A Call to Reject Toll Road Expansion

Regarding the proposed Foothill South toll road, which threatens to pave over prime natural habitat and pollute the pristine San Mateo Creek, we should consider that the high-growth movement, driven by developers and road-builders, has used a highly successful strategy for spurring development and roads.

First, high-growth proponents find a previously undeveloped parcel. Then, to acquire the roads needed to develop that land, they promote the idea of a looming transportation disaster. They call on sympathetic government officials to defeat or circumvent the spirit of environmental protection laws so that the roads can be built through protected habitat.

Having built their roads and the inevitable pastel-packaged communities, the comrades of high growth move on to the next undeveloped parcel, sounding the alarm for yet another looming transportation disaster.

Somewhere along the line, sustainable development must be assured, with an eye to protecting and preserving natural legacies for future generations, and that begins on the local level.

For the citizens of San Clemente, this requires a concerted effort to curtail the forces of development, and that begins by saying no to the Foothill South toll road.

Lorie Hawksley

San Clemente