Build-and-Pave Hypocrisy

* Regarding the “Orange County Voices” opinion column by Steve Apodaca on May 2:

I read with utter amazement and humor the column by Apodaca regarding SB 1277, the state bill that would protect our state park system from decimation caused by roads being built through them.

SB 1277 has at its core a simple value: protection of our quality of life and our state park system.

State parks were created for all the residents and visitors to enjoy and to protect our natural resources. They offer a unique opportunity to view and experience what is California.

As a long-time resident of San Clemente, I enjoy the scenic and environmental values offered in the San Mateo Creek watershed.

Apodaca’s saying that the bill would “pirate local planning and development authority from county and municipal governments” and threaten our quality of life is laughable. Why does a local entity even think it has a say in how a state park will be developed? After all, isn’t it a state resource?

With regard to his specific project he refers to, the Foothill South toll road alignment, this road was planned by the Transportation Corridor Agencies to run through a state park, which is leased from the federal government.

Where is the local authority in the first place that is being undermined?

A significant percentage of the local citizens is adamantly against the road. While many years ago the San Clemente City Council voted to support the alignment through the state park, times have changed. So has the understanding of the unique value of San Onofre State Park.

MARK COUSINEAU

President

The Surfrider Foundation

* Thanks to former Mayor Steve Apodaca for defending our quality of life by pushing for more cement and asphalt, more cars and pollution, more people and strip malls and countless other, no doubt, wondrous development.

What a terrific idea! Let’s get rid of that minimal amount of open space we have left. Let’s get rid of those filthy, unsightly wild animals: the deer, coyotes, cougars, etc. I’m sick of looking at their ugly mugs.

Let’s make this place safe for some full-on, red-blooded all-American development. Let’s line the pockets of more politician developers so they’ll be able to retire to their mansions in Hawaii or Idaho. We’ll live a quality life vicariously, through them.

And boy, if you’re one of those Commie, anti-quality-of-lifers, one of those environmental extremists, well, I guess you know you just better shut your trap and stand back outta the way of progress.

STEPHAN JORGENSEN

Dana Point

* To say that the Foothill South project is the “product of a fair, comprehensive, regulated planning process” is hardly the case.

The writer seems to have forgotten about Rep. Ron Packard’s rider exempting this process from review and regulation.

I’m glad somebody is watching out for the “quality of life” around here because it sure isn’t the Transportation Corridor Agencies.

ANNE C. EARHART

Laguna Beach

* Apodaca’s amusing May 2 column was typical build-and-pave extremist hypocrisy.

The only real cause of a deterioration of the quality of life in Orange County is development, plain and simple. Well, that and Southern Californians’ stubborn, mindless insistence on private automobiles, usually with only the driver, for mass transportation.

It never seems to dawn on anyone that all the widened and added-to and even additional freeways, and the toll roads, will eventually become saturated with growing traffic.

Why is light rail transportation and excellent bus service not touted? You guessed it! They don’t cut into a yet undeveloped land allowing for even more!

So, Apodaca and the build-and-pave extremists are terrified that their quality of life may be endangered.

Let’s fervently hope that it is.

WALLACE W. WOOD, JR.

Costa Mesa