Council is right on toll road

You could feel a sense of urgency right away in the City Council meeting as men, women and children crowded the room. A little more positive energy began to flow each time another walked in.

Sure, there was the same old budget stuff and an important update regarding repair costs in the Bluebird slide area. However, I can safely say that just about everyone came in support of agenda item No. 15.

Members of the anti-toll road coalition (many of whom were wearing green badges that read “toll road” crossed out with the infamous diagonal line) came in one by one -- young and old -- in support of a resolution previously passed by both the State Parks Commission and the City of Oceanside to oppose any route of the 241 toll road that would pass through or affect San Onofre State Beach.

It was a special night not only for the public but also for our City Council, which does have an extremely hard job to do. The council took a straw vote before hearing the speakers, then voted unanimously 4-0 to a chorus of cheers -- while the mayor sat this one because of personal conflict.

Councilwoman Toni Iseman gave a spirited speech afterward that rallied people even more in getting behind such an important issue and to continue the good fight in saving our state parks and land.

We do not need another toll road. We need more state parks and cobblestone beaches in this world for you and I and for generations of children to enjoy. This is the American dream -- to have such special places for our children to safely play in.

This toll road is not about progress. It is unfathomable that greedy developers have the audacity to threaten such a sacred area. If our state parks aren’t immune from such greed, then what is?

Perhaps environmental committee member Arnold Hano said it best: “Take your toll road and shove it.”

Peace.

* James Pribram is a Laguna Beach native, board member of Clean Water Now, professional surfer and founder of the Aloha School of Surfing. He can be reached at [email protected].

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