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241 Toll Road, Then and Now Last month, the Transportation Corridor Agency ran into more road blocks, including California Attorney General Kamala Harris’ lawsuit. She charged that the Tesoro Extension isn’t an independent project but rather “a dead-end road to nowhere.” The lawsuit says the real purpose is to pave the way for a 16-mile extension linking the 241 to the I-5. To build the project in segments violates state environmental law, and the proposed extension would make sense only if it were part of a longer route connecting with I-5 near the beach, something the California Coastal Commission has already vetoed. The TCA denies that it has any plans to extend the toll road to the beach. However, toll road supporters spoke openly in 2011 about completing the road in piecemeal fashion, including Councilman Frank Ury’s statement from the dais during a council meeting. The OC Register included a map in an article on 10-6-11 about building the road in segments http://www.ocregister.com/articles/road-320730-san-connect.html “Orange County toll road advocates are proposing a new, segmented strategy that would initially extend the 241 corridor four miles to the vicinity of Ortega Highway and ultimately connect the thoroughfare to the I-5. Also note the OCR article quotes TCA spokeswoman Lisa Telles, “What is now proposed is a plan to complete the environmental assessments, preliminary engineering and development of a finance plan to construct the initial segment while work continues on identifying an alignment for the remainder of the project to connect to I-5.” |
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Scary Political Insight Scary. Read the Capital Research Center article titled "The Blueprint," which exposes the liberal effort to create a permanent progressive majority. They have their sights set to convert Texas, North Carolina and Arizona into blue states. http://capitalresearch.org/2013/07/the-blueprint-how-the-left-hopes-to-capture-america/ |
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Non-government Events Following is a sampling of events and activities that are not funded by taxpayers or promoted by the Nanny State. Please support private enterprise and non-profit groups. La Vida Drum Circle, Mon., July 22, 7:00 – 10:00 p.m., group meets on the evening of every full moon (Mon., July 22, Tues., Aug. 20, Thurs., Sept. 19, etc.). Drummers should bring their drums. Firewood is appreciated for the bonfire, Aliso Beach, Aliso and Coast Highway, Laguna Beach, (949) 275-7544, http://www.lavidalaguna.com/things-we-dig/ Art, Jazz, Wine and Chocolate Tasting, Thurs., July 25, 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Thursdays through Aug. 29 (Aug. 1,8, 15, 22 and 29), featuring Kendall-Jackson wines and XAN Confections chocolates, $15 with Festival of Arts admission, 650 Laguna Canyon Road, Laguna Beach, (800) 487-3378, http://www.foapom.com/ Mariners Church concert on Sat., July 27, Tyrone Wells will perform following the 5:00 p.m. service. Mariners Church, 5001 Newport Coast /drive, Irvine (949) 769-8100, http://www.marinerschurch.org Music Under the Stars, Sat., Aug. 3, 6:30 p.m., Mission San Juan Capistrano, series of concerts – all on Saturdays – Aug. 3, 17 and 31. Concert gates open at 5:30 p.m. Music begins at 6:30 p.m. and ends at 9:30 p.m. (949), 234-1315, http://www.missionsjc.com Concerts at Lake Mission Viejo on Saturdays: Dennis DeYoung on Aug. 3, Michael Bolton on Aug. 17 and Rock Under the Radar: Delta Rae on Aug. 31. Concerts begin at 7:00 p.m. and are limited to lake association members and their guests. Call or visit the website for information, 949-770-1313, ext. 311, or http://www.lakemissionviejo.org Laguna Playhouse presents “I Do! I Do!” through Aug. 11, 606 Laguna Canyon Rd., Laguna Beach, (949) 497-2787, ext. 1, http://www.lagunaplayhouse.com Student Art Show, “Buoyant Conclusions of the Future,” Concordia University, through Aug. 16, John and Linda Friend Art Gallery, 1530 Concordia West, Irvine, (949) 854-8002, http://www.cui.edu/aboutcui/campus Recycling Drive at St. Kilian’s Church, Sat., Aug. 17, 7:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon, held on the third Saturday of each month. Organized by Knights of Columbus; acceptable items include aluminum, paper and plastic. No glass or cardboard. Lower parking lot, 26872 Estanciero Drive, Mission Viejo, (949) 472-1249, http://www.stkilianchurch.org Pageant of the Masters through Aug. 31, “The Big Picture,” 650 Laguna Canyon Road, Laguna Beach, (800) 487-3378, http://www.foapom.com/ Sawdust Art & Craft Festival, 10:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. daily through Sept. 1, 935 Laguna Canyon Road, Laguna Beach, (949) 494-3030, http://www.sawdustartfestival.com/ Soka University concert, Wed., Sept. 21, 8:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m., Los Angeles Guitar Quartet. Soka Performing Arts Center, 1 University Drive, Aliso Viejo, (949) 480-4278, http://www.performingarts.soka.edu |
