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Stop The Trucks Resource Page

Stop the "Gravel" Trucks: Diesel Exhaust Linked To Cancer (Sept 3, 2009) Scientists have demonstrated that the link between diesel fume exposure and cancer lies in the ability of diesel exhaust to induce the growth of new blood vessels that serve as a food supply for solid tumors.

Stop The Trucks: Follow Up to the Scoping Meeting (July 9, 2009) The Coalition recently followed up with Kim Rodriguez, Director, Planning Division of the Ventura County Resource Management Agency in order to highlight our ongoing concerns about what we believe are possible continual violations of the Ozena mining permit.

Stop The Trucks: OZENA MEETING TONIGHT; 6:00 PM AT CHAPARRAL HIGH SCHOOL (May 6, 2009) The Ventura County Planning Agency is hosting the Scoping Meeting for the Ozena Valley Ranch Mine to be held in the Chaparral High School Auditorium at 6:00 pm on Wednesday, May 6th.

Stop the Trucks: SIGN THE PETITION TO STOP OZENA (May 3, 2009) URGENT! WE NEED EVERYONE TO ACT IMMEDIATELY! WE URGE EVERY CONCERNED CITIZEN OF THE OJAI VALLEY TO JOIN IN SENDING IN THE FOLLOWING PETITION TO THE VENTURA COUNTY PLANNING DIVISION.

Stop The Trucks: CRITICAL MEETING TO BLOCK OZENA, WEDNESDAY, MAY 6TH AT 6:00 PM AT CHAPARRAL (April 23, 2009) The Ventura County Planning Agency has issued a Notice of an Environmental Impact Scoping Meeting for the Ozena Valley Ranch Mine to be held in the Chaparral High School Auditorium at 6:00 pm on Wednesday, May 6th.

STOP THE TRUCKS: Maricopa Highway: Road Low on Traffic but High on Tales of Death, Mystery (April 23, 2009) As we approach the May 6th EIR Scoping meeting at 6:00 pm at Chaparral, we thought it useful to reprint this article purchased some time ago from the LA Times that describes Route 33, Maricopa Highway, way back in 2001 before the gravel trucks came to town. Life was very differnt then, wasn't it...

STOP THE TRUCKS: SAVE THE DATE! CRITICAL MEETING TO BLOCK OZENA! WEDNESDAY, MAY 6TH AT 6:00 PM AT CHAPARRAL (April 20, 2009) URGENT!! URGENT!! The Ventura County Planning Agency has issued a Notice of an Environmental Impact Scoping Meeting for the Ozena Valley Ranch Mine to be held in the Chaparral High School Auditorium at 6:00 pm on Wednesday, May 6th.

Stop the Trucks: Missing in Action (March 29, 2009) After reviewing the documents Stop the Trucks received from the County several weeks ago, we found: Of the thirty-seven (37) specific days that we have made complaints about and requested investigations, the County has only provided us Weigh Tickets for sixteen (16) of those days. Twenty-one (21) days are missing.

Stop The Trucks: The First Casualty of War is the Truth (March 13, 2009) Michael Shapiro, Chair of Stop the Trucks, sent the following letter regarding Weigh Tickets as a response to an email (below) from Chris Stephens, Director of Resource Managment for the County of Ventura.

Stop the Trucks: Complaints #52 - #59 (March 12, 2009) County Planning Director Kim Rodriguez, Senior Planner Daniel Kleeman, Director of Resource Managment Chris Stephens, and Deputy County CEO Matt Carroll, met with our Executive Committee in Ojai last week. Despite the cordial nature of the meeting, the reality on the roadways through Ojai has only deteriorated since then.

Stop the Trucks: Rejecting County Planning's Illogic (February 28, 2009) The Ojai Stop the Trucks Coalition categorically rejects the Planing Division's dismissal of the Bob Walker, February 2008 complaint which Mr. Walker submitted in conjunction with the Coalition and is hereby officially re-submitting the original complaint, at the bottom of this posting.

Stop the Trucks: M.A.C. Calls for Termination of Ozena C.U.P. (February 3, 2009) In a recent letter to the Ventura County Planning Commission, the Chair of the Ojai Valley Municipal Advisory Council, Russ Baggerly, wrote... "The Ojai Valley Municipal Advisory Council (MAC) has heard numerous complaints and concerns from residents of the Ojai Valley about the Ozena Mine violating many conditions of its Conditional Use Permit (C.U.P). It is up to the Planning Division to enforce these conditions and we are deeply concerned that very little is being done to enforce the conditions of approval...."

