TCA, the Transportation Corridor Agency, is currently in discussions with David Belardes, as a “representative” of the Juaneño Tribe, to drop opposition to the agency’s proposed toll road in exchange for a reported $350,000. But, it turns out that David Belardes is not a Native Juaneño or even Indian and is not an enrolled member of the Juaneño Tribe. Belardes’ Non-Indian ancestry was reported by the U.S. Department of the Interior, Office of Federal Acknowledgement during the Tribe’s ongoing petition for federal recognition. Domingo Yorba, Belardes’ paternal great grandfather whom he based his ancestral claims on, was classified as a Non-Indian in the Department’s report, which is part of the public record (JBMI 84A Proposed Findings, U.S. Department of the Interior, 2007, pp. 247-252.). The genealogical and historical evidence demonstrates that both paternal great grandparents of David Belardes were in fact of Mexican and Spanish descent—not Juaneño or California Indian.

As many Southern California residents know, in February 2008, the California Coastal Commission denied a proposal by the Transportation Corridor Agency (TCA) to extend the Foothill-South Toll Road through southern Orange County. Members of the Juaneño Tribe and other residents expressed concern that the proposed toll road could disturb sacred Juaneño ancestral sites. The TCA has since discussed a potential agreement for support of the proposed toll road with David Belardes, a San Juan Capistrano resident who falsely claims to represent the Juaneño Tribe.

A veto of the Coastal Commission’s decision would require demonstration of public NEED.

Camp Pendleton said that while it’d be nice to have the improvements, it was NOT NECESSARY FOR PUBLIC SECURITY.

San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station has for years claimed no position on the toll road issue, saying adequate escape routes in case of emergency currently exist. So there’s no need there.

As for traffic, well, any student of transportation can tell you that more roads leads to more cars, but toll roads are CLEARLY PROVEN to be TRAFFIC INCENTIVES as compared to regular roads.

So there’s no way to demonstrate public need. At all. You’d look like an ass in court trying.

Can’t wait to see that ass, Thornton.

With humble respect,
Alex Brant-Zawadzki

Seems like he never really started.

I’ll be the first to admit that it was over the top to use the word stupid, and I apologize for that; but in my defense the word was used to describe his argument, not him as a person.

Vern, if you can make me famous I’ll owe you one.

I’ve read OCTA’s long term forecast and don’t remember seeing anything in there about the sensitivity of trip generataion to fuel pricing, but demand destruction is real, and it’s happening right now to auto trips.

Much of the long-term regional forecasting done in the last several years is falling apart as it hits high energy prices and the aftermath of the credit bubble. But don’t believe me. Go out and buy a bunch of hummers and houses in the Inland Empire.