Comments by marcmcginnes
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Posted on November 12 at 10:12 a.m.
In light of the fact that "power never concedes" (B. Obama 2008), it should be obvious that litigation is absolutely necessary at times in order to prevent those in power from unlawfully abusing their powers.
In this case, we have pointed out over the past 16 months that Caltrans-- a powerful state agency-- is trying to exercise its powers in an unlawful manner, and we have backed up our assertions with clear and unambiguous evidence (see cscbfriends.com)
We oppose fencing barriers on the Cold Spring Bridge for several reasons, including the fact that such barriers are an inferior suicide prevention (not merely suicide diversion) approach than the "human barriers" plan we asked Caltrans several months ago to evaluate and implement promptly (again, see cscbfriends.com).
The Sheriff is deploying all the considerable political muscle of that office in order to aid and abet Caltrans' unlawful abuse of its powers.
In a situation such as this one, litigation is a necessity rather than an option.
Marc McGinnes
1 of 1 people thought this was a good comment.
Posted on November 11 at 9:16 a.m.
Like any proponent of a project in California involving the expenditure of public funds and significant adverse environmental impacts, Caltrans is legally obligated to meet a BURDEN OF PROOF that its fencing barriers proposal is firmly based upon sound factual evidence of its purported justification and careful analysis by it of less impactful alternatives.
The record in this case clearly shows that Caltrans has failed to meet its burden of proof in both of these respects, and so if Caltrans does not alter its present course, litigation will become necessary to uphold California law.
Such litigation will not involve putting witnesses on the stand and taking testimony under oath. Rather, the courts (trial and appellate) will base their decisions on their reasoned consideration of the statements and submissions of Caltrans and others that comprise the administrative record of the case.
Politically, this matter has played out so far as one would expect, given the teeth-gnashing commitment to it by political fixers in both parties (Nava, Firestone, etc.).
Legally, the matter is far from over. Sooner or later, we will all learn how judges view the evidence and render judgment on how Caltrans has chosen to address the problem of occasional suicidal behavior on the Cold Spring Bridge.
In the meantime, lamentably, the predictable "copy-cat" effect appears to be occurring due in large measure to the way in which the Sheriff-- a member of the Caltrans fencing barriers Project Development Team-- continues to draw special attention to suicidal behavior on the bridge in the face of requests to stop doing so from Friends of the Bridge and other supporters of the superior "human barriers" alternative plan presented to Caltrans several months ago.
Marc McGinnes
0 of 1 people thought this was a good comment.
Posted on October 20 at 2:43 p.m.
Dear Holly,
Please do not despair too much, and please do not give up-- ever-- in working for this and other causes in which you believe.
The effort to stop the Caltrans bridge barriers boondoggle is far from over. Keep your focus on the grace and beauty that you wish to preserve, and renew your commitment to it.
Take strength from your anger, and do not be deflected by it from your worthy work.
Thank you for your words. They help me to see clearly what else is at stake beyond the particulars of this case.
In gratitude,
Marc McGinnes
Posted on August 13 at 9:15 a.m.
What an absolutely stunning picture of this beautiful bridge that is being threatened by Caltrans' deeply flawed and fiscally irresponsible barriers proposal.
Hats off to you, Paul Wellman!
What an eye!
On Caltrans Insists Funding Exists for Cold Spring Bridge Project
Posted on June 11 at 5:25 p.m.
Dear Sev' (commenter above at 2:57pm)--
Thank you for making it perfectly plain that you are merely (and madly) attempting to obfuscate the facts of this matter rather than to come to grips honestly with them.
On Caltrans Gives Public Glimpse of Cold Spring Suicide Barrier
Posted on June 5 at 8:37 p.m.
Fact:
These civic groups oppose the barriers boondoggle:
Santa Barbara County Taxpayers Association
Santa Barbara County Action Network
Santa Barbara Trust for Historic Preservation
Los Padres Chapter of the Sierra Club
Womens Environmental Watch
Citizens Planning Association South County Land Use Committee
Santa Ynez Valley Alliance
Pearl Chase Society
Los Padres ForestWatch
Friends of the Bridge
Fantasy:
That these folks look like they overuse controlled substances (see comment above).
And so it goes.
Posted on June 4 at 12:55 p.m.
