Saturday, March 22, 2008

SEEING (RED) AT 7TH AND MONTANA ...!

    

Our Favorite City Councilman, Bobby Shriver, was seeing (RED) this morning -- and so was the rest of the crowd at 7th and Montana -- as news spread that both he and Actor Clint Eastwood have been removed from the California State Parks Commission based on their opposition to the construction of a toll-road through San Onofre State Beach.  For Shriver, the announcement came as a Double-Whammy given that it was engineered by his Brother-in-Law, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.  "One of Arnold's underlings called me 45-minutes before they put out the announcement," Bobby said.  "I called Arnold and told him this is going to backfire ... it's going to make the Toll-Road issue even bigger than it was."  While Schwarzenegger's Press Secretary tried to downplay the incident, telling reporters that "the Governor is just looking for some fresh legs" on the Commission, no one really believes him.  "Besides," joked Bobby, "There's nothing wrong with my legs!"  When he's not busy protecting California's coastline, Shriver heads-up Product (RED), an initiative he created to raise funds for women and children affected by AIDS in Africa. 

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

A good guy obviously...

be well,
Dawn
http://journals.aol.com/princesssaurora/CarpeDiem/

Anonymous said...

This post makes me see red, too!  Arnold says, "We can't stop progress" and "the toll road has to go somewhere"?!?!  Did Arnold consider that "progress" does not necessarily mean building and development, it also means social and environmental responsibility and progressivity, i.e., complying with AB32, the recently passed California bill on reducing the effects of global warming and greenhouse gases?  It means preserving the California Coast, what undeveloped bits remain, for all California residents.  Regarding tollroad location, there are 9 different options that have been studied, most of which are viable, and do not go through protected wetlands, which are home to several endangered species.

For those of you who don't get to see this piece of California coast in person, it is beautiful, and truly a rest for the weary eye that is barraged at almost every turn with buildings, billboards and other human development.  The tollroad would relieve a little traffic on I5, enrich developers primarily, construction workers' unions secondarily (short-term), add a minor bit of property tax revenue to State coffers (eventually) and deprive California residents of access to their coast and destroy valuable, rare wetlands and closing a much-used beach.   The road represents a "taking" from all Californians to benefit very few.

Arnold's cancellation of appointments for those who don't "fall into line" does not appear to be the move of a brave leader.  One would think a brave leader would let the voice of the people, and his appointees, be heard.  I hope Arnold's other appointees, particularly Coastal Commission members, will not be cowed by these actions, and will remain true to their responsibilities to uphold the California Coastal Act, and public resources codes governing California State Resources (including Parks and Rec.).

Bobby, Clint--thanks for voting against the tollroad!  

Susan Zoske

Anonymous said...

The short-term minor gains are so not worth what this will do to the coastline environment. Arnold is quite the Bully, huh? And I thought he was supposed to be environmentally friendly. Sounds like he's been bought out...typical politician. --Cin

Anonymous said...

Here of late, I've questioned a "LOT" of Gov. Schwarzenegger decisions...I will add this one to the list...(which is getting pretty Damn long).........Kit

Anonymous said...

I'd like product RED a lot more if it wasn't sold at the friggin Gap.  I don't know, something about that place just annoys me.  However the Razor I used to have was the RED one and given a choice, I buy RED.  I don't care for Arnie much.  It could be that my brother used to torture me with hours of his horrible movies or that he's a republican.  I think the movies were worse.  I absolutely love Maria though.  She has that attitude that says I don't give a crap who my husband is, I'm still going to tell him like it is.  
Jamie

Anonymous said...

I find it so sad when a Politician with any balls gets publicly castrated. Lets hope this back fires BIG TIME on Arnie.
Gaz

Anonymous said...

i have an ecko red jumper, is that the same thing? who knows!beckie x