COVER UP – Del Norte County Sued:
Triplicate fails to report it!
The Daily Triplicate continues to shield public officials from scrutiny.
http://www.legrange.net/id104.html contains the text of the lawsuit charging Del Norte County with violating the California Constitution and withholding taxes collected for Pacific Shores.
Del Norte County, lead by radical environmentalists on the Board of Supervisors and in the County Planning Department, has attacked Pacific Shore’s families in a long battle intended to deprive them of their home sites.
The Triplicate consistently fails to report the situation accurately.
Today it used the term “platted” to describe Pacific Shores: implying it is a subdivision on paper only. This ignores the roads, utilities, homes, and associations that prove Pacific Shores is a legitimate entity.
The County of Del Norte, as an agent of The State of California, is engaging in terror as a policy. Flooding, prosecution, permit denial, deceit and half-truths have become business as normal in our little County, but you won’t hear about it in the Daily Triplicate.
Tuesday, December 19, 2006
Monday, October 16, 2006
Why 90 is Needed Here!
Del Norte County is withholding the funds used by Pacific Shores to work for the fair resolution of the issues at Pacific Shores. Prop 90 would allow the owners to get into court and get a fair settlement for their loss.
We are publishing the following letter to show the feelings most Pacific Shores owners have toward the Water District and the County.
This is not the view you are fed by the local newsgroup.
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An open letter to the people of Del Norte County from the President of the Pacific Shores Property Owners Association.
PSPOA represents the property owners in Pacific Shores, especially their property rights.
On August 8, 2006 the Del Norte County Board of Supervisors passed a resolution to withhold the payment to the Pacific Shores Subdivision California Water District in the amount of $225,000 in tax money due the District.
PSPOA is not the Water District, we pay our taxes to the District.
On October 10, 2006, the President of the Pacific Shores Subdivision California
Water District met with the Del Norte County Board of Supervisors to appeal the Boards decision of August 8, 2006 to withhold payment of funds in the amount of $225,000 owed to the Water District from Chapter 8 sales in their District that were sold to the State of CA. (These were tax defaulted lots in the subdivision and were withheld from public auction and sold to the state.)
The results of the Supervisors Meeting on October 10, 2006, we are not giving the District their $225,000. Instead they discussed some type of plan that would ask the 858 property owners to swap their deeds on their ½ acre lots for some type of timeshare on a 10 acre parcel (sounds like what they discussed, I haven’t seen the plans yet maybe just
an idea thought of on the toilet, who knows?).
First and foremost, let it be known to everyone, no discussions by PSPOA of any plan will be discussed until the $225,000 plus interest is in the bank account of the Pacific Shores Subdivision California Water District. PSPOA started the Water District in 1987 to help fund all the studies required by all the agencies and to this very day we support them 100 %.
PSPOA also wrote to the Board of Supervisors on October 9, 2006 appealing the decision
made at the August 8, 2006 Board meeting to withhold the Water District Funds.
Zero, notta, none of our appeal was written up in your local newspaper why?
So now, it can be read on your site: thank you
It reads in part:
It is the opinion of PSPOA that the Del Norte County Board of Supervisiors is reading
The CALIFORNIA CONSTITUTION ARTICLE 13 TAXATION SEC.32 BACKWARDS
CALIFORNIA CONSTITUTION ARTICLE 13 TAXATION SEC.32.
Legal or equitable process to prevent prohibited.
No legal or equitable process shall issue in any proceeding in any court against this State
or any officer thereof to prevent or enjoin the collection of any tax. After payment of a
Tax claimed to be illegal, an action may be maintained to recover the tax paid, with interest, in such manner as may be provided by the legislature.
Conclusion: pay the amount due the PSSCWD (a state agency) now plus interest.
If the Del Norte County Board of Supervisors feels that the District tax claim is illegal feel free to pursue the second part of the Constitution. After payment of a tax claimed to be Illegal, an action may be maintained to recover the tax paid, with interest, in such manner as may be provided by the legislature.
One recommendation that was suggested at the August 8, 2006 meeting of the Del Norte
Board of Supervisors, was that the Supervisors should hold the Districts money until a
Court of law made a decision on the withheld chapter 8 money. The PSPOA agrees with
this recommendation and will demand that the PSSCWD go straight to the District Attorneys office if necessary.
