Stop The Trucks: Praise for Ojai in the Press
Photo courtesy of Daly Road Graphics & Ray Smith
On involvement
If you're going to complain, get involved
From Bill Lascher, Editor of the Ventura Reporter:
"As has been groused about numerous times on these pages and society in general, too many people whine about the actions taken by government and other institutions without ever taking action to challenge those institutions.
Some lament in Ventura County that red tape and not-in-my-backyard-minded activists hinder progress. Yet, without a vigilant active community little would be done to help the vast majority of our citizens, many decisions would be taken with myopic profit motives and few socially minded initiatives would get off the ground...."
"...Now, the first signs are emerging of other successes by local activists, even as new fights take shape...."
"...Ojai residents concerned about mining truck traffic along Route 33 have scored something of a victory and will have a chance to ensure that victory holds May 14. That day, the Santa Barbara County Planning Commission will consider final action on the proposed Diamond Rock mine. After criticism of the mine's plans to use Highway 33 to transport material and other environmental concerns that might impact Ventura County more than Santa Barbara County, the plan was altered to prevent trucks from traveling south on 33, to reduce its production rates and truck trips to avoid situations where those truck trips might be necessary, and to address other environmental concerns. It is a testament to the continued involvement and dedication of Ojai and Cuyama Valley residents - as well as the mine owner's willingness to discuss community concerns - that such progress was made..."
For the Full Story Go to:
http://www.vcreporter.com/cms/story/detail/on_involvement/5948/
And this from Nao Braverman and the Ojai Valley News:
Diamond Rock Mine plan OK’d by Santa Barbara planners, with caveat that trucks must avoid Ojai portion of 33
"In a partial victory for critics of truck traffic last week, the new Diamond Rock Mine has been prohibited from sending gravel trucks through Ojai.
The original proposal for Diamond Rock Mine, a sand and gravel mining facility in Cuyama Valley, was the catalyst that motivated local citizens and community leaders to form the Stop the Trucks Coalition. Already fed up with existing truck traffic, members of the coalition were afraid that additional trucks from the new Diamond Rock mine in Santa Barbara County would ruin Ojai’s air quality, tourist-based economy, road safety and quality of life.
The Diamond Rock Mine proposal was unanimously approved by the Santa Barbara Planning Commission last week, however, with the condition that truck traffic to and from the mine could not traverse the portion of Highway 33 that goes through Ojai and the Los Padres National Forest..."
“...We’re pleased that the county and the applicant finally recognized what we’ve been saying all along — that scenic Highway 33 is not suitable as an industrial trucking route,” said Jeff Kuyper, executive director of Los Padres ForestWatch, a watchdog organization for the forest, and an active member of the Stop the Trucks Coalition..."
"...Cherisse Troesh, project manager for the Diamond Rock Mine said that the mine’s management decided not to send truck trips through Ojai because of opposition from community members..."
“...We believe that the Environmental Impact Report fails to adequately analyze Highway 33 to determine its long-term safety and efficacy for widespread industrial utilization,” said Michael Shapiro, chair of the Stop the Trucks Coalition. “Unless the current EIR establishes a permanent ban on such utilization — with adequate redress if such a ban is ever lifted — the coalition will remain proactive in opposing any such utilization, at any time in the future...”
"...Other mines on the Cuyama River, the Ozena Valley Ranch’s sand and gravel mine and the GPS River Rock Products mine continue to send trucks through Ojai, and are looking to get approvals for expansions this summer..."
“...At least for the time being, this ban gives us partial relief from our legitimate, ongoing concerns that turning scenic Highway 33 and the town of Ojai into a industrialized heavy trucking transportation zone, would have significant and lasting impacts on both the air quality of the Ojai Valley, while also unnecessarily risking the lives, health, safety and welfare of thousands of folks who use this route,” said Shapiro..."
For the Full Story go to:
http://ojaivalleynews.blogspot.com/2008/05/gravel-mine-stopped-in-its-trucks.html
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