Stop the Trucks: Complaints & Possible Conflicts of Interest (January 25, 2009) Late last year "Stop the Trucks" began filing "formal complaints" with the Ventura County Planning Division. To date the County has not satisfactorily responded to the any of the following complaints...

Stop The Trucks: Questions for the County (January 23, 2009) On January 7, 2009, representatives of the Ojai "Stop the Trucks" Coalition, including Chair, Michael Shapiro; Vice Chair, Howard Smith; and committee members, Stan Green; and Craig Beam, met with senior Ventura County executives, including County CEO Marty Robinson, Deputy CEO Matt Carroll, and County Counsel, Noel Klebaum.

Stop the Trucks: Naked & Topless No More? (January 9, 2009) Tired of having your windshield smashed by loose rock flying off a double hooper gravel truck? So are we. The Conditional Use Permit for the Ozena mine requires that all gravel trucks be covered but no one that we've spoken to in the Ojai Valley has ever remembered seeing a covered gravel truck... Ever!

Stop the Trucks: Long Road Ahead in Gravel Truck Fight (December 31, 2008) In a recent column in the Ojai Valley News, reporter Linda Harmon wrote: Even after a Ventura County court upheld C.U.P. restrictions for the Ozena gravel mines for both north- and south-bound traffic, and re-affirmed the county's power to apply them, the gravel trucks keep on rolling. And Stop the Trucks Coalition says it must keep on fighting.

Stop the Trucks: Ozena Loses Court Case on Trucking Hours (December 17, 2008) In a case titled "Elizabeth Ann Vergilio Vs. County of Ventura," the owners of the Ozena gravel mine challenged the County's right to impose hours of operation and transit through the Ojai Valley. Judge Reiser ruled against Virgilio and Ozena. Even though Stop the Trucks was not a direct participant in this case, it is a huge victory for the Coalition. Much of the County's brief was based on our research and complaints.

Stop the Trucks: City Council Candidate, Betsy Clapp, Answers Our Election Year Questions (October 25, 2008) - 3) Do you believe the Ojai City Council should take a more active role in the truck campaign, such as providing funding and legal support? The City Council has agreed to give financial support to the "Stop the Trucks" organization. There are some legal hurdles that need to be addressed, but I believe we need to find a way to make it happen.

Stop the Trucks: County Planning Officials Failed to Heed Warnings About Potential Road Collapse (October 23, 2008) - In a August 21, 2006 letter regarding the Ozena Valley Ranch Mining project, the Board of the Ojai Valley Municipal Advisory Council warned Christopher Stephens, then the Director of Planning for the Ventura County Planning Division and now the head of the entire Resource Managment Agency for the County, that "SR-33 has suffered many landslides and slipped roadways in past years..."

Stop the Trucks: Ojai City Council To Help Fund "Stop The Trucks" Effort (October 16, 2008) - "Stop the Trucks" has turned its attention from Diamond Rock to the Ozena Valley Ranch and Gravel mine. At Tuesday night’s City Council meeting the council agreed to give financial support to the Stop the Trucks Coalition, after a victory for the citizens’ group in August...

STOP THE TRUCKS: Ojai City Council to Meet Tuesday on how to Deal with Ozena (October 12, 2008) - This Tuesday, October 14th, at 7:30 pm the Ojai City Council will meet for its regular session. Part of the agenda will be devoted to discussions on how to co-ordinate efforts to deal with the Ozena Valley Ranch & Gravel Mine's proposed renewal and modification of their C.U.P. with the County of Ventura.

STOP THE TRUCKS: Ozena Wants to Expand Hours of Trucking Thru Ojai and Hand Pick the Consultant who will Review their new Proposal! (October 12, 2008) - In documents recently obtained by the Ojai "Stop the Trucks" through a Ventura County Public Records Request, the Coalition has learned that Ozena wants to alter their existing permit so that trucking through the Ojai Valley will begin as early as 3:00 am and continue as late as 6:00 pm during the week with "No Route Restrictions" at all on Saturdays!

