Lou Correa's Quiet Opposition To Completing The 241
Posted by: Jubal | 04/02/2008 8:30 PM
You may not know it, but Sen. Lou Correa strongly opposes completing the 241 toll road.True, it is Rep. Loretta Sanchez is the OC legislator who has garnered the attention -- and just criticism -- for her efforts to kill the 241 completion: a politically curious position considering the 47th Congressional District isn't a hot-bed of environmental activism. That strain runs more strongly through affluent districts where residents can afford to be no-growth environmentalists.
Yet Sen. Lou Correa -- who represents many of the same union households as Loretta -- also opposes completing the 241. He''s just been quiet about it.
During January's California Coastal Commission hearing on the 241, the various commissioners had to declare their ex parte communications on the issue.
Commissioner Larry Clark described his being lobbied by Sen. Correa:
On the 24th of January, and again on the 4th of February, I received telephone calls from Senator Lou Correa, from the 34th Senatorial District. Senator Correa conveyed this information to me, and position, his strong opposition for the 241 toll road extension project, making the following points, north Orange County expanded Interstate 5 several years ago to relieve traffic congestion, and it is now time for south Orange County to do the same. The 241 toll road extension is proposed to go through a state park that was created in mitigation for the San Onofre coastal development and impact. There are better transportation alternatives too the proposed 241 toll road extension. The toll road will significantly impact a state campground, Trestles Beach, and surfing off of Trestles Beach will be tremendously impacted by this project, and he recommended a vote of denial at the Commission meeting.It's South County's turn? I'm sure that's reassuring too the 1,200 property owners who'd be eminent domained to widen the 5. Maybe Sen. Correa could personally deliver the eminent domain notices, smile at the property owner and say, "Sorry! But better you than building a road near a mediocre camp ground. After all -- it's South County's turn!"
Commissioner Sara Wan (the avatar of the Pacific Pocket Mouse) was also lobbied by Lou:
I had another phone call that I initiated because Senator Correa had sent me an e-mail and asked me to call, and this was considerably later in the evening, and Senator Correa expressed his opposition to the project, asked me what he could do to help. I said the best thing he could do would be to try to remove the political pressure on Commissioners.Sara Wan is the same gal who accused TCA scientists of being "biased" -- unfazed by the irony of that accusation being leveled by someone who boasts in her Commission bio that she "co-founded Vote the Coast, which is a Political Action Committee dedicated to helping the election of coastal friendly candidates."
This begs the question of why Lou Correa has been working to stop the 241 completion? Environmentalism hasn't been one of his issues. Despite the millions spent by both side sin his razor-thin Senate victory, not a single mailer mentioned the environment.
Central OC Democrats run on bread-and-butter issues like jobs, hiking wages, improving education, etc. Completing the 241 means a lot of jobs for working people...like Correa's constituents.
One source I've talked to has asked Correa why he's opposing the 241, but Correa didn't give an explanation.
Several sources have said the source of Correa's stance is loyalty to 241 opponent and OC Democratic Party old bull Richard O'Neill, who has been a strong supporter of Lou's for a long time. Now that Dick O'Neill has made his pile plowing up the land to build houses, I guess it's time to save the Earth!
An explanation advanced by other sources is a desire to be on Loretta Sanchez's good side should she not run for re-election next year -- a move that would allow Correa to make a mid-term, free-ride run for Congress.
My analysis is it is probably both. Correa's stance is certainly at odds with the unions, which support completing the 241. Then again, Correa and the unions don't have the tightest of relationships. Lou didn't keep his promise to them to stay on the Board of Supervisors, and the unions back Tom Umberg over Lou in the 34th SD Democratic primary.
I think Correa's assistance in killing the 241 is example of what has led to the creation of a Labor Caucus within the Democratic Party of Orange County, and to OC unions mounting a year-round voter registration program under their control and independent of local Democrats like Sanchez and Correa. The 241 is a bread-and-butter issue to them: it means jobs for their members, for the people Sanchez and Correa represent and whose support Sanchez and Correa seek. Siding with the lefties, surfers and the coastal wine-and-cheese crowd over the central OC working folks doesn't sit well.
Well, maybe next time Sen. Correa has a district event, some constituent can ask him why he thinks jobs and infrastructure are less important than surfing at Trestles.
Thank you for the information. I was surprised to see him against the tollroad extension since he has actually used common sense on some issues in the past.
Maybe North Orange County widened the 5 freeway. But they also have the 405 freeway, the 22 freeway, and the 91 freeway. What does South Orange County have as an alternative route?
Correa might not toll the party line 100% and was locked out of his office by Don Perata, but a Democrat is still a Democrat.
It's a shame Lynn Daucher wasn't elected to the Senate.
South County, you can thank Otto Bade, Bruce Matthias, Steve Greenhut and all the naysayers who were against Lynn's candidacy.
Shame on you!
Do you have evidence Lou is opposed to the completion of the road, or just the route through the park? Please don't confuse the two.
Since every other "alternative route" is a pipe dream (especially crazy talk about running it through the Marine barracks - yeah right!) then opposing this route is equivalent to opposing completion of the 241.
Lou is smart enough to know that.
"It's a shame Lynn Daucher wasn't elected to the Senate."
Sorry to disagree, Kimbo. The shame was that we had Lynn "The Bulldozer" Daucher foisted on us by Ackerman, et al. Well she's doing fine up in Sacto representing seniors - for awhile, at least.
opposing this route is equivalent to opposing completion of the 241
Untrue. Talk to the consultants who prepared the studies for the route. Several alternatives were available, though each will cost the TCA more money.
Tell me which of the other routes the environmentalists would NOT have fought?
