~Masterpiece Theater~

Part One,

The Santa Barbara Express

It was like having dinner together- the old 'winni' rambling down the highway, slowly but surely eating up the miles and I munching a big bag of tortilla chips.

The dogs finally gave up and went to sleep seventy five miles into the trip- it had been a big week.

Members of The Ocean Outfall Group, Surfrider Foundation, Heal The Ocean, Sierra Club, The Regional Water Quality Control Board and the Natural Resource Defense Council had all taken part in an historic meeting of the Morro Bay-Cayucos 'Joint Powers Agency', helping them to come away with a plan for better sewage treatment and a shorter timeline in which it would be accomplished.

Then there was a successful -and widely publicized-tour of the Morro Bay Waste Water Treatment Plant to 'stop the waiver'. Thanks to Dan Berman of the National Estuary Program for his participation!

Now, I was headed to Santa Barbara for a three day California Coastal Commission meeting to be held at the ritzy 'Fess Parker's Doubletree Hotel', deep in Reagan country.

My team was to meet me there for no less than 4 big issues, all to culminate in a bit of 'Masterpiece Theater'!

The wind got downright aggressive as the Dodge 440 droned through Gaviota Coast, once even forcing me into an involuntary lane change. Thank goodness I was alone on the highway!

Out of the corner of my eye, I spotted the spread wings of a lovely but now departed Barn Owl on the side of the road. I thought of stopping to trade him a descent burial for a few of those gorgeous and very powerful feathers, but road conditions dictated it was not to be; I zoomed on by.

Part Two, the Doubletree Hotel

It was almost dark by the time I pulled into Santa Barbara, a vibrant city with a hard edge. On 'State Street', the ladies were dressed provocatively and the bars overflowed into the streets. I saw back in time a few years as street musicians strummed their weathered instruments, dogs at their side! I cared not to linger for obvious reasons.

Fess Parkers Doubletree Hotel was enormous, beautiful and accommodating. I could get used to that! My team wasn't due 'till the next day so I found a spot for the RV and began to reconnoiter.

The meeting was to be held in the 'grande ballroom'; three days of quasi-judicial bliss with Americas most maligned and yet indispensable governing body. In recent days, the environmental protections we as Americans cherish most have come under brutal assault by business interests and so, I had come to Santa Barbara to do a bit more than just address a bundle of important coastal issues!

Part Three,

Explosive Issues

It was a brilliant, beautiful morning.

Outside the building, members of the ocean protection group 'Oceana' (www.oceana.org) along with 'United Anglers' (www.stopbottomtrawling.org) had set up a large trawl net to get their point across. The meeting was starting to heat up and there were activists pouring in from all over the state, some of whom I hadn't seen in far too long- activism causes life-long friendships. I took the opportunity to introduce Orange County activists to those from Morro Bay, Cambria and Los Osos. Let the networking begin!

Outside the hotel, I was interviewed by Anna Davidson, staff writer of the Santa Barbara News-Press on the issue of LNG- 'Liquefied Natural Gas'. I read the quote in the paper the next day over coffee. I'm getting to be a master of the sound bite. The quote?

"This is an explosive issue! I said.

Part Four,

Showtime!

Soon, the time had come for Masterpiece Theater.

My team showed up in great spirits and we began the preparations. Too long had the California Coastal Commission -and therefore the Coastal Act itself- been under siege by those who see the coast not as a work of timeless beauty, but as a money making opportunity. The commission was about to get what they really need for coastal protection- big time support!

Inspired by the professionalism of KEYT-3 Santa Barbara's Senior TV Reporter John Palminteri, we put on a show of our own!

There they sat, great women and men and their incredible staff, who had all answered the call of civic responsibility.

"Next speaker is Joey Racano", said Commission Chair Meg Caldwell who doubles as Director and Lecturer on Law for the Environmental and Natural Resources Law & Policy Program at Stanford Law School (www.law.stanford.edu).

I stepped to the podium, wearing my Ocean Outfall Group badge like the Medal of Honor. Oh, and I had a pair of giant inflatable bright orange boxing gloves on!

"Honorable Commissioners, staff and friends" I began...

"Today, I come before you to remind you of the tremendous support the state community has for this commission".

At this time, activist Marla Bruton stepped to the fore, parading around in high-heel sneakers and holding alofte a sign that said:

I (heart) THE COASTAL COMMISSION on one side and:

DEFENDING THE COAST AGAINST ALL CHALLENGERS on the other!

I continued, "So act with confidence when you make bold moves toward preservation of our natural resources!"

Now activist 'Mick' hoisted a boom-box, pressed the button and out blasted the 'Theme from 'ROCKY'!

I of course, finished with a flurry, dancing the 'Ali Shuffle' around the room to the roar of the crowd who definitely showed a genuine love and support for that commission!

Masterpiece Theater, epilogue

I took it slow on the road back up to Morro Bay and sure enough, I came upon another unfortunate Barn Owl. I now wear his feathers with respect.

and thus did the future rest; in the fickle hands of a race of men caught in the conflict between brain and tail, heart and ego, cowardice and courage, the outcome to determine no less than the face of the shore upon which foamy waves of another millennia may lap.

www.coastforyou.org

love, your pal, joey

xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo

www.stopthewaiver.com

"Polite conservationists leave no mark save the scars upon the Earth that could have been prevented had they stood their ground."

David Ross Brower

Want to save the world but not sure exactly how to go about doing it? Get an e'mail copy of my book ('An Activist's Almanac') -just ask and I'll send it to you.

let's save the world!