The O.C. Register published an opinion letter today by one of my neighbors, Isabel Reed, in the Park Santiago Neighborhood of Santa Ana.
She wrote them to complain about Santa Ana Mayor Miguel Pulido’s vote against the OCTA proposal to establish Quiet Zones that will silence the ridiculously loud train horns when they pass through many O.C. neighborhoods, in exchange for safety measures that will be largely funded by the OCTA.
Pulido voted no because he does not want the City of Santa Ana to pay the 12% that the OCTA won’t cover.
Apparently Pulido LIED to Reed and other community activists in my area.
OCTA tracks with the right priorities on quiet zones
Thousands of people who live along the train corridor from north to south county must have been elated after learning that the Orange County Transportation Authority Board approved $60 million to establish a quiet zone at all 53 crossings in the county [“$60 million rail plan OK’d,” Local Aug. 28]. One reason many people voted for the extension of Measure M was that it stipulated funds for quieting train horns. With the implementation of Metrolink, we now have 60 trains per 24 hour period and that will increase to 90 trains by 2009.
Mayor Carolyn Cavecche is to be commended for listening to her constituents and making the quiet zone one of her priorities. Jim Owens and his committee from Orange have been front-runners is pursuing a quiet zone. And the Grand Jury’s report also increased the awareness of the OCTA Board that this was a crisis.
We, in northeast Santa Ana, have been working for three years to make our voices heard. We have petitioned the city, gone before the council, and hounded city staff. We were disappointed, dismayed, and upset to learn that Mayor Miguel Pulido was the only dissenting vote for the funding of the Quiet Zone. He had long promised his constituents his full support of a quiet zone and made that promise to us at an April meeting with residents.
What about Carlos Bustamonte? Isn’t he the Councilman that represents that area? What is he doing about the situation?
Seems like Bustamonte should be leading the charge on this quiet zone situation but I have not heard a peep out of him. All I hear is non-stop train whistles from my bedroom! And what about the new entry Markers and improvements that were promised at Park lane and Lincoln? We were promised those nice landscaped entrys and signs like at other neighborhood entrys to buy us off when they added the 2nd track but they didn’t keep that promise either!!!! I don’t know who to trust anymore. Please keep us informed O.J. , you are my main source of reliable information. How about a George Collins video of the trains passing by Lincoln and Park st. just so people who don’t live in my hood get the true picture. WOuld love to see it posted here. You won’t feel your whole house shaking like mine does but you will hear the whistles. This whole situation really sucks!
Councilman Bustamonte has been MIA when it comes to the double/track quiet zone issue. I thought he had some pull with Pulido? What’s going on???
Who should pay the cost? The 18 percent that OCTA is not paying?
Should the residences who will see increased property values and more quiet enjoyment pay the cost? Or should the money for pot hole repairs in the west side or southern portion of Santa Ana be used for that?
I think that the property owners in the area should pay for this benefit.
Of course it may not make any difference, If a
BUSTAMANTE is a follower not a leader! That’s why u are not hearing a peep from him.
It is apparent that Mayor Miguel Pulido lied to Isabel Reed and the residents of Park Santiago.
Lets hope that she leads the charge in calling for his removal from office in November 2008.
He should spend the 1 1/4 million to complete the quiet zone and keep his promise.
I wish Art Pedroza would run against Bustamonte. He lives in Ward 3 right? Go Art!