The opposition to the Caltrans bridge barriers boondoggle is widespread and increasing as the public finds out what elected officials such as Pedro Nava, Brooks Firestone, Salud Carbajal, and Janet Wolf are trying like mad to conceal.
My fight? Hardly. I am merely a spokesperson for Friends of the Bridge.
This story should have reported the fact that the following community organizations also oppose the barriers boondoggle:
Santa Barbara County Taxpayers Association
Santa Barbara County Action Network
Santa Barbara Trust for Historic Preservation, Los Padres Chapter of the Sierra Club
Womens Environmental Watch
Citizens Planning Association South County Land Use Committee
Santa Ynez Valley Alliance
Pearl Chase Society
Los Padres ForestWatch
In the weeks and months to come several other civic groups can be expected to join the fight against this blatantly flawed and wasteful proposal. This issue will not be decided finally until well past the November election when Caltrans hopes to see Measure A approved so that it and its elected lobby will have hundreds upon hundreds of millions of taxpayers dollars to do with what they please in years to come.
It seems that Caltrans, Nava, Firestone, Carbajal, and Wolfe take their constituents for fools. Friends of the Bridge does not, and so we and other civic organizations will not give up this fight.
It is truly a shame that Caltrans, Nava, Firestone, Carbajal and Wolfe will not even allow a fair public hearing to consider the merits of the far less costly and more effective suicide prevention plan that was presented to Caltrans months ago. Unlike the barriers boondoggle, the alternative no-barriers plan was designed by a qualified expert in the field of suicide prevention on bridges.
For facts about the alternative plan and about all other aspects of this issue please go to www.cscbfriends.com
And then make the fight against the barriers boondoggle your fight too.
Posted on May 22 at 10:21 a.m.
What the headline portrays as "some opposition" is, in fact, very widespread and rapidly increasing public opposition. The barriers project is opposed by numerous community organizations representing thousands of local citizens and taxpayers, including the Santa Barbara County Taxpayers Association, Santa Barbara County Action Network, Santa Barbara Trust for Historic Preservation, Los Padres Chapter of the Sierra Club, Womens Environmental Watch, Citizens Planning Association South County Land Use Committee, Santa Ynez Valley Alliance, Pearl Chase Society, Los Padres ForestWatch, and Friends of the Bridge.
While there continues to be “some support” for the proposal, the momentum of public opinion is clearly moving to opposition in light of evidence that is coming to light about its deeply flawed justification, excessive cost, and failure to adequately consider a superior no-barriers alternative plan based on the recommendations of a leading expert on addressing suicidal behavior on bridges. So the story is far, far from over, and the tide is turning against barriers proposal.
Three important public meetings are on the immediate horizon and provide citizens with excellent opportunities to become better informed and to express their views about the barriers proposal and the more effective, less costly and less damaging “human connections” alternative to it:
Monday, June 2:
Free public program Monday June 2 6:30-8:30pm at the Faulkner Gallery of the Santa Barbara Public Library, 40 E. Anapamu. Invited speakers Dr. Lisa Firestone of the Glendon Association and Dr. Garrett Glasgow of UCSB will address the question "Do Suicide Barriers on Bridges Save Lives? Considering the Evidence in Evaluating the Cold Spring Bridge Barriers Proposal." Co-sponsored by Friends of the Bridge and Pacifica Graduate Institute.
Monday, June 9 and Tuesday June 10:
Public hearings in both Santa Barbara and Solvang addressing the questions about the purpose of the proposal and the adequacy of the analysis of its impacts in the community:
Santa Barbara (June 9, 5:30-8:30 at the Faulkner Gallery of
the Santa Barbara Public Library, 40 E. Anapamu) and
Solvang (June 10, 5:30-8:30 at the Veterans Memorial Bldg, 1745 Mission Dr.)
For further information please contact bridgefriends@hotmail.com
On Despite Some Opposition, Cold Spring Bridge Plan Advances
Posted on May 16 at 9:29 a.m.
Good going, Indy! You are most deserving of this honor. May you keep on getting better and better.
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Posted on November 12 at 7:39 p.m.
Sevensnugports or Whatever,
I am moving on from here to better uses of my time, so you may be the only one still attending to this chain-- you and such fictitious alter-egos as you have concocted for your anonymous blogger-self.
I hope that we can count on one of you to turn out the lights.
Marc McGinnes
On Another Cold Spring Bridge Suicide