Oktoberfest
The community is invited to the Oktoberfest on Monday, October 7 from 5 to 8 p.m. Tickets are $10, available from Eric Eckes at eecks@cox.net. Authentic German food, beverages, and live music.
Notes on Our Speakers
At our September 3 meeting we heard from former Dana Point Mayor and
now Chairman of the OC Board of Supervisors and District 5 Supervisor
Lisa Bartlett, who provided a refreshing pro-citizen update on Orange County. On the subject of transportation it seems that political tension inhibits the extension of the 241 Toll Road with local politics ensuring that it never happens. Freeway (only in California do you call a toll road a freeway) rights of way in Orange County are built out. About Dana Point Harbor, we can think of the new mantra as three Ps: Public-Private-Partnerships. The Harbor Renewal project has been in the works for longer than 20 years and the new developers have a 66-year lease. The California Coastal Commission weighs heavy in decisions that are made. The next Harbor phase will start with a new parking garage, then include a new boutique hotel and an affordable hotel, and eventually new boat handling facilities, all done PPP.
We learned that John Wayne Airport has more local restaurants on the way. Eat better, including ice cream at the gate, before you fly!
On the Homeless topic there is a glimmer of hope in reactivating a state-owned 2700 bed, nearly empty facility, to handle the homeless of
California.
Closer to home, the Strand Beach Revetment decision is in the hands of the Coastal Commission for a hearing.
On September 17, Senator Pat Bates, who represents Dana Point in California’s 36th Senate District, provided a comprehensive review of the legislative results of a super-majority opposition party. They
passed a $215 billion budget with a $22 billion surplus while giving
free medical care to illegal aliens. They reestablished contributions to the rainy-day fund, augmented contributions to local school systems and provided more funding for mental health and homeless shelters. We avoided state-wide rent control but face more CEQA environmental
inhibitions on projects. They essentially removed local control of density of housing development. With the total collapse of recycling—it did not work—we will face more restrictions on packaging with attendant adverse effects on health.
— Robert Saint-Aubin
Comment: