Natural Enemies of Foothill South

* Re “Hayden Bill Threatens Quality of Life,” May 2 Orange County Voices column by former San Clemente Mayor Steve Apodaca:

Who is Apodaca to label anyone an “anti-quality-of-life extremist?”

The Foothill South toll road would destroy the real quality of life in southern Orange County.

Apodaca states that state Sen. Tom Hayden’s bill, SB 1277, would eliminate the locally preferred route for the Foothill South. Preferred by whom?

If it is really preferred by most San Clemente residents, why did the City Council feel the need to secretly vote to put on the agenda the item of opposition to SB 1277 in its April 7 meeting? No San Clemente citizen had the opportunity to voice an opinion.

Entire communities in San Clemente support Hayden’s bill and stand staunchly against the alignment of the Foothill South.

Neither Apodaca nor the City Council seems to care about the quality of life of those of us in San Clemente who are not in agreement with their agendas.

Apodaca says that the bill will “foreclose reasonable transportation solutions,” yet Antonio Parkway, a very reasonable alternative route following nearly the same path as the proposed toll road, is vastly unused.

He goes on to say that the Transportation Corridor Agencies organization is “balancing the important quality of life needs with . . . habitat preservation.”

Yet at least 30 animals have been killed on the Eastern toll road, in spite of millions spent to study the animals’ behavior. Taller fences, scientific studies and $150 million won’t do anything to save the seven endangered species whose habitat lies in the way of the proposed toll road.

JULIA DEWEES

San Clemente