Memo To Cassie DeYoung: Read This Post

I came across this excellent commentary on the El Toro Airport site about emotionalism being fomented by the Cassie DeYoung campaign regarding plans for a Santa Ana Mountains tunnel:

I was (and I suppose, still am) a member of the OC grass roots campaign that killed planning for OCX. I had my economic views as did many. I did not want flights over my homes in Lake Forest and San Clemente to be a nuisance and lower my property values. But I was also upset that the public was being fed a load of BS time and again about how our OC economy was doomed without an OCX, how the El Toro cleanup would bankrupt us, how JWA just could not handle the air traffic demand, etc. etc. in order to spin the proponent’s desired public response. Much of the drivel being shoveled was for personal or political interests as opposed to the edification of the masses. Such is the way in our great Country and the reason one should try to inform themselves vs. being spoon-fed information by glossy political flyers or our media. But it seems to be dejavu all over again building up on the Cajalco Road tunnel issue.

The first “emotional” shot has been fired by Cathryn DeYoung as she runs for the 5th District Supervisor seat by sending out flyers saying “STOP THEM” and warning that 100,000 more cars will drive through OC because of the tunnel. Look, people from outside OC will drive through OC to get to work in OC and those going to the beach will most likely take the longer routes and not pay the toll. There will be more cars in the OC’s future due to the homes and commercial buildings being built in OC – that’s normal growth, but not because of the tunnel. If she doesn’t want more people driving to OC to work she’ll have to stop businesses from coming to the OC and move the ocean.

I also caught Ms. DeYoung on the OC Insider show today with moderator Rick Reiff speaking against the tunnel by first stating her qualifications on the issue (she spent time on the OCTA.) But when asked three times what she suggests a good alternative to the 91 Freeway would be - she had no response. Moderator Reiff finally had to move on to another question.

Finally, from Cathryn DeYoung's web site:

“Up to 120,000 Riverside Commuters per day would come through this tunnel and head north, jamming the 133, I-5 and 405 freeways. The simple fact is that most Riverside Commuters have to reach jobs that are north of the 91. Creating multi-billion dollar projects to route them through south Orange County will only make traffic worse. The third major option in the study, increasing the capacity of the 91 freeway, could actually make traffic better and deserves serious consideration.“

Now, it’s interesting to know that someone who spent six years on SCAG and two years on OCTA working on our transportation needs can’t read a map. If someone has to drive to north of the 91 Freeway to work – this is a mute point as the tunnel is no help. Last time I looked the cities to the north of the 91 were Compton, Paramount, Cerritos, Fullerton, and Yorba Linda. But let’s even move the bar down a look at the cities north of the “22” Freeway.

Take a look for yourself on the map below (or pull up a map quest of Tustin, Ca to see the same map being described) …you’ll find the proposed tunnel runs from Cajalco Road (on this map it’s the east-west grey colored road south of El Cerrito on the 15 Freeway that runs past Lake Mathews to the east) taking a "SOUTH-WEST" route to the 241/133 Toll Roads.

Now, the majority of travelers today still refuse or cannot afford to pay for traveling the 91 Toll Road to the 55 Freeway or the 241 Toll Road to Irvine, so someone please tell me where she gets it in her head that people will want to pay a toll through the tunnel to end up at the 241/133 toll area only to have to back track up the 5/405 Freeways even if they worked north of the 22/91 Freeways? Traffic will be reduced on the 91 Freeway by those traveling the tunnel directly to job centers in Irvine / Tustin / Lake Forest / Foothill Ranch / etc. It does not make logical sense for those heading north to use the tunnel.

Unfortunately it seems to me Ms. DeYoung is disseminating emotional based drivel like OCX proponents tried to feed us just to get emotional support for her election or to back her special interests. That’s unfortunate – especially since we had enough of that BS during the El Toro debate. Now I don’t know her and I don’t criticize her judgment for any particular cause of my own. The tunnel does not affect me. In fact, I do agree with her assessment that making Ortega Highway the main corridor and sending travelers north to Irvine is not a good suggestion – it’s why the tunnel makes more sense where it’s suggested. I just hope this issue does not turn into the same mailer based PR pitch we had to endure with El Toro.

Finally, while perusing the net, I found another reason to put the tunnel at Cajalco Road is that Riverside County is already planning to widen Cajalco Road through to San Jacinto to provide access to that area as well. So those driving from Moreno Valley / San Jacinto to jobs in Irvine will have access through Corona, using the tunnel without having to get on the 91 Freeway at all. Go to http://www.midcountyparkway.org/ for more info. Please share your logic.

Comments

[MrWhipple]

If someone has to drive to north of the 91 Freeway to work – this is a mute point as the tunnel is no help.

The correct word is "moot," not "mute."

I see this error all over the place and it bugs the crap out of me.

Just wanted to get that off my chest.

[DR]

Hey Whipple:

You need to squeeze the Charmin a little more often. It helps calm the nerves when you see the word mute used instead of moot.

But, I agree that fracturing of the English language should be forbidden in all posts. Especially on a quality blog such as this one.

Keep up the good work.

What kills me is when educated folks (and I've even heard newscasters do this) pronounce the silent 'T' in "Often." Hellloooo, it's silent!!

Litte makes me go from interested listener to thinking, "You're ignorant" faster.

Oh-sorry, probably the incorrect forum for rants on English. Besides, I have my own English usage problem areas.

Traffic issues between OC and IE will not end. They will continue to worsen in OC as El Toro, Ladera, Talega, and the rest of O'neill gets built out. Not to mention as Fallbrook and North San Diego County move closer. God help us if the Feds ever close down Pendleton and all that becomes available for development!

While I think traffic in both OC and IE will continue to increase, I believe the number of commuters between the two counties will lessen as those in IE find work closer to home and as businesses relocate to attract the IE labor or to acquire additional lands and buildings.

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