Blogging from 241 hearing
The Times' David Reyes in Del Mar is blogging the big tollroad vote. Check here for the latest.
After the lunch break, Coastal Commission Chairman Patrick Kruer grew frustrated with outbursts ensuing during speeches. So he came up with new rules. He urged those in the audience, many of whom were clutching signs either for or against the toll road, to raise their arms instead of shouting, hooting or yelping. "Those who did not like a person's opinion as it came before the commission put your thumbs down or raise your signs again," he instructed the crowd.
Careful what you wish for.
When he introduced Tom Margrow, CEO of the Transportation Corridor Agencies, hundreds of signs went fluttering into the air.
Margrow went on to say, "The 241 will provide congestion relief in one of our most important transportation corridors in the state."
And then:
"Traffic is growing, especially port traffic from Los Angeles and San Pedro harbors. The fact that a toll road is needed is part of the reason an alternative to I-5 has been recognized for many years."
- - - - -
More than 2,000 people have signed up to speak, though there was some indication the hearing might be cut off at 7 p.m. But whether the commission will actually vote tonight-still unclear.
- - - - -
So how organized are the opponents of the toll road?
How about this: if a toll road proponent made an alleged false statement, the Save San Onofre Coalition would immediately print the statement from a computer and then attach a rebuttal. Then runners from the oalition would deliver one-page alerts to VIPs in the audience and the media while the meeting continued.
For example, after Margrow said "The TCA has a track record of success," the coalition quickly quickly passed out this alert:
"Fact: Cost estimates for this road have been wildly inaccurate," citing media story headlines.
- - - - -
Elizabeth Goldstein, president of the State Parks Foundation, addressed the commission. "This is important for San Onofre and all other state parks that are being eyed for infrastructure expansion development," she said. "If the toll road is permitted to proceed, we will all be spending decades in rooms like this all across the state fighting to protect yet another special place."
- - - - -
Native Americans believe they are affected by the toll road because the highway would come close to Panhe, an ancient burial site.
Rebecca Robles a Juaneno from San Clemente, came up with half a dozen other native Americans and sang a ceremonial song to the commission.
Following the song, she gave an emotional speech saying that she has a son in Iraq "and I stand here before the commission to save our sacred site. Our coalition is a grass-roots organization." She then described Panhe to the commission as the ancestral home of the Juaneno band of Indians.
"I encourage you, I implore you to uphold the California Coastal Act. Panhe is one of the remaining sites that we can enjoy our spiritual individuality. I ask you to protect this sacred site and uphold the act."
- - - - -
More than 2,500 people have signed up to present their personal findings to the Coastal Commission on the extension of the toll road through San Onofre State Beach. The number of those wishing to speak caught commission staff members by surprise ... they ran out of slips to hand out and had to start tearing up pieces of paper to give to people.
As Coastal Commission members discussed a report by the Transportation Corridor Agencies, proponents of the road, audience members would erupt in cheers whenever they heard the word Trestles. Deficiencies mentioned in the report also drew boisterous applause. Finally, the audience was warned to stop disrupting the proceedings or the hearing would go on all night.
Careful what you wish for.
When he introduced Tom Margrow, CEO of the Transportation Corridor Agencies, hundreds of signs went fluttering into the air.
Margrow went on to say, "The 241 will provide congestion relief in one of our most important transportation corridors in the state."
And then:
"Traffic is growing, especially port traffic from Los Angeles and San Pedro harbors. The fact that a toll road is needed is part of the reason an alternative to I-5 has been recognized for many years."
- - - - -
More than 2,000 people have signed up to speak, though there was some indication the hearing might be cut off at 7 p.m. But whether the commission will actually vote tonight-still unclear.
- - - - -
So how organized are the opponents of the toll road?
How about this: if a toll road proponent made an alleged false statement, the Save San Onofre Coalition would immediately print the statement from a computer and then attach a rebuttal. Then runners from the oalition would deliver one-page alerts to VIPs in the audience and the media while the meeting continued.
For example, after Margrow said "The TCA has a track record of success," the coalition quickly quickly passed out this alert:
"Fact: Cost estimates for this road have been wildly inaccurate," citing media story headlines.
- - - - -
Elizabeth Goldstein, president of the State Parks Foundation, addressed the commission. "This is important for San Onofre and all other state parks that are being eyed for infrastructure expansion development," she said. "If the toll road is permitted to proceed, we will all be spending decades in rooms like this all across the state fighting to protect yet another special place."
- - - - -
Native Americans believe they are affected by the toll road because the highway would come close to Panhe, an ancient burial site.
Rebecca Robles a Juaneno from San Clemente, came up with half a dozen other native Americans and sang a ceremonial song to the commission.
Following the song, she gave an emotional speech saying that she has a son in Iraq "and I stand here before the commission to save our sacred site. Our coalition is a grass-roots organization." She then described Panhe to the commission as the ancestral home of the Juaneno band of Indians.
"I encourage you, I implore you to uphold the California Coastal Act. Panhe is one of the remaining sites that we can enjoy our spiritual individuality. I ask you to protect this sacred site and uphold the act."
- - - - -
More than 2,500 people have signed up to present their personal findings to the Coastal Commission on the extension of the toll road through San Onofre State Beach. The number of those wishing to speak caught commission staff members by surprise ... they ran out of slips to hand out and had to start tearing up pieces of paper to give to people.
As Coastal Commission members discussed a report by the Transportation Corridor Agencies, proponents of the road, audience members would erupt in cheers whenever they heard the word Trestles. Deficiencies mentioned in the report also drew boisterous applause. Finally, the audience was warned to stop disrupting the proceedings or the hearing would go on all night.
