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June 28, four members of the San Diego City Council's Natural Resources and Culture Committee voted to recommend the adoption of a resolution by the City of San Diego in support of San Onofre State Park
by Serge Dedina
01/07/2006:// The State Park, which includes the famed Trestles surf break is under development threat by a toll road proposed by the Orange County Transportation Cooridor Agency. The issue will be brought in front of the entire San Diego City Council next month (date to be determined). Already, city councils across California, from San Francisco to Imperial Beach, have passed similar resolutions, recognizing that this is an issue of state-wide importance. The four committee members, Donna Frye, Ben Hueso, Toni Atkins, and Kevin Faulconer, all voted in favor of the resolution.
Speaking to the City Council committee in support of the resolution were representatives from WiLDCOAST, Surfrider Foundation, California State Parks Foundation, Sierra Club, California Audubon Society, and the Endangered Habitats League. Brittany McKee of the Sierra Club stressed the dangerous precedent that would be set for State parks across California and the Nation if a toll road were to be approved through a state park. Bill Hickman of the San Diego Surfrider Association briefed the Committee on the surfing and recreational resources, that so many San Diegans use, that would be threatened by the development. Speaking to the Committee, Ben McCue, of WiLDCOAST, addressed the concerns of the council members that the issue is outside of their jurisdiction.
“This is a project that would effect thousands of your constituents. To many San Diegans, San Onofre State Park is one of the most invaluable natural resources we have in San Diego County. During the summer months the beach at Trestles is packed and the campground is filled to capacity with San Diegans.
In south San Diego Count, the majority of families don’t have the luxury to go on expensive eco-adventures to Costa Rica or Hawaii. Instead many vacation at San Onofre State Park, to enjoy unspoiled nature, world-class waves, and pristine water quality. The toll road through San Onofre State Beach threatens the only undeveloped coastal area many working-class San Diego families can afford to visit. This is fundamentally an issue of environmental justice. We can’t allow the destruction of a public resource in exchange for a pay-to-drive toll road. Furthermore, our beaches in south San Diego County are notorious for having poor water quality, with hundreds of beach closure days registered annually. San Onofre State Park represents a welcome respite from our daily reality of polluted water. Our families have already lost two state beaches in San Diego County to pollution. We cannot afford to lose another.”
Before the resolution vote next month, the San Diego City Council will be looking to measure their constituents’ support of the issue. Speaking on their decision, the Natural Resources and Culture Committee underscored the importance of a public response in reaching the other members of the City Council before the vote. Unfortunately, the other members are not known for being as environmentally friendly as the four on the Natural Resources and Culture Committee.
If you wish to contact the San Diego City Council with comments as to why you believe they should support the resolution be sure to include why you believe saving San Onofre State Park and Trestles Beach is relevant to San Diegans.
You can reach them using the following contact information:
Council President Scott Peters, District 1 202 C Street, MS #10A ?San Diego, CA 92101 ?Telephone: (619) 236-6611 ?Fax: (619) 236-6999 ?Email: ScottPeters@sandiego.gov
Councilman Tony Young, District 4 202 C Street, San Diego, CA 92101, MS-10A ?Phone: (619) 236-6644 ?Fax: (619) 236-7273 Email: anthonyyoung@sandiego.gov
Councilman Brian Maienschein, District 5 202 C Street, San Diego, CA 92101 Telephone: (619) 236-6655 Fax: (619) 238-0915 Email: bmaienschein@sandiego.gov
Councilman Jim Madaffer, District 7 202 C Street, San Diego, CA 92101 Phone: 619-236-6677 Fax: (619) 238-1360 Email: jmadaffer@sandiego.gov
*NOTE: Before the meeting, Ben McCue talked briefly with Donna Frye, Chair of the Committee and a proven ocean defender, on south San Diego water quality issues. McCue gave the councilwoman a stack of Clean Water Now! stickers and praised her for her activism fighting for our oceans. During the Committee meeting Ms. Frye distributed the stickers to the other Council members. Without hesitation, Councilman Ben Hueso of district 8 put his sticker on his binder, displaying his support for the cause. Check our website at www.wildcoast.net for photo proof that WiLDCOAST's guerrilla Clean Water Now!!! campaign is gaining momentum.
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