Subject: Parks and Historic Sites

• New Poll Takes Its Toll

  A public opinion survey released this fine Wednesday morning shows that 73% of Californians are opposed to extending a toll road through San Onofre State Beach. Last September, the Transportation Corridor Agencies commissioned their annual public opinion poll on how much we all love toll roads. Their plan to extend the 241 toll road through the heart of SOSB depends upon their claim that people think it's a good idea. "Their numbers never resonated with us, based on thousands of conversations w

  March 1, 2006

• 35th Senate Race - A Road to Nowhere?

  Diane Harkey and Tom Harman are both running for the 35th District Senate seat. Harkey is the Republican's Republican, toeing the party line in her Dana Pointed way, while Harman has the misfortune of being a from-all-appearances honest politician in Huntington Beach (unlikely enough) as well as a fairly weak environmental voting record, versus the Republican-preferred nonexistent environmental voting record. Power to the people, as long as those people drive bulldozers... Still, it's not up to

  April 6, 2006

• Foothill-South: "The Wrong Direction To Take"

  Don't worry about the Transportation Corridor Agencies getting their lawsuits moved to federal court. Federal regulations may be less stringent than any state restrictions, but it's not all bad news. Today the State Assembly Budget Subcommittee No. 5 met to discuss, among other matters, a staff resolution suggesting they oppose the Foothill-South toll road. After hearing arguments from both sides, Chairman Pedro Nava (D-Santa Barbara) made himself my all time American Idol. "It just seems to be

  May 3, 2006

• Bill Campbell Hates the (Surfin') USA

  Today I listened to a State Senate Budget Subcommittee meeting on Transportation. Slightly more fun a C.I.A. interrogation. But as long as the TCA keeps trying to build a time/money-wasting toll road that might not even relieve traffic, when they haven't even done ANY studies on weekend traffic because they were only concerned w/ the nine-to-fivers who can afford to fill their coffers, when it's illegally close to an Indian burial ground, when it'll wreck the only inexpensive beach campsite left

  May 17, 2006

• Pedro: Making Dreams Come True

  Assemblyman Pedro Nava is taking his battle against the Foothill-South (241) toll road extension online. At risk is San Onofre State Beach, 5th most popular state park in California, home to critical populations of endangered species such as gnatcatchers and pocket mice, not to mention the San Mateo Creek (responsible for maintaining world-class surfbreak at the nearby Trestles, the Yosemite of Surfing) and San Mateo Campground. Plus there's the matter of a Juaneno Indian burial ground. All

  May 20, 2006

• Animal Uprising in Long Beach

  Crazy animals have begun invading Long Beach by sea and land. Yesterday, a six-foot female blue shark was spotted swimming in circles near docked boats at the Marina Pacifica. The shark was in good health except a for a fishing hook and line hanging from its mouth. Marine workers were forced to scoop up the shark with a giant net and release it back into the ocean before it could confuse any innocent byswimmers. No rescue workers were harmed in the transportation process. The revolt continued

  July 11, 2007

• New poll shows mixed bag on 241 toll extension

  Photo by Craig Coppola/Courtesy Surfrider. A poll released this morning shows that OC voters are generally in favor of more toll roads, but not when they go through protected state parks. The poll, which was financed by the California State Parks Foundation, asked 400 voters from each of the county's five supervisorial districts several questions in hopes of measuring opinions about toll roads and, in particular, a proposed extension of the 241 Toll Road through San Onofre State Park

  October 2, 2007

• 241 Toll Road Delayed Indefinitely

  The 241 Foothill-South Toll Road extension that would have run through San Onofre State Park endangering wild life and costing tax payers $10 million, has been delayed indefinitely, according to Congressman Ken Calvert. In the Congressman's words, "thanks to Reps. Susan Davis and Loretta Sanchez (D-CA), a toll road project that has been years in the making has been set back indefinitely." Read Calvert's press release in its entirety here. Congress still has to approve the bill and President

