• New goods now in store. • Join the tribe. Get e-mail updates, shopping offers • Contest archive: NSSA, Roxy Wahine Classic

Here is a sample letter to Governor Schwarzenegger:

Dear Governor Schwarzenegger:

I am __________________, a ___________________________, and I am writing to thank to your administration for taking this month to review the plans by the Foothill/Eastern Transportation Corridor Agency to run a multi-lane freeway through San Onofre State Park. My family, my colleagues and I sincerely hope you will stop the planned toll road which will scar this irreplaceable coastal environment and impact the world-famous and historic surf break at Trestles.

In establishing the state park at San Onofre -- given in perpetuity to the people of California -- then-Governor Ronald Reagan said, one of "the greatest legacies we can leave to future generations is the heritage of our land ... But unless we can preserve and protect the unspoiled areas which God has given us, we will have nothing to leave them." Can there be any question of his intent that this park should stand as a lasting legacy for the people of California?

My community and I urge you to consider the following points (from California State Park and Recreation Commission's Resolution 66-2005):

• San Onofre State Beach was established in 1971 by Executive Order of President Nixon and at the urging of Governor Ronald Reagan

• San Onofre State Beach is one of the five most-visited of California's 278 state parks and provides valuable and rare upland and wetland habitats (including unique habitat for eleven protected species listed as threatened or endangered under federal laws), wilderness, coastal beaches, affordable camping, nationally recognized historic and archaeological sites.

• San Onofre State Beach includes Trestles Beach, the only surfing World Championship Tour stop in the continental United States, so chosen because of the unique conditions that exist in the undeveloped San Mateo Creek watershed, conditions that provide the natural processes of erosion and sediment flows through the creek to the ocean, creating a clean, unique beach and surf, processes that would be altered and blocked by a multi-lane toll road through the watershed.

• Critical protection provided by section 4(f) of the Federal Transportation Act of 1966 designed to protect and preserve public park and recreation lands has, by language contained in a year 2000 appropriations bill, been waived.

• On November 3, 2005 the California State Park and Recreation Commission meeting in the City of San Clemente and in a hearing held before a crowd exceeding 1,000, took public testimony which was overwhelmingly in opposition to the use of San Onofre State Beach as a toll road route.

• Viable alternative routes and traffic improvements exist which do not depend upon San Onofre State Beach including, but not limited to, the Interstate-5 corridor.

We know you want to be the "people's governor" you promised to be, so please protect this park for the people of California. Don't allow a business interest to make an irreversible land-grab that will deprive the people of California of their beloved and pristine San Onofre State Beach.

With gratitude for your consideration,

Your name, address, telephone number

Home . Gallery Main Menu . Shop . News . Surfer’s Resources . San O Tribe E-mail Signup . Contact Us . About Us

privacy policy . conditions of use

All Material Copyright Rickman Photography © 2003 - 2004