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Political and Government Events Calendar Orange County Board of Supervisors will hold a regular meeting on Tues., July 23, 9:30 a.m., Board Hearing Room, First Floor, 333 W. Santa Ana Blvd., Santa Ana, (714) 834-3100. http://ocgov.com/cals/?ViewBy=7&CalDate=1/15/2013&EventDateID=89649 Santa Margarita Water District Board of Directors will meet on Wed., July 24, at 7:00 p.m., 26111 Antonio Parkway, Rancho Santa Margarita, (949) 459-6420, http://www.smwd.com Capistrano Unified School District Board of Trustees will meet on Wed., July 24, 7:00 p.m., district office, 33122 Valle Road, San Juan Capistrano. Agenda and supporting documentation are published on the website 72 hours prior to a meeting, (949) 234-9200, http://capousd.ca.schoolloop.com/ Nixon Library concert on Sun., July 28, soprano Sally Curry. Doors open at 1:30 and the concert begins at 2:00 p.m. “Meet President Thomas Jefferson” at the Nixon Library on Tues., July 30, 10:30 a.m. to 12:00 noon. 18001 Yorba Linda Blvd., Yorba Linda, (714) 364-1120, http://nixonfoundation.org Saddleback Valley Unified School District regular board meeting “if necessary” on Tues., July 30, 6:30 p.m., (third Tuesday due to 4th of July holiday), 25631 Peter Hartman Way, Mission Viejo, (949) 586-1234, http://www.svusd.k12.ca.us/ Mission Viejo Chapter of ACT! for America will have a potluck dinner in August instead of a general meeting. The dinner will be held on Sat., Aug. 3, 4:00 p.m., at the Laguna Woods clubhouse room, Dining Room 3. Due to the event being held in a privately owned facility, attendees should RSVP prior to July 31 by emailing Chapter President Bruce Mayall at ACT.MV@cox.net with the number in your party. Moulton Niguel Water District meetings: Personnel and Salary on Wed., Aug. 7; Engineering and Operations on Mon., Aug. 12, 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.; Finance and Information Technology on Wed., Aug. 14, 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.; Board of Directors on Thurs., Aug. 15, 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., MNWD Main Office, 27500 La Paz Road, Laguna Niguel, (949) 831-2500, http://mnwd.com/board-of-directors-2/ OC Veterans Advisory Council, Wed., Aug. 14, 6:00 p.m. The council meets on the second Wednesday of each month. Veterans Service Office, Conference Room A/B, 1300 S. Grand Ave., Building B, Santa Ana, https://cms.ocgov.com/gov/occr/occs/veterans/advisory/default.asp SOC912 General Meeting, Fri., Aug. 16, 7:00 p.m. SOC912 meets on third Fridays. Norman P. Murray Community Center, 24932 Veterans Way, Mission Viejo, http://www.meetup.com/SOC912/ |
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The Buzz, 7-20-13 On Oct. 13, 2012, Pres. Obama boasted: “[W]e refused to throw in the towel and do nothing. We refused to let Detroit go bankrupt. I bet on American workers and American ingenuity and three years later that bet is paying off in a big way.” July 18, 2013: Really? *** A city watchdog forwarded the following information about the special meeting of the Mission Viejo City Council on July 22: “At the last council meeting, the city council rejected staff’s recommendations to hire All City Management Services for its school crossing guard services. This rejection by the council, with the concurrence of the city attorney, was based on statements by both the employees and management. They said that under the terms of the new contract, they could not guarantee safety protocols. Consequently, the contract with ACMS was soundly rejected, and Monday’s meeting is to award the contract to American Guard Services. The second item on the agenda is to host an ITF Wheelchair Tennis Tournament at no cost to the city.” *** Mission Viejo Chapter of ACT! for America will have a potluck dinner on Sat., Aug. 3, 4:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., at the Laguna Woods clubhouse. Attendees should RSVP prior to July 31 by emailing Chapter President Bruce Mayall at ACT.MV@cox.net with the number of people they will bring. Bruce adds: “Instead of our formal chapter meeting in August, we're having an informal potluck social in Laguna