Tuesday, November 12, 2013

OCTA Board Kicks The Can Down The (Toll) Road

"HOT" TIME AT THE OCTA BOARD MEETING
In what was reported to be another raucous meeting last Friday on the proposed plan to impose two High Occupancy Toll (HOT) lanes on the driving public on the I-405 from Costa Mesa to the Los Angeles County Line, the Orange County Transportation Board decided to defer a vote on the issue until their meeting on December 9th.

 (The dreaded Alternate #3)
TWO EXCELLENT REPORTS
I did not attend the meeting, but Nick Gerda of the Voice of OC provided an excellent report of the proceedings, HERE.  And, if you're looking for a report of the event with a little more "spice", try Vern Nelson's take on the meeting in his Orange Juice Blog entry, HERE.

RIGHEIMER RANTS
Both of the accounts mention comments by our mayor, Jim Righeimer, and quote other politicians, too.  Both are worth a read. 

STALLING FOR TIME...
I suspect the members of the OCTA Board who are inclined to vote to move forward with the HOT lane concept may think the December meeting - with holidays, not toll roads, in most of our minds - might make for a "kinder, gentler" meeting at which they could impose their will on us with fewer angry residents there to oppose them.  Righeimer as much as promised to "pack the place" on December 9th.

KEEPING THE PRESSURE ON...
So, the beat goes on and representatives of the corridor cities who oppose the HOT lane concept will keep the pressure on the Board.  And, we can also participate by going to the Costa Mesa web site, HERE, and write to each of the board members to express your views.

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Friday, October 25, 2013

LAKE (Costa)FOREST(Mesa)

ANOTHER BIG STORY FROM THE VOICE OF OC
In case you missed it, Nick Gerda over at the Voice of OC had an interesting piece yesterday about Peter Herzog, a councilman down in Lake Forest who threw a hissy fit and resigned.  That's pretty big news, but the bigger news is the letter he left behind.  You can read Nick's piece HERE, and the fascinating letter HERE.


SOUNDS TOO FAMILIAR
As you read down through Herzog's letter I suspect you'll get the uneasy feeling that this sounds all too familiar - and way, way too close to home.  Apparently, such is life among the political players within my Republican party.  Sigh....

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