STOP THE TRUCKS: County CEO Finds Ozena Violations Greater Than Reported (October 12, 2008) - In a letter to the Ojai "Stop the Trucks" Coalition, Ventura County CEO, Ms. Marty Robinson, wrote: "After the CEO's office reviewed the July and August 2007 weigh tickets tickets communicated by the RMA" (Resource Management Agency) "a statistically significant sampling of the 649 original tickets was conducted by our office and it was determined that potential northbound violations were omitted from consideration by the Planning Division. If these potential northbound violations had been included , the number of violations would have been materially higher..."

Stop the Trucks: Early Morning Violators Now on Film (October 11, 2008) - The "Stop the Trucks" Coalition is now testing prototype camera systems to track early morning violators of the Ozena Gravel Mining & Trucking C.U.P.

Stop the Trucks: County Planning Division Stalls (September 14, 2008) - In an article published in the Ventura Reporter, author Paul Sisolak wrote: "In their request for public documents from the county level, members of the Stop the Trucks Coalition say the information contained in those records could further illustrate that the frequency of trucks hauling rock and gravel from the Ozena mines just north of Ojai is environmentally unsound. However, according to two of its founding members, those requests are nearing their expiry date, further delaying a process that has endured for years..."

Stop the Trucks: Ventura County Officials Finally Admit there are Problems and MAC Candidate Jerry Kaplan Responds to our Election Year Questions (September 6, 2008) - Last week in a Ventura County Star article by Tony Biasotti, Ventura County officials conceded that there are significant problems in the Planning Division but the real questions is this: Are they Willing To Change?

Stop The Trucks - Second Election Edition (September 1, 2008) - Suza Francina was the first of the five candidates competing for two City Council vacancies to respond to our questions for candidates. "Stop the Trucks" hopes the other City Council candidates and those running for the MAC (Municipal Advisory Council) will take a few moments to answer a few questions online.

Stop the Trucks: Sneaking Through Town on Grand Avenue??? (August 29, 2008) - Ray Smith of Daly Road Graphics sent us these notes and photographs about Gravel Trucks in which it appears that trucks coming and going from Santa Paula are driving on residential streets. If true this would a a clear violation of local road and traffic regulations.

Stop the Trucks: Election Year Edition (August 23, 2008) - With five candidates competing for two City Council vacancies and several of the MAC (Municipal Advisory Council) seats also facing competitive races, the Ojai "Stop the Trucks!" Coalition is asking everyone running for office to take a few moments to answer a few questions online.

Stop the Trucks: Conflict over Gravel Trucking shifts from Santa Barbara to Ventura County and the Ozena Mine (August 9, 2008) - A recent agreement (see below) between the Stop the Trucks Coalition and the Troesh family over their proposed Diamond Rock Mine in the Santa Barbara portion of the Cuyama Valley, clears the stage for the Coalition to focus more of its attention on the operation of the Ozena Valley Ranch Mine in Ventura County.

HELP US "STOP THE TRUCKS!" (July 17, 2008) - In response to one of our recent Public Records Requests to the Ventura County Planning Division, Kim Rodriguez, the Director of the Division made a tacit admission about the lack of any prior independent review of the various Conditional Use Permits (C.U.P.) issued to the Ozena Valley Ranch Gravel Mine. We are grateful for this admission as it is something we had long suspected.

Gravel Truck Accident on Highway 33 (July 10, 2008) - I've gotten word of a major overturn, spill and gravel truck accident on Route 33 north of Ojai. Ventura County Star reports a "semi-truck crash" causing closure of Highway 33 near the northern Ventura County border, just south of Ventucopa in Santa Barbara County.

HELP US STOP THE TRUCKS! (July 9, 2008) - Send your donations to the Stop The Trucks! Coalition – c/o The Ojai Chamber of Commerce, P.O. Box 1134, Ojai, CA, 93024, or you may also walk your contribution into the Chamber’s offices anytime during the business week, at 201 S. Signal Street -- in the Ojai Festivals building -- in downtown Ojai.

Stop The Trucks: Ojai Complains of Gravel Trucks on Highway 33 (July 2, 2008) - "Until last year, it was common for Bob Walker to wake up before dawn to the sound of grinding engine brakes, as a caravan of gravel trucks passed his house. 'When they're coming through at 2:30 or 3 a.m., and you're sleeping, it gets pretty loud,' Walker said during a recent interview at his home, just north of Ojai on Highway 33. 'At one point, it was an everyday thing.'"

