Speeding Our Way to Pork and Slime on the 241

by: Andrew Davey (atdleft)

Sun Apr 08, 2007 at 06:55:20 AM PDT

Former Yorba Linda City Councilmember Ken Ryan was very close to developers... Perhaps too close. But why should we matter? Well, guess who one of those developers was?

{This is Part 8 of my special report on the proposed extension of the 241 Toll Road to San Onofre State Beach (aka Trestles). If you'd like, you can find the other stories in the "Speeding Our Way to Trestles" series here. As the debate heats up over Trestles and the 241, I'd like to go in depth and examine all the issues involved... And I'd love for you to come along for the ride as we explore what can be done to relieve traffic in South Orange County AND Save Trestles Beach. Enjoy! : ) }

As a principal for EDAW (Eckbo, Dean, Austin and Williams), Ryan is working on the Carrari Ranch Project in San Bernardino County, on land belonging to G. Miller Development Co., owned by Congressman Gary Miller (R-Diamond Bar). Miller is the same congressman whom Congressman Ken Calvert (R-Corona) thanked for his work on the 2006 Transportation Equity Act, which diverts $8 million in federal funds to the 241 project-despite the fact the toll road is supposed to be a private venture. It was classic pork: the act also included $2 million for sound walls in Yorba Linda and Anaheim; Ryan, Miller and Anaheim Mayor Curt Pringle gathered on Feb. 17, 2004, in an Anaheim mobile-home park to commemorate the occasion.

In a 2002 Riverside Press-Enterprise article, Ryan is listed as a spokesman for Lytle Development. In the 2004 election, Lytle Development was Miller's top donor.

In 2003, Congressman Miller requested more than $3 million to build a pedestrian bridge over the Imperial Highway in Yorba Linda, where his friend Ryan was known as "Mayor Ryan." Miller was also one of five signatories to a Feb. 17 letter to Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger in support of the 241. The other four? Calvert, Dana Rohrabacher (R-Huntington Beach), Darrell Issa (R-Vista) and John Campbell (R-Irvine). Miller, Calvert and Rohrabacher all list real-estate firms as their top campaign contributors in 2004.

Ryan isn't shy about his history with Miller. "I'm proud of our relationship," he told the Weekly. "I've been an urban planner for 20 years."

OK, so he asked Miller for some local pork... That happens to ALL MEMBERS OF CONGRESS. So why should we care? Well, this isn't your typical pork project... This is a COMPLETE CONFLICT OF INTEREST! How is Gary Miller helping the people of the 42nd District by diverting their tax dollars to projects that help HIS DEVELOPMENTS and the interests of HIS DEVELOPER FRIENDS?

And oh yes, why the heck is Gary Miller diverting federal funds to build a toll road that's supposed to be built "without taxpayer money"? Why is he pushing for a toll road that does nothing to ease traffic in South Orange County? Why would Miller agree to waste our tax dollars on a project that is destined to be turned down by state regulatory agencies? Why would Miller support a crazy boondoggle that would destroy our precious natural resources? Just why would Miller slack off on his responsibility to look out for the best interest of his own constituents?

Well, I guess that isn't as important to Gary Miller as his "responsibility" to feed off the public trough for the benefit of himself and his developer friends.