Tell me which of the other routes the environmentalists would NOT have fought?
Someone, somewhere will fight anything. Even chocolate. However, the opposition to the extension would have been insignificant, without funds, and utterly defeatable if the park route had not been chosen.
Let me repeat it: the money behind the enviros is money that's only interested in the park.
But back to the question: is there any proof that Correa is actually opposed to the extension, or simply to the route? I submit there is not and that attempts to paint him with this brush are partisan nonsensical bitterness.
I submit there is not and that attempts to paint him with this brush are partisan nonsensical bitterness.
I submit it is not. If Correa only opposed the "Green" route, then why didn't he communicate as much to these commissioners. If you're correct, he would have said "I think the 241 ought to be extended, but using one of the other routes the TCA identified."
Also, if he were only opposed to the park route, and not to the extension itself, then why did he make the "It's South County's turn to widen the 5" comment?
Correa's comments point to opposing extending the 241, not just opposition to a particular route.
I hope Greenhhut and other commentators keep this in mind next time they praise Correa as some kind of conservative Democrat.
why didn't he communicate as much to these commissioners.
All we have is a second-hand paraphrase of a conversation Lou had with someone. I hardly think that evidence he is opposed to the 241 extension. Did Matt or anyone else actually bother to talk to Lou? No. Lou's being tarred for something he didn't say because it suits the OC GOP agenda to do so.
Take my word for it. Lou's opposed to the route through the Park, not the extension of the 241.
It's not a "second-hand paraphrase." It's two commissioners disclosing, as they are required to, what Lou Correa told them.
But in the interest of fairness, I'll contact Lou Correa's office and ask if -- yes or no -- he favors completing the 241.
More proof that their is NO SUCH THING AS A MODERATE DEMOCRAT.
Thank you, Jubal. Please be sure to ask the correct question: does Lou oppose the extension of the toll road entirely, or does he simply oppose the route through the park? Asking if he "favors completing the 241" is not the same query.
Missy, every route that was studied impacts either
1. The inland portion of the Camp Pendleton land that is temporarily leased to the state
2. Homes in San Clemente
If you know of any route that was studied that doesn't impact either of those, please let us know what that is.
If you don't, please tell us which is your preference, a road through the inland portion of a leased state park, or bulldozing homes and businesses through San Clemente.
Jubal---I agree with Missy. Unless Lou has flipped(nothing surprises me anymore about anyone) the impression I had was that he supports the extension of 241 but not the TCA configuration through the San Onofre Park. His reported comments to two Coastal Commissioners opposing the proposed extension through the park are not inconsistent with such a position. In order to have a different configuration the Coastal Commission had to shoot down the dead on arrival version still being pushed with the same chance of sucess as the Prohibition Party. He did tell me that he supported some compromise that would involve completion of the 241 that would get agreement from the labor unions and environmentalists.
Have you had a chance to discuss this with him?
I doubt a constituent would ask Lou the question you posed and if they did Lou would respond that this is a red herring. I suspect he'd respond that there is no reason why we can't extend the 241 without going through the park by either a) reconfiguring the proposed extension around the Donna O'Neill Conservancy and a different route through camp Pendleton or b)creating a significantly larger park that would on balance be a net gain for the public and the environmental community even with the current route. I suspect Lou would say that the South County politicians are kowtowing to the NIMBY San Clemente folks who don't want to do the thing that will bring the most relief for north-South traffic--widen the I-5. Lou would likely say that the 241extension and the I-5 expansion are not mutually exclusive except in the world view of the weak kneed South County politicians and TCA consultants. And doing both means more union jobs for Lou's constituents. Constituents leave the meeting thinking lou is the next best thing since canned beer.
The reality is that the TCA is in a jam because of the lack of vision by their leadership and poor advice from their consultants. I know it is difficult for you Reds, Lucy, and the flacks hired to grease the pig to comprehend this but Lou and Loretta are two of your best chances to complete the 241. The sooner you accept this the sooner we can complete the job of finishing the County transportation master plan, widen the I-5, build a better park, and throw one hell of a party to celebrate afterwards.
Jubal--Part II On the political takes,
1) You're being unfair to Dick O'Neill. His nephew, Tony Moiso was the architect of most of the homes you speak of. Dick would have preferred that most of the ranch stay the way it was for decades. RJO is upset the route decides to carve through the Donna O'neill Conservancy--but he's not alone in concern for this little mentioned environmental hit by the proposed route.
2) Beware of sources who may have an axe to grind against Lou. Lou's position isn't rocket science--try to make this a win win if at all possible. The concretos have little or no concern for the park--Lou's constituents probably go to the park. If he can get a better park and an extension to boot in a tandem with Loretta, he's done his job and that of the his GOP colleagues who can't seem to think out of the box on this one. Which is more then the South County crowd who consider leadership sending out lame press releases.
3) Labor is not changing some of its tactical approaches in reaction to Lou and Loretta's positions on the 241. The 241 only affect the building trades, just one part(albeit important) of the OC labor scene. The service unions are either against the proposed 241 extension don't give a hoot. Labor is shifting its emphasis away from giving all its money to candidates to spending a good chunk of its money in direct communication to its membership and the community at large. Labor's interests are not always the same interest as the Democrats(usually, but not always). So its a good thing for labor to flex some independent muscle, just as its a good thing Lou and Loretta flex their independent muscle(speaking of muscle, can you post that shot of Loretta on the firing range again?)
This is something a long time coming, long before the 241 issues came up. And the voter registration is being done this way because they can use different funds because its a non-partisan effort. Labor has some issues with Lou, but what Democratic-alligned interest group doesn't?