Stop The Trucks: Mine Opponents Suspect Official Bias (June 28, 2008) - In Thursday’s Ventura County Reporter, Editor Bill Lascher wrote: “A broad coalition of Ojai residents, environmentalists, business owners, public officials and educators launched a blistering attack June 17 on county planners overseeing permits for mining operations. Ventura County Chief Executive Officer Marty Robinson confirmed county officials plan to discuss allegations in a letter sent by Stop the Trucks Coalition Vice-Chair Howard Smith about oversight of the controversial Ozena Valley Ranch mine.”

Stop The Trucks: Santa Barbara Gravel Haulers Prohibited Through Ojai (May 22, 2008) - Story By Chris Meagher at The Santa Barbara Independent: "The main artery through Ojai, State Route 33 sits in western Ventura County, just a few miles from the Santa Barbara County border. Along Route 33 sit schools, hospitals, shopping malls, and Ojai’s busiest intersection. What it will not accommodate — to the relief of many Ojai residents — is the daily rumbling of hundreds of semi trucks carrying thousands of pounds of gravel to construction sites throughout Santa Barbara and Ventura counties..."

Stop The Trucks: Praise for Ojai in the Press (May 21, 2008) - From Bill Lascher, Editor of the Ventura County 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..."

Stop the Trucks: Good News From Santa Barbara (May 19, 2008) - Last week, a unanimous Santa Barbara County Planning Commission moved one step closer to permanently protecting the Ojai Valley, the Los Padres National Forest, and Scenic Highway 33 from as many as 138 daily gravel truck trips to and from the proposed Diamond Rock Mine in the Cuyama Valley.

Stop the Trucks: Expert cites problems in Ventura County's Resource Mangement Agency & Planning Division (April 10, 2008) - On Tuesday afternoon, April 8th, members of "Stop the Trucks" coalition successfully testified before the Ventura County Board of Supervisors at their regular weekly meeting after a presentation by consultant Tom Berg, who had been hired to assess issues and problems at the county's Resource Management Agency which includes the Planning Division.

STOP THE TRUCKS: Gravel Truck Owners Suing Ventura County (March 30, 2008) - In a news story written by Nao Braverman in Friday's Ojai Valley News, "owners of the Ozena Valley Sand and Gravel Mine and the Virgilio Family Trust filed a lawsuit against Ventura County last week, for allegedly changing the scope of their permitted operations without prior notice, hearing or environmental review, according to the lawsuit.

Stop the Trucks: Lost Horizon (March 21, 2008) - When is a truck not a truck? When it's a-wanderin'. Sometimes they get lost and take the scenic route through Ojai.

Stop the Trucks: The Damage Done (March 10, 2008) - In July of 2007, as reported in the Ojai Valley News, Caltrans District 7 investigators concluded in a now controversial traffic study that State Route 33 is maintained to provide safe travel for all motorists, and is designed to accommodate large trucks. In February of 2008 a portion of Route 33 collapsed into the river.

Stop the Trucks: Collapse of Route 33 (February 24, 2008) - In this Sunday's edition of the Ventura County Star, we see barracades divert traffic around a section of Maricopa Highway - Route 33 - about 10 miles north of Ojai that has collapsed into the North Fork of Matilija Creek.

Stop the Trucks: Highway 33 Bridge Collapses! (February 23, 2008) - A bridge support beam failure caused 130 to 150 feet of embankment along south-bound Highway 33 above Ojai to slide into the North Fork of Matilija Creek on Friday evening, authorities said...the CHP expects a long-term closure of the highway between Lockwood Valley Road to the north and Matilija Road to the south.

Stop The Trucks: Complaint Against Ozena (February 14, 2008) - On February 1, 2008 "Stop the Trucks," filed the following formal complaint against the Ozena Mine with the head of the Ventura County Planning Division, Kim Rodriguez...

Stop The Trucks: Ozena Mine Seek Expanded Routes & Hours (February 13, 2008) - A new story by Nao Braverman of the Ojai Valley News along with last year's press release from the Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) reveals the heightened threat to our community: "Mine Owners Seek Expanded Routes, Hours; Despite death, bid to expand mine continues."

