Why stopping the six lane toll road through San Onofre State Beach means a lot to me

On February 8th, The New York Times reported, "Park Toll Road Plan Rejected in California." “After a marathon public hearing in which hundreds of people spoke, the California Coastal Commission voted late Wednesday to deny approval for a toll road through a popular beach state park.

"The 8-to-2 vote against the road, which would bisect California’s fifth-most-visited state park, San Onofre State Beach in north San Diego County, was seen as a significant victory for the region’s environmental movement and a major setback to a 20-year-effort to ease traffic congestion in the increasing sprawl of southern Orange County."

I celebrate this victory because I got involved in the effort to stop the toll road, admittedly too little, too late, but I like to think that my effort, though small, contributed to the preservation of San Onofre State Beach.

On January 24th, I went to a meeting to learn more about the threat to San Onofre State Beach and posted about it here. Then on February 4th, I posted an action alert, "Help Save California's State Parks," sent a link to quite a few people and wrote a letter to the Coastal Commission. Thanks to the many people who e-mailed me that they had sent a letter to the Coastal Commission.

The bigger message for me is that citizens can come together and make a difference. Some of us some of the time feel hopeless about affecting the 2008 election, stopping US imperial overstretch with wars of choice, etc. This victory, saving one state park in California, gives me hope.

You can watch the Coastal Commission hearing about the fate of San Onofre State Park here (go to agenda item 8 b. and click on the icon to the right of the b.)

(San Onofre State Beach: Visit USA)

Action Alert: Help save California's state parks

I’ve been so busy trying to stop the extension of the warrantless eavesdropping bill that I almost neglected alerting readers to the need to help preserve our state parks.

On January 24th, I attended a meeting about the proposed six lane toll road through San Onofre State Beach, posting about it here. I came away from that meeting knowing that those of us who love California can’t afford to ignore the risk to our state park system.

The Coastal Commission is meeting on February 6th to consider whether or not to approve construction of the toll road. If this project is approved, it becomes a precedent for wiping out state parks for roads, desalination plants and other infrastructure.

Here’s what you can do:
1. Write a letter to Commissioner Patrick Kruer and e-mail it to Shannon.raj@sierraclub.org. She will take it to the meeting. Here’s my short letter:

Commissioner Patrick Kruer
Chairman
California Coastal Commission
45 Fremont Street, Suite 2000
San Francisco, CA 94105

Re: Opposition to Consistency Certification for Foothill South Toll Road

Dear Chairman Kruer:

I strongly oppose the proposed Foothill-South Toll Road through San Onofre State Beach. I urge the California Coastal Commission to reject a finding that the project is consistent with the federal Coastal Zone Management Act.

Governor Schwarzenegger does not represent the people of this state when it comes to state parks. His position that the Foothill-South Toll Road won’t produce environmental damage is consistent with his belief that state parks simply don’t matter. In addition to supporting a six lane toll road through the middle of San Onofre State Park, he is proposing the closure of 48 state parks.

California’s state parks, especially those adjacent to the Pacific Ocean, are our natural jewels, attracting residents and tourists from all over the world.

As a resident of California who would rather live here than anywhere else in the world, I urge the Coastal Commission to preserve what is special about California – its state park system.

2. Go to Save San Onofre- How You Can Help.

(photo of San Onofre State Beach - Surfline.com)