or won't pay the high tolls. Result? The freeways sit in gridlock while the toll roads remain comparatively empty. A quick glance at any OCTA traffic flow map would have shown you this.
    Furthermore, the 241 extension will only act as a catalyst for MORE development, which results in MORE people and MORE traffic (just like their 73 toll road did). So if you truly believe the TCA's "traffic relief" pipe dream, then I've got a bridge for sale that you might be interested in...

    "...the unemployed...had time to go to Del Mar"

    Yet another pathetic tactic commonly employed the the TCA's cheerleading squad: Don't refute the opposition's arguements, just make personal insults against the opposition themselves. Sad.
    As much as the TCA and their fanclub would like to believe it, I'm not a stoner, I don't live in the back of a VW bus, and I'm not unemployed. However, I do have an associate's degree, bachelor's degree, master's degree, and a great career. I simply choose to use one of my vacation days to participate in a public process regarding an issue that is important to me, as did many in attendance that day. I know that isn't what you wanted to hear, but I'm sure you'll find a way to cope.

    "U.S. Fish and Wildlife Servicce issued a biological report saying the road won't jeapordize any endangered species..."

    I'm not sure if you're flat-out lying here, or simply misinformed. The US Fish and Wildlife Service said no such thing; They only concluded that the road alone wouldn't drive these species to extinction. That's it. Would the road harm these species? Without a doubt. But (according to Fish and Wildlife) at least it wouldn't TOTALLY wipe them out completely. Gee whiz...
    Besides, it's Fish and Wildlife saying this; they don't exactly have a stellar track record recently.

    "The beach is protected, too."

    Wrong again (Man, you're just batting zero today...)! CA State Parks Commission has estimated that, should the 241 extension be built as planned, at least 60% of San Onofre State Beach would have to be shut down and abandoned, including the more popular of the park's 2 campgrounds.

    "Even Surfer Magazine noted that the change in sediment discharge..."

    Most surfers (myself included), campers, swimmers, beach-goers, etc are far more concerned about the polluted run-off that would flow off the toll road, into the creek the road would run parallel to, and right down the creek into the ocean than we are about changes in the creek's sediment flow (although that is an issue also).
    Oh sure, the TCA has promised they'll install nifty filters and neato catch-basins, just like they did on their 73 toll road. Of course, we all remember how the filters on the 73 failed and created a tremendous mess...and then had to be repaired at the taxpayer's expense! And now these jokers from the TCA expect us to fall for the same sales pitch again? This time in one of CA's most popular state parks? Ha, ha...yeah, right!


    Thanks for playing; insert coin and try again.

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