Stop The Trucks: Between a rock mine and a hard place (February 2, 2008) - The Ventura County Reporter features news story on "Appeal denied in truck violation case." Bill Lascher, Editor of the VC Reporter, published in this past week's edition a short article on the Gravel Truck battles, which Bill says is the prelude to a much longer story in the coming weeks.

Stop The Trucks: Another Victory for Ojai! (January 26, 2008) - On January 16th, Ojai and the “Stop the Trucks” Coalition racked up another small victory when Pat Richards, Acting Director of the Ventura County Planning Division rejected the Ozena Valley Ranch Mine’s attempt to gut the time restraints on trucking through the Ojai Valley through an appeal to the Planning Commission.

Stop The Trucks: Ozena's Revised Mine Application (January 18, 2008) - The "Stop the Trucks" Coalition has just received copies of the Ozena Valley Ranch Mine Project Description for an Aggregate Surface Mine and Processing Facility in which the operators seek to extensively expand their operations.

Stop The Trucks: Two Killed in Gravel Truck Accident (December 18, 2007) - Malibu resident William H. Weissberg was killed in this crash when an out-of-control gravel truck hit his Mercedes-Benz as he was entering an intersection on PCH. The driver of the gravel truck, Hovik Papikyan, also died.

Stop the Trucks: Gravel Mines Eye Expansion and a Clear Pattern of Risk Emerges from Smog (December 12, 2007) - Two recent articles in the Ojai Valley News and the Los Angeles Times highlight the ongoing problems created by massive numbers of gravel trucks coming through the Ojai Valley.

Stop the Trucks: San Antonio Creek Bridge (November 13, 2007) - Tuesday, Nov 27 is shaping up to be a very important meeting of the Ojai City Council, so please mark your calendars and plan to attend and testify. City staff will be briefing the council on the status of discussion & negotiations with CalTrans regarding the San Antonio Creek bridge crossing, and the incredibly arrogant and unresponsive attitude that CalTrans' representatives have presented in responding to our and the City's concerns with the proposed detour.

Stop the Trucks: Little Victories in a Long War (November 6, 2007) - After the gravel mines in Oxnard were played out and closed, the Cuyama Valley, which straddles both Ventura and Santa Barbara County, was identified as a potential new source. This is a permanent change and the immediate trigger for this new threat...

Stop the Trucks: Permit Violations (September 3, 2007) - Please consider this letter my formal complaint regarding C.U.P violations in the operation of gravel trucks in conjunction with the Ozena Valley Sand and Gravel Mine owned and operated by Michael Virgilio of Huntington Beach, California.

Stop the Trucks: Smokin' Diesel (August 7, 2007) - WHAT ABOUT AIR QUALITY? One of the key issues for the "Stop the Trucks" coalition is Air Quality. Surrounded by mountains, with inversions in the air shed, the Ojai Valley is ranked among the worst for air quality in Ventura County.

Stop the Trucks: Wreck Photos (August 1, 2007) - An anonymous trucker got in touch with me a while back and said he had some photos of a gravel truck wreck on Highway 33 to share. He dropped them off, I scanned them in, and present them to you for your consideration.

Stop the Trucks: In The News, July (July 15, 2007) - Four news stories appeared this week in the local press after the latest hearing in Santa Maria. Here are the highlights from the Santa Barbara Independent, Ojai Valley News, Ventura County Star and Santa Maria Times.

Stop the Trucks: A Bridge Too Far (July 9, 2007) - After months of stalling, Caltrans has responded to Ojai’s request for a safety study of Route 33, finally releasing six-pages to conclude that the highway is, in fact, safe and appropriate for heavy, large-scale, industrial trucking. Taking its cue from the industry and industry lobbyists who desired that finding - without regard to the health, safety and welfare of the people here in the Ojai Valley - the Caltrans “study” is a patently outrageous travesty and a whitewash.

Stop The Trucks: Monitoring Plan Proposed by Ventura Co. Plannners!!! (June 27, 2007) - Although there are many options for monitoring truck traffic, such as CHP weigh stations, electronic GPS units, or 24 hour camera surveillance, Scott Ellison, a senior staffer at the Ventura County Planning Department who covers the Ozena Gravel Mine operation, has apparently come up with an idea that is not only simple but low cost and easy to implement.