  December 17, 2007

• Toll Road Sound-Byte Wars

  Governor Arnold Schwarnzenegger thinks the TCA's 241 (Foothill-South) toll road extension (which would bisect San Onofre State Beach, impact an Indian burial ground, mess with Trestles and possibly bring about Apocalypse) is about as tasty as steroids or a married woman's breast. The TCA (or Transportation Corridor Agencies) promise to atone for dicking with the environment by donating $100 Million as mitigation (which basically means damages) to California State Parks, not just for San Onofre b

  January 18, 2008

• State Park Scare Tactics

  Or, How to Fool a County. To soothe concerns that their 241 (Foothill-South) toll road extension would rape the environment, destroy endangered species and habitat, pave over archaeological and sacred sites, close the San Mateo Campground, bisect inland San Onofre State Beach and possibly impact the world-famous surfing at Trestles, the road-building Transportation Corridor Agencies (TCA) offered the state a real oogie cookie. They propose a scant $100 Million to be used towards state parks, sp

  January 21, 2008

• YouTube Saves Trestles

  The Save San Onofre Coalition really hopes the Coastal Commission is a buncha voyeurs. See, the SSOC (made up of Defenders of Wildlife, Natural Resources Defense Council, Sierra Club, Endangered Habitats League, Laguna Greenbelt, Surfrider Foundation, Audubon California, the California State Parks Foundation and probably some ninjas) has compiled hundreds and hundreds of videos on YouTube for the purpose of convincing Coastal Commission members that a poorly-planned toll road built by a shoddil

  January 23, 2008

• TCA Begs For Help From Lackeys

  The Coastal Commission has had to change its February meeting venue to accommodate the expected 2,000-odd attendees. This is bad news for the Transportation Corridor Agencies, who already sent out an email to their contractors begging for support. The issue is the 241 (Foothill-South) toll road extension; the Governor's recent letter to the Commission in support of the project has reinvigorated both the supporters and opponents of the project. Ergo the new venue, Wyland Hall at the Del Mar Fairg

  January 25, 2008

• Picture Your Favorite Park. Now Picture It Gone.

  Fresh off the system of tubes some call an internets from the California State Parks Foundation comes an announcement of a photo contest. Get those pictures soon - regardless of the contest deadline, if the Governor follows through on his scare-tactic plan of closing 48 state parks, it might be the last chance you shutterbugs get to shoot some of these spots. California State Parks Foundation Launches Photo Contest Share The Beauty—Images of our Magnificent State Parks Kentfield, CA – Th

  February 1, 2008

• Dirty Harry on San Onofre

  Clint Eastwood is Vice-Chair of the California State Parks and Recreation Commission. He also used to surf down at Trestles in San Onofre. Thus it's little surprise he appears in the following video urging Southern Californians to save Trestles and San Onofre State Beach. This can be done by opposing the Foothill-South (241) toll road extension at this Wednesday's Coastal Commission Hearing at the Del Mar Fairgrounds; over 2,000 opponents and supporters of the road are expected to show. Brought

  February 4, 2008

• Coastal Commission Denies 241 Permit

  The California Coastal Commission voted at 11:18 p.m. Wednesday night to deny a coastal permit to the Transportation Corridor Agencies. It will now be much more difficult for the TCA to construct the Foothill-South (241) toll road extension. The vote was 8-2 in favor of denying certification. More to follow! VOTES BY COMMISSIONER: Blank – NO Burke – YES Clark – NO Kram – YES Neely – NO Reilly – NO Shallenberger – NO Wan – NO Kruer – NO (some voters were inaudible due to ch

  February 6, 2008

• The Real Reason Why 241 Toll Road Plan Failed!

