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 An Activist Devotes His Life To Saving Birds, Bugs And Bogs Author: Lori Basheda Source: The Orange County Register (CA) Title: A HUNTINGTON BEACH COASTAL CRUSADER Q: Who is Joey Racano? a) A thorn in the side of developers b) A blues musician c) A wetlands warrior d) A hotheaded Sicilian e) A butterfly-rescuing Wiccan The correct answer: all of the above. So where to begin? Perhaps 1996 would be best; the year of Racano's lowest low, a pivotal moment. It was Sept. 21, 1996, Racano says, rattling the date off the top of his head (and sounding as if he belongs on "The Sopranos"). There was a fund-raising concert that night for Bolsa Chica State Beach. A local favorite, he was invited to perform at the Bolsa Chica concert – opening for Bonnie Raitt. So there was Racano, sharing the spotlight with Raitt, singer Graham Nash and actor Pierce Brosnan. It was like a Cinderella story; when the ball ended, the celebrities climbed into their limos and drove off into the night, presumably to houses with plumbing and electricity. Racano, one the other hand, wandered down to Main Street and, jonesin' for a cigarette, began fishing for change in a fountain. "I got so sick, I threw up," he said. "I just rejected my situation. I said, 'This is no longer for me.' " Racano got a job doing security. He bought an RV and a guitar and made an album, which led to a tour of radio stations up north. It was at one of the stations that he met some forest advocates. Later he hiked into the woods to meet some hardcore tree sitters. He returned to Huntington in 1999 with a new perspective. Shortly after, he and his girlfriend attended a California Coastal Commission meeting. On the agenda were plans to build a Hyatt and homes on PCH at Beach Boulevard. Thirty-three of the townhouses would destroy about half an acre of wetlands. The commissioners voted to proceed. But that's illegal, Racano and friends protested. "And they laughed at us," Racano says. "I got laughed at. If there's anything in this world you don't do, it's laugh in the face of a Sicilian." | |
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