Readers who caught the previous post on the phenomenal response to the TCA's 241 toll road mailer might be curious to see the mailer itself. it's worth examining, because it's symptomatic of the more aggressive stance the TCA has been adopting of late: less muted and bureaucratic, more willing to call a spade a spade.

Here's the mailer, produced by Bieber Communications:



It's a departure from past advocacy, as it takes the offensive in establishing the real issue of the so-called "Save Trestles" campaign: discouraging access to a public beach in an attempt to keep it 'exclusive.'
The response was phenomenal, not only in the number of returns but in the amount of lengthy handwritten return cards that were very vocal in their scorn for the opponents of the 241 extension. Some were literally pleading for traffic relief.

The mailer is the first time the Surfrider Foundation et al have had their agenda exposed on such a wide public scale. It clearly defines the issue as more than garden variety "NYMBYism." The "Save Trestles" campaign -- at least as far as the Trestles types are concerned -- is about exclusivity and preventing the access of the beach by anyone but "hard core" surfers,and the surf industry who hold events.

It was also the first time many actually saw a map showing that the 241 completion doesn't touch Trestles as it connects to the 5 freeway.