Full disclosure: I'm not too informed on the 241 Toll Road. I don't see how extending it to San Onofre will reduce traffic on the 5 Freeway. I don't surf so don't particularly care if the legendary waves of Trestles disappeared. I do know that the Transportation Corridor Authority is one of Orange County's worst governmental agencies, and that environmentalists care a bit too much about nature at the expense of other issues.
But after hearing both sides go at it yesterday on AirTalk with Larry Mantle on KPCC-FM 89.3, I know why the TCA didn't get its plans approved by the California Coastal Commission: arrogance.
One of the people interviewed was Lance MacLean, chairman of the Foothill Eastern Transportation Corridor Agency and a member on the Mission Viejo City Council. MacLean told Mantle he was "disappointed" in the Coastal Commission's decision, said "there was no winners" and went on to claim commuters were "doomed," our air quality would "degrade" and state parks would no longer receive $100 million that the TCA promised them if the Coastal Commission allowed the 241.
A couple of minutes later, Huell Howser of California Gold called, "compelled to call in with my two cents" he told Larry through his trademark twang. Huell acknowledged Southern California needed to alleviate traffic but then went into an impassioned defense of state parks and a vicious critique of those who want to tamper with them. Trestles, he said, "wasn't set aside for a park until something better came along; it was set aside FOREVER." View clips from Huell's Trestles special here.
MacLean's response? He called Huell's statements "alarmist."
Alarmist. 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. By the way, it's pronounced "Cristianitos Road," not "Christianitos." And how's the sign stealing treating you these days?
February 8, 2008 12:18
Dang nab it, I keep hoping I'll find out Huell's got a troop of girl scouts buried in his back yard or something, so that I might get over my ever-deepening crush on the guy. The more I find out about him, the worse it gets. Darn philanthropy fetish...
February 8, 2008 13:54
Here's a link to Air Talk in case anyone wants to hear the comments. http://www.scpr.org/programs/airtalk/
February 8, 2008 16:59
"Cristianitos Road," not "Christianitos."
What a maroon.
February 9, 2008 09:31
Huell Howser is one badass dude. Easily excitable, yes, but he's always a hoot.
February 9, 2008 19:44
Christchuneetos! Made with real Christchuns! Now available in sour cream & onion!
(Couldn't resist.)
(I'll let the "easily excitable" remark go by without comment.)(Sigh...)
Oh, and by the way, SIX TO TWO!!! I'm going to be happy about that one for at least several months. If y'all enjoyed this round, get ready for even more fun at this year's State Parks Advocacy Day on April 6th. See calparks.org for more info.
Also, at that site, check out the list of State Parks that other folks are salivating over -- http://www.calparks.org/action-files/2007-park-threat-matrix.pdf.
And, there's always http://www.savestateparks.org/.
(OK, end of advertising.)
February 11, 2008 16:47
It just occurred to me...
...isn't arrogance the general problem with Orange County in general?
February 12, 2008 06:43
Alex..... you are 200% correct! Arrogance, greed, corrupt politics, legal conflicts of interest, justice for sale, and the self-serving mentality that those exercising freedoms of speech, press and opinion, will eventually be destroyed if one dares to communicate thoughts or opinions that are not pre-approved and supported by the OC Republican GOP.
TCA's attitude resembles that of former Sheriff Carona, OC Republican political insiders, the Diocese of Orange, a religious institution that enables and pays sexual predators to disappear or leave the state/country, and the attorneys guilty of legal conflicts of interest on a daily basis, representing multiple clients with adverse interests, without corrective action. Could there be a "link" amongst them all? If so, maybe the common links are WEALTH and POWER!!!!!!
February 12, 2008 10:09
DB: you forgot vanity. Oh, yes, and hubris.