  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

  February 8, 2008

• Radiohead's N. American Tour Dates Announced

  Closest the British mope-rock kings come to OC is a two-date run at Hollywood Bowl, Aug. 24 and 25. Pre-sale tix are available April 9 and general on-sale April 12. Grizzly Bear support Aug. 3-15, Liars Aug. 19-28. Radiohead have good taste. August 1 - Lollapalooza - Chicago, IL August 3 - Verizon Wireless Music Center - Indianapolis, IN August 4 - Blossom Music Center - Cleveland, OH August 6 - Parc Jean Drapeau - Montreal, QC August 8 - All Points West Music & Arts Festival/Liberty State Pa

  April 7, 2008

• More on Huell Howser and the Evil TCA

  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

  September 12, 2008

• Toll Road Collision

  December 6, 2001

• Interesting Op-Ed Pieces on FBI Informant, Toll Roads

  In "Breach of Trust: FBI Wants It Both Ways," the editorial board of UC Irvine's New University student newspaper takes issue with the indictment of a Muslim resident of Tustin and the use of a controversial government informant. (Background is here and here.) The case is bound to have a chilling effect, according to the editorial.This incident is alarming to the American Muslim community in Orange County, who had been working hard to establish and maintain good relations with the FBI, according

  March 10, 2009

• National Trails Day

  June 4, 2009

• Beach Walk

  February 19, 2009

• Tidepool Walk

  December 25, 2008

• Keep It Wild

  December 18, 2008

• Nature Photo Session

  December 11, 2008

• Say You Will Build It, and They Will Come . . . If the 'It' Is a Toll Road Over Trestles Parkland

  September 25, 2008

• Do San Onofre Nudists Stand a Stitch of a Chance Against the State's Efforts to Cover Them Up?

  July 31, 2008

• Goodmovie

  May 15, 2008

• Amber Waves

  January 10, 2008

• They Didn't Pave Paradise: The top 10 reasons why the Foothill South Toll Road extension failed

  February 14, 2008

• The Fire of the Century . . . of the Year

  Hellish fires now, Sahara Desert later, says UCI doom prophet Mike Davis

  November 1, 2007

• Bad Deeds Go Unpunished

  May 4, 2000

• Toll Road Rage

  Hey, Porter! New firm cashes in on bad toll-road PR

  August 17, 2006

• Environment & Sports

  January 12, 2006

• Toll Road Rage: Don't Trust the Register

  December 1, 2005

• Toll Road Rage: What Your Mimi Doesn't Know

  November 24, 2005

• Toll Road Rage: Who Supports the Toll Road?

  August 25, 2005

• No Mo Moiso

  March 31, 2005

• We have ways of making you subscribe

  March 18, 2004

• Turning Water into Whine

  November 20, 2003

• Blood in the Water

  September 11, 2003

• Dick Nixons Revenge

  September 6, 2001

• No Friend in Deed

  August 9, 2001

• Scrubbing Bubbles

  June 8, 2000

• Beach Reach

  September 16, 1999

• Summer Solstice Beach Walk

  June 18, 2009

• Morning Tidepool Exploration

  June 25, 2009

• To Do This Weekend 6/26 - 6/28

  Flock of Seagulls / Dramarama / When in Rome / Gene Loves Jezebel, Friday, 8 p.m.With a line up like this, how can you afford to miss it??House of Blues, 1530 S. Disneyland Dr., Anaheim, CA; 714-778-2583Morning Tidepool Exploration, Saturday, 9 a.m.Join a state park docent on a morning tidepool exploration at Crystal Cove State Park on Saturday when the tide will fall to a low -0.3 Meet at the turquoise cottage, next to the Beachcomber Café in the Historic District. Park in the Los Trancos lot

  June 26, 2009

• Bummer Summer for San Onofre's Nude Sunbathers

  Photo by Tim MelidoNaturist attorney Allen Baylis loses latest round in court but vows to press on. As last summer was winding down, the Naturist Action Committee scored a legal victory in their fight to retain the right for nude sunbathers to go au natural on San Onofre State Beach's traditionally clothing-optional Trail 6 strand.As this summer heats up, the committee and local nudists are reeling from a legal defeat that could force them to cover up on the same 1,000-foot stretch of sand.Cindy

  June 29, 2009

• Birds of Prey

  July 30, 2009