Posted on 03/21/2008 4:42:53 PM PDT by NormsRevenge
SACRAMENTO - In his first direct responses, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger defended dumping his brother-in-law Bobby Shriver and actor Clint Eastwood from the state Parks and Recreation Commission - a step critics allege was taken in retaliation for their opposition to a six-lane toll road through San Onofre State Park.
Led by Shriver and Eastwood, the appointed and unpaid commission has been an outspoken opponent of the toll road, claiming that super highways have no place in state parks. There also are worries that it could irreparably damage a renowned surfing area called Trestles.
In an interview with the Orange County Register newspaper Thursday, Schwarzenegger dismissed claims that the firings were based on the commission's position against the toll road, which the governor supports.
Nevertheless, the governor made it clear he believes in building the project. He is quoted as saying:
"But the fact of the matter is we believe very strongly in infrastructure and I believe very strongly that we have to rebuild California and I believe very strongly that ultimately public-private partnerships are really an additional way of getting there .... Those that think we should not build a road through a park or through a mountain just look around, just look at the map. Every road goes through some mountain or some land ... or along the beach or along somewhere."
The parks commission has no authority over the project, but had loudly spoken out, supporting a lawsuit to block it and urging the Coastal Commission to turn down the proposal. The commission did just that, but Orange County toll road interests are appealing.
Shriver, brother of the governor's wife, Maria Shriver, and Eastwood, a Republican and former mayor of Carmel, were told earlier this week that they would be denied a third, four-year term. Aaron McLear, a spokesman for the governor, said it's "more common than not" to make changes once terms expires on hundreds of state boards.
This is not the governor's first controversy involving parks. Most recently, he proposed a tightened state budget that would temporarily close 48 parks and slice half of the lifeguards from Southern California beaches, including at state beaches in San Diego County.
As for the charges he removed them for political reasons, Schwarzenegger told the newspaper:
"Well, this is their version. My version is that they served their four-year terms and they've served the state of California really well and now it's time to change and let other people that are very excited about being on this commission to be part of this."
It’s good to be king.
“conan” fires “dirty harry”
The GW Parkway is in a national park - and actually, it goes right by FT Marcy Park.
You know, the park where the Clintons dump bodies.
I hadn’t heard about this proposal. However....
Given his usual pro-enviro stance and the horrid 24hr, 365 day traffic congestion in that area, I suspect the Gov. must have very strong and valid reasons to support the development of this road.
This state will allow all the roads to grind into total gridlock unless someone decides to develop infastructure.
This is not a public highway. This is a private highway. It will do little to reduce congestion on the public right-a-way once the toll is raised to what the traffic can bear. It's chief benefit is to the Austrian's campaign donor who got the exclusive rights.
More toll roads. Just great. Because we don’t pay enough in gas taxes and other fees.
I was just in New York. Toll roads everywhere. You can’t drive 10 minutes without paying through the nose. Coming soon to CA...
in California, we build roads so that we can approve projects that will cause congestion on those roads. :-)
Good for Arnold. San Onofre State Park is beach scrub. The beach is still protected, but where the freeway goes is just scrub. I’m glad he dumped these guys. It is such a bottleneck down there. Probably protecting some grub or something.
My money’d be on Clint any day...
I need to do a little research, I was on the beach back in my Marine days and had a cousin that surfed there... and traveled to the nuclear plants a few times some years later. scrub does come to mind in that area.
I can remember traffic being intense from way back when.
It’s beautiful down there — the ocean is majestic, the mountains behind are beautiful. But it is NOT the depths of Montana or Yosemite or anything. Let the people drive through and enjoy it.
And yes, the surf is awesome.
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