241 Extension
We all suffer through traffic congestion and understand how it can choke our economic growth and degrade our quality of life.
One long-planned project,to extend the Foothill (241) Toll Road from Oso Parkway to the I-5 Freeway near San Clemente,will provide significant traffic relief. It will be a relief valve for the I-5 through South County, as well as a vital economic corridor, facilitating movement throughout L.A., San Diego and Riverside counties.
That’s why commuters and businesspeople alike should be outraged by the recent misguided actions of two members of an Assembly budget subcommittee. They approved disastrous language that would essentially take local control away from Orange County and prevent plans to complete the 241 from moving forward.
Ironically, at a time when our governor and state lawmakers have put rebuilding highways at the center of the agenda, a few in Sacramento are trying to stop a highway project that doesn’t require state taxpayer dollars or state bond money.
The Foothill/Eastern toll road board, of which I am a member, voted unanimously to oppose this power-grab and to ask that all state representatives stand up to preserve local control.
Peter Herzog
Councilman
Lake Forest
The Tunnel
I agree with Irvine Mayor Beth Krom’s Inland Empire economic development concept (“Irvine Mayor: Build Jobs, Not Tunnel” story, May 8).
In fact, I recently encouraged Riverside County’s CEO and some of the board members to launch a major economic development effort to create more jobs in their county. They have indicated that they intend on doing just that.
Regarding a tunnel: Laguna Beach would not be able to handle the weekend summer traffic it would generate in our little city if a tunnel were built that dumped onto the 133 Freeway/Laguna Canyon Road.
Elizabeth Pearson-Schneider
Mayor
Laguna Beach
Measure A
In the quest to lure large tax revenue-generating businesses, many local governments in California and around the country have abused the power of eminent domain, using it to take land from one private owner to give to another, often a larger business.
Nearly a year ago the U.S. Supreme Court gave its blessing to such municipal land grabs in its now-infamous Kelo decision. Economic growth is desirable, but not at the expense of individual liberty.
The only silver lining is that Kelo has been received as such an affront to private property rights that Republicans and Democrats alike have voiced outrage ever since.
Here at home, the Orange County Board of Supervisors acted unanimously to place an initiative, Measure A, on the June ballot. It allows the use of eminent domain only for public purposes and forbids the taking of private property for the benefit of another private party.
We in Orange County have a chance to serve as an example to others around the country who will be taking up this same fight. A statewide ballot initiative is likely this November.
A word of caution: Because it is perceived to be such a widely supported initiative, leaders in this cause have found it difficult to raise enough funds to mount much of a campaign on its behalf,traditional contributors are focusing on other races.
While this sentiment is understandable on the surface, it risks leaving open an opportunity for a large contributor on the other side to defeat Measure A at the last moment.
This initiative is simply too important to let that happen. To protect private property rights, visit www.SupportMeasureA.org and consider contributing to this cause.
David Luzuriaga
(Luzuriaga, of Ladera Ranch, is a member of the Lincoln Club of Orange County and a board member of the Yes on A Committee.)
Tax Revenue
State income tax payments reached record levels in April, helping to produce more than $3.5 billion in revenue above budget projections.
This surge shows once again that California’s tax structure produces more revenue faster than any tax increase. When the state economy improves, California’s tax structure is a money machine for the general fund. Those seeking to increase taxes in the Legislature or through the initiative process will not produce the revenue that can be realized by encouraging economic investment and growth.
Larry McCarthy
President
California Taxpayers’ Association
Sacramento
New Wounds
Thank you, Dr. Glueck for pointing out the horrible truth about this Iraq War (“New Wounds” April 24 Viewpoint).
While the death rate is relatively low (although 2,400 Americans dead for no good reason is a sin), the continuing tragedy is the 24,000 severely maimed Americans that will live with this war for the rest of their lives.
Worse, this administration has continued to cut the needed funding for veterans and the VA hospital system. Vote out any congressperson, regardless of party, who does not support full funding of the VA.
Ed St. Amour
Mesa Verde
Desperate Hubbies
In his May 9 “Desperate Hubbies” letter, Desperate Doc says an old guy needs $250 million for a 20-year-old woman or $100 million for a 30-year-old?
The doctor has been under lock and key too long. I live in the battle zone and it doesn’t cost that much.
Tech Exec
Balboa Peninsula
(Real name withheld because the writer says he is engaged and wants to remain so.)