Stop the Trucks: Downtown, East End & Upper Ojai Threatened (June 23, 2007) - According to several recent articles in the Ojai Valley News written by Nao Braverman it appears that if Caltrans gets its way in strengthening the bridge on E. Ojai Avenue over the San Antonio Creek, then the gravel trucks now using Route 33 could easily go through downtown, the East End and Upper Ojai on their way to a proposed gravel plant in Santa Paula.

Catch A Truck Violation Reporting Form (June 16, 2007) - This form is available to report truck activity on roads that have been deemed unfit for truck traffic. These roads include those in certain residential zones (La Luna, Santa Ana, etc.), Route 33 in front of Nordhoff High School from 7:00am to 9:00am, etc.

Stop the Trucks: Open Letter to the Governor (June 14, 2007) - Dear Governor Schwarzenegger, How would it be if the Governor moved his family to Ojai, only to discover that the entire community is on the verge of suing the State of California & CALTRANS?

Stop the Trucks: Questions & Answers (June 9, 2007) - Following the Santa Maria hearing, the “Stop the Trucks” Coalition doubled its fundraising goal to $200,000. If everyone in the Ojai Valley contributed as little as ten dollars each we would reach our goal instantly.

Stop The Trucks: of Water Threats and Asphalt Plants (June 8, 2007) - There is a new asphalt plant opening in Santa Paula that will need gravel... The immediate threat to Ojai is this: If any of the mines in the Cuyama Valley contract with this new plant, there are no known prohibitions on those trucks coming down 33, turning left at the "Y"; driving through downtown, the East End and Upper Ojai on their way to Santa Paula.

Stop The trucks: Our Lawyers Attack Diamond Rock EIR & Link to our Enviromental Experts Report (May 30, 2007) - Members of the Stop the Trucks Coalition and our many allies made a strong presentation today in Santa Maria on our case to block gravel trucks from the proposed Diamond Rock Mine in Santa Barbara County. The hearing has been continued until July 11th.

Stop the Trucks: Santa Maria EIR Hearing, May 30th (May 23, 2007) - Attend the hearing in Santa Maria!!! Wednesday, May 30th at 9:00am in the "Board of Supervisors Hearing Room", 511 E.Lakeside Parkway, Santa Maria, CA 93455. The Ojai Valley Board of Realtors is organizing a free bus ride to the meeting. The bus will be departing at 6:30 a.m. Attendants should pack a lunch and are expected to return to Ojai by 8 p.m. that night.

Stop the Trucks: THERE IS NO DEAL!!! (May 19, 2007) - Contrary to recent press stories, there is NO deal in place between Santa Barbara and Ventura Counties regarding the ban of gravel truck traffic on Route 33 from the proposed Diamond Rock Mine in the Cuyama Valley and Ojai.

STOP THE TRUCKS: PLEDGE FORM (May 16, 2007) - The Stop the Trucks Coalition, comprised of concerned residents of the Ojai Valley, is committed to preventing gravel trucks from traveling to and from the mines up and down Highway 33 past our high school, hospital, the entry to Ojai, through Mira Monte, Oak View and Casitas Springs.

Stop The Trucks Open Thread (May 15, 2007) - It was great to see over two hundred people tonight at Chapparal Auditorium for the Stop The Trucks Coalition Meeting. Lots of information to come, leading up to the May 30 meeting in Santa Maria. Stay tuned!

STOP THE TRUCKS: Chaparral Rally In the News, May 15th, 7:00pm (May 7, 2007) - Galvanized by the possibility of increased truck traffic on the winding, mountainous highway, a coalition of business people, residents, activists and local government officials known as “Stop the Trucks,” will meet May 15 in Ojai to prepare for public hearings planned later that month regarding two gravel mining operations up for review in Ventura and Santa Barbara Counties.

STOP THE TRUCKS: WHO OPENED THE FLOOD GATES? (May 2, 2007) - So our question is this: Who opened the floodgates? Who changed the conditions under which Ozena is now operating? Was it you, Scott Ellison?

