CRAIG KESHISHIAN, San Clemente
As part of my “continuing education” program of deciphering politicians, I respectfully offer this counterpoint.
First, swapping out one ambitious agency in order to deal with another (OCTA/Caltrans) is said to be in our best interests, when, in reality, it may not. Let me explain why Councilman James’ arguments crumble under their own weight.
Now, our Caltrans and OCTA friends have basically unlimited resources, given they are fueled by state and local gas-tax dollars and federal grants. In short, they can basically do what they want, when they want to do it. To wit, just take note of the very short window they offered us for “public commentary” to their “scoping” (another hackneyed word) plans, a few weeks at the peak of the summer months.
Heck, I have laundry in my hamper that’s been sitting longer than that. Now, according to James, we need to rely upon the “next phase” of the process to assess. If you think this agency is going to patiently listen to local political “advice,” you stand a better chance of sighting Tarzan living in your palm tree.
Don’t take my word for it; check out the concrete mill they already set up near Hermosa. Mind you, Caltrans helped build California, and this is not a slap at them. They build great roads; that’s what they do.
Expecting them to do it quietly, with “limited noise,” is like asking Mike Tyson to please hit you “gently” while sparring with him. Furthermore, I don’t see how the councilman can even call this ambitious, two-lane widening even “reasonable” when there is no patently obvious need, especially when it terminates at county line.
Finally, the councilman’s heed to monitor nefarious “out of town” political contributions might sound noble, but one of the architects of this “cooperative plan” received so many contributions from “out of town” developers and construction groups that you can hold a building trades convention just by inviting the donor list.
