Last year, Michael Crichton wrote a novel called State of Fear, in which a fictional environmental organization called the National Environmental Research Fund cyncially stokes fears about global warming in order to sustain it’s fund-raising efforts.

I was reminded of Crichton’s book by this e-mail yesterday from Orange County public affairs consultant Meg Waters:

Matt –

A few weeks ago I was with friends in San Clemente and one of the leaders of the anti toll road group joined us. I told him that I supported the road and had worked with TCA on it.  I ribbed him about the wild claims that the road would ruin Trestles beach – because in fact, it will improve the water quality as all runoff from both the toll road and I-5 would be treated. Right now, whatever gunk is on I-5 goes straight into the water every time it rains. He said that he knew it wasn’t going to impact Trestles but it was a great hot button and got people scared enough to show up at hearings.

Lest any enviros try to discredit Ms. Waters’ testimony by speculating she must be carrying water for developers or the transportation industry, I would remind them that one of Meg’s signal professional acheivements was as spokeswoman and a strategist for the coalition that defeated the El Toro Airport — a massive infrastructure project. I would also remind them that Meg recently worked with a coalition of noth Orange County cities trying to stop a housing development in the Brea Hills.

Meg’s report also squares with what I was told by a friend who attended last week’s F/ETCA hearing on the 241 completion. My friend was talking to some Surfrider Foundation guys who candidly admitted that the TCA’s science was sound, but for the Surfrider Foundation opposing the project was a matter of environemtnal movement solidarity.

Isn’t it heartening to know that facts and integrity are at the center of the enviros’ battle against the 241 tollway?

This entry was posted on Friday, January 20th, 2006 at 12:00 am and is filed under Blog Posts.