STOP THE TRUCKS: COMMUNITY RALLY, MAY 15TH (April 26, 2007) - HIGHWAY 33 GRAVEL TRUCK UPDATE: 1. Community Rally Planned for Ojai in May 2. Victory! Ventura County Reverses Course, Decides to Prepare Full EIR for Ozena Mine 3. Mark Your Calendars - Public Hearing for Diamond Rock Mine Set for May 30 in Santa Maria

STOP THE TRUCKS: SAVE THE DATE: MAY 15 (April 20, 2007) - There will be a Community Meeting sponsored by the "Stop The Trucks" coalition at Chaparral Auditorium on the night of May 15th at 7:00pm. Details will be posted shortly. Bring your checkbook.

“Stop the Trucks” will Monitor Caltrans Study of Route 33 (April 11, 2007) - Ojai Coalition to “Stop the Trucks” will Monitor Caltrans Study of Route 33... Group will file “Freedom of Information” requests to spot potential Caltrans conflicts of interest

Stop the Trucks: In the News... (April 9, 2007) - excerpts from several vital articles about current and proposed gravel trucking on Route 33 through Ojai.

Stop the Trucks: The City Speaks Up! (April 4, 2007) - In unity with the Stop the Trucks movement, the City of Ojai has sent letters out regarding both the Ozena mine in Ventura County and the proposed new Diamond Rock mine in Santa Barbara County. Both mine proposals would flood the Ojai Valley with gravel truck traffic from the Cuyama Valley via Route 33.

Stop the Trucks: Possible link Between Ozena Mine & ATF Gun Bust in Oak View? (April 2, 2007) - "In just breaking news, the 'Stop the Trucks' coalition has learned there there may be a link between the corporate offices of the Ozena Valley Ranch Sand and Gravel company and the Compton based Boulevard Sales & Services, a gun store that was raided by Federal agents of the ATF..."

Stop The Trucks - The Ozena Mine Proposal (March 30, 2007) - "County officials need to be aware that their is no conceivable way that the people of the Ojai Valley will allow these trucks to go through as proposed and that as a thoroughly united community we have the experience, the expertise, the total determination and the deep financial pockets necessary to fight this effort in every legal manner possible."

Stop The Trucks - Update of March 20th (March 20, 2007) - ...if approved, the Diamond Rock mine alone could add as many as 138 truck trips per day to Scenic Highway 33. And plans are underway to expand two other mines in the area, sending even more trucks through the heart of the Los Padres National Forest and negatively impacting nearby communities in the Ojai and Cuyama valleys... a public hearing has been set for Wednesday, May 30, 2007 at 9:00am in Santa Maria.

Truck Traffic: Impact on Highway 33 - Powerpoint (March 1, 2007) - take a drive up the mountain some time, and see how this heavy truck traffic is destroying the highway. And rest assured that the fuel tax paid by these trucks is not being designated to highway 33 for its maintenance and repair costs. If the decision is made in favor of the trucks, what are we getting in exchange for what we’re giving up?

Stop the Trucks; Update of February 9th (February 9, 2007) - according to a news story in the Pacific Coast Business Times, a final draft of the EIR will be completed by the end of the month. Your letters will be included according to a conversation I've had with Gary Kaiser. The Santa Barbara County Planning Comission will review and decide on the merits of the EIR at their April Meeting. If approved there are a number of other, smaller regulatory issues that must be dealt with. If everything passes approval, the whole issue is expected to go to the Santa Barbara County Supervisors in late summer or the fall. (more)

"Stop The Trucks" Community Meeting on January 30, 2007 - attend the event and write your letters! Email addresses printed and full venue and event info.

Coalition Opposes Mining Trucks (January 25, 2007) - A coalition of local landowners, business leaders, forest advocates, school officials, and others have joined forces to oppose plans by a new mine to add hundreds of haul trucks on Scenic Highway 33. The groups will conduct a public meeting on Tuesday, January 30 at 7:00pm at the Chaparral Auditorium, 414 E. Ojai Street in Ojai to inform the community about this issue.

"Stop the Trucks" - Email Contacts for Letters (January 2, 2007) - use this resource to email the the Santa Barbara Planning & Development Department, the Santa Barbara County Supervisors, the Ventura County Supervisors, State Assembly, Ojai government officials and local media. Archived letters opposing the trucks include those from Scott Eicher, A. Michael Weaver, and Rinaldo Brutoco.