tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263762637946594105.post8377424908730829821..comments2023-10-30T09:03:07.163-07:00Comments on California High Speed Rail Blog: Dukakis on High Speed RailRobert Cruickshankhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06906581839066570472noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263762637946594105.post-47248154683796195082008-04-28T22:30:00.000-07:002008-04-28T22:30:00.000-07:00Oh, Robert Thornton is one of the worst things to ...Oh, Robert Thornton is one of the worst things to ever happen to the environmental movement. I believe he's one of the masterminds behind the concept of "mitigation banks". It sounds wonderful - land is set aside 'in perpetuity' in order for other land to be unmitigatably destroyed. Okay, maybe it doesn't sound THAT nice. <BR/>It's also not that true. Take the 241 toll road I mentioned above. The road would carve through the Donna O'Neill Land Conservancy, set aside as mitigation for the Talega development (a brand-new set of OC planned communities). Ironically, the land was also set aside in memoriam of the wife of Dick O'Neill, who RAN Rancho Mission Viejo (which owns the Conservancy land) for years and remains a powerhouse in California politics.<BR/><BR/>If anyone wishes to discuss these issues with me, feel free to email beezling at gmail dot combeezlinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12211802186216756972noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263762637946594105.post-7817766846629509112008-04-06T08:00:00.000-07:002008-04-06T08:00:00.000-07:00Alex,Thanks for the comment. I had read about Thor...Alex,<BR/><BR/>Thanks for the comment. I had read about Thornton's desire to not have a hearing, but your post at the OC Weekly blog was an especially nice takedown of his idiocy. OC's future is in mass transit, which would help far more residents than the 241 extension, located on the periphery of the region.Robert Cruickshankhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06906581839066570472noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263762637946594105.post-44458188584910254422008-04-05T18:05:00.000-07:002008-04-05T18:05:00.000-07:00Such myths as "Californians won't ride trains" and...Such myths as "Californians won't ride trains" and "Any harm to the environment can be mitigated" are crap, and they are propagated by men such as Robert Thornton. Thornton is the TCA's counsel, and recently wrote a letter requesting that the Department of Commerce NOT hold a hearing on the Foothill-South toll road. Even though the Secretary may hold a hearing in response to a request (and so far two requests have been made). Why try to throw a crowbar into the workings of the political process? Maybe because the death of the 241 (Foothill-South) extension will be a clear sign that such myths are just that. Myths. Falsehoods. Fairy tales. Stuff nobody believes past the age of 10.<BR/>Read about Thornton's whining here:<BR/>blogs.ocweekly.com/navelgazing/241-toll-road/robert-thornton-professional-b/beezlinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12211802186216756972noreply@blogger.com