Woods, Clubhouse 2, where there are dining room and kitchen facilities available. There is also a patio with a pleasant view just outside to the east, which will be in the shade at that time of day.” Family and friends of ACT members are welcome to attend. *** Blog reader comment: “There was a large ad in the Orange County Register on July 13 to attract potential buyers to affordable housing in Mission Viejo. The ad was placed by Lennar for their high-density condo project at Jeronimo and Los Alisos. Looks like Lennar cannot sell the units for lack of qualified buyers, even in this alleged housing boom. When the council approved this project more than five years ago, the developer arranged false testimony at council meetings. The developer was claiming the units would be filled with policemen, teachers and firemen. Those professionals don’t qualify because they make too much money. The developer also gave false hope to people with low or no incomes. Supposedly, getting a job at the new Target Store – mostly part-time jobs – would lead to buying one of the affordable units. By now, everyone should get it. The developer recently got the council majority to approve lowering the qualifications so more buyers would qualify, and the units are still not selling.” *** A county blogger asks, “Would you pay $80 to listen to the CEO of the embattled OC Toll Roads?” From the article: “Well this is a bit awkward. It is going to cost you as much as $80 to attend the Advancing Women in Transportation, Orange County Chapter’s “Welcome Reception Honoring Neil Peterson, CEO of the O.C. Transportation Corridor Agencies,” which is set for Wednesday, July 24, 2013 from 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm, at The Center Club, which is located at 650 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa. What is awkward about that? Well according to Bloomberg, the O.C. Transportation Corridor Agencies may default on $2.4 billion of bonds unless a planned restructuring takes place, according to a report from state Treasurer Bill Lockyer. Whoops! Will anyone attending this reception dare ask Peterson about that?” Read more, http://ocpoliticsblog.com/would-you-pay-80-to-listen-to-the-ceo-of-the-embattled-oc-toll-roads/ *** The decision last month to shut down the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station came after Southern California Edison’s extensive PR campaign to downplay problems and safety concerns. The PR campaign had occasional setbacks, including the publication of Huffington Post’s article with a photo: “Well, this doesn't look good. A shuttered California nuclear power plant's bid to reopen may have been dealt a blow -- in the minds of the public, at least -- with the publication of a picture that shows a leaky pipe being held together with masking tape, plastic bags and broom handles.” http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/05/02/san-onofre-leaky-pipe-fixed-tape-plastic-bag_n_3203289.html Last week, from Dana Point Times, July 18, “Edison Seeks to Hold Mitsubishi Responsible for Issues that Closed SONGS. Southern California Edison has taken the first step in attempting to recover funds from the manufacturer of the malfunctioning replacement equipment that ultimately led to the closure of the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station last month.” http://www.danapointtimes.com/2013/07/18/edison-seeks-to-hold-mitsubishi-responsible-for-issues-that-closed-songs/ Perhaps the information will now emerge with SCE taking aim at someone besides community members asking questions about safety. *** A watchdog’s email last week notes the finger-pointing between SCE and Mitsubishi: “Today, Edison and Mitsubishi argue via their lawyers: who screwed the pooch at SONGS? Why the catastrophic engineering SNAFU in redesigning the failed steam generators to the tune of billions of dollars lost when radioactive smoke clears in 30 years. Whose fault was it really? “Reading ongoing newspaper reports, screwing the pooch at SONGS was a shared effort. Edison wanted more and more tube-umph, and Mitsubishi refused to just say no. Fact of life: In every SNAFU, it takes two. Fonzi couldn't jump a shark that wasn't there, and solo SNAFUs are impossible. Today's blame game is the only game in town. But we know who screwed the pooch at SONGS. Edison & Mitsubishi jumped the shark together. “Simple math: It always takes two. Question: how many engineers, managers, boards of directors and CEOs does it take to create havoc at a nuclear facility? Answer: all of 'em.” Joe Holtzman |
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