I-405 Toll Road Scheme Townhall Tonight

FIGHTING THE I-405 TOLL ROAD!

Tonight, September 11, 2014, representatives six Orange County cities which form a coalition against the current scheme to create Toll Lanes on the I-405 Freeway from Costa Mesa to the Los Angeles County line will hold a town hall to gather input from the public on this plan.  The Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) Board of Directors will consider this proposal at their meeting on September 22nd.

6:00 P.M. AT THE NCC
This meeting will be held at the Costa Mesa Neighborhood Community Center, 1845 Park Avenue (Lions Park) and will commence at 6:00 p.m.  I suggest an early arrival if you plan to attend and make your views known because parking will be at a premium.  Perhaps one of the homeless folks that infest that area will offer valet parking.  Sorry - couldn't resist.

OFFICIALS WILL SPEAK
According to the press release on this meeting, which is reproduced below, in addition to elected officials from Costa Mesa, Fountain Valley, Huntington Beach, Los Alamitos, Seal Beach, Westminster and one from the Rossmoor community, it is anticipated that many other current and former elected officials will attend and offer their comments.  As I looked down that list I see several who are in the midst of campaigning for new jobs or to keep their current one, and some of them who will soon be out of a job.

ANOTHER CONVENIENT CAMPAIGN EVENT FOR THE MAYOR
Since this meeting is happening in Costa Mesa I fully expect Mayor Jim Righeimer to use this as yet another stop on his campaign for re-election.  If you attend, look around the room.  I'm sure you'll see many of his sycophants and hangers-on, ready to offer cheers as their guy speaks.

BAIT-AND-SWITCH
I make light of this issue, but it IS serious.  The folks at CalTRANS pulled the old bait-and-switch on us with this scheme and every city in the coalition will be negatively impacted by the change.  It's just unfortunate that this situation happens in the middle of campaign season, during what is certainly going to be one of the most contentious, nasty city council campaigns in recent memory.  It might be hard to sort the facts from campaign rhetoric tonight.

I AGREE WITH THE NEED FOR THIS MEETING
I agree with the need to speak out on this issue and to NOT turn that stretch of freeway, with High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lanes, into toll lanes that will, 1) severely hamper drivers from exiting the freeway to reach shopping venues in the corridor cities and, 2)  generate cash for CalTRANS to use elsewhere.  I hope you'll plan on attending and make your views known.  I'll be very interested in your take on the meeting if you attend.  Hope to see you there.

(click on image to enlarge)