Property owners in Del Norte County, don’t panic by what you read in the newspaper. If
I make a comment to the newspaper, after I read it, I think that the opposition wrote it.
When a paper says they have the right to edit, you are doomed.
Thank for your support
Thomas W. Resch
President, PSPOA
My Bio: I’m the person that breached the lake in 1994 when our properties were flooded, had five federal agents come to my house with guns and a search warrant for PSPOA records. Had to pay a $5000.00 fine for protecting the property of others and do 18 months probation. And your County wants to keep our tax money and cut us a deal. What do you think?
VOTE Yes on Prop 90!
Help Solve Del Norte County Citizens Biggest Problem: VOTE Yes on Prop 90!
Anyone can become an abused property owner in California. Del Norte County has at least two subdivisions with roads, power, and other services that are being destroyed by officials abusing their eminent domain powers.
Prop 90 scares the bejesus out of the corrupt officials who prey on home and landowners in order to line their own pockets either through corruption or the advancement of their careers.
Proposition 90 does not redress the losses people suffered in the past, but it does protect those of you who have not been through the pain of seeing your personal economic security lost through eminent domain abuse.
A vote for prop 90 is a vote to protect your home and your peace of mind.
http://www.90yes.com/
Anyone can become an abused property owner in California. Del Norte County has at least two subdivisions with roads, power, and other services that are being destroyed by officials abusing their eminent domain powers.
Prop 90 scares the bejesus out of the corrupt officials who prey on home and landowners in order to line their own pockets either through corruption or the advancement of their careers.
Proposition 90 does not redress the losses people suffered in the past, but it does protect those of you who have not been through the pain of seeing your personal economic security lost through eminent domain abuse.
A vote for prop 90 is a vote to protect your home and your peace of mind.
http://www.90yes.com/
Thursday, August 31, 2006
Lame Goose Supervisor Attacks Pacific Shores
HELP HELP HELP
I don't know why I didn't get this to you sooner BUT HERE IT IS
Best regards,
ALT
A JEM FOR YOU
-------Original Message-------
From: Armand L. Trinitapoli
Date: 08/30/06 22:18:01
Subject: URGENT & IMPORTANT PLS REVIEW & CONSIDER BEFORE TMWR's LAFCO Mtg / ALT
ALT
PACIFIC SHORES WATER DISTRICT
Partners With The Environment
Duane Bruce Smith, President
13220 Southport Lane 170-F, Leisure World, CA 90740
(562) 799-1134 e-mail: PSSCWD@netscape.com
Del Norte Local Agency Formation Commission August 26, 2006
Attention: Darren McElfresh, EO
508 H Street, Suite 2
Crescent City, CA 95531
(707) 465-0836 telephone
(707) 464-1881 fax
Via Email: darren@charterinternet.com
Re: August 28, 2006 Agenda Items A,B,C,D and All issues regarding the Pacific Shores Subdivision California Water District (PSSCWD)
The California Water District, respectfully requests that any reorganization, dissolution, proposed change in the Pacific Shores Subdivision California Water District or boundaries or thereof be DENIED.
A. 1:The Pacific Shores Subdivision California Water District has not received any of the proper notices from the Del Norte Board of Supervisors as required by law.
2:The Pacific Shores Subdivision California Water District has not received any of the proper notices regarding the above agenda from LAFCO as required by law.
B. ISSUES RAISED In the Del Norte Board of Supervisors Resolution 6002-061
1. Sarah Samples claims that “the Pacific Shores Subdivision has been in existence for some 42 years and continues to be without a County-approved specific plan or use permit.” She apparently misses the point, that it is the responsibility of the Del Norte Board of Supervisors to prepare and approve that plan. It does show that the delays in developing the Pacific Shores Subdivision are caused by the Board of Supervisors not PSSCWD.
2. That “only one development permit has ever been issued,” however, there were four other residences built in the district prior to that. It is also the responsibility of the county, not the PSSCWD to handle planning and development issues.
3. That the only improvements are the streets and roads. That also is not true, there are also existing power and telephone services.
4. That the “subdivision lot owners have paid “substantial annual assessments
special taxes to the Water District.” The truth is that they paid substantially less than it would have cost them to drill a well – which they would have had to do if it were left to the county to provide water. When it comes to money, it should be noted that while the PSSCWD has been working to provide water and sewage facilities in order to facilitate development, Del Norte County has collected their regular taxes from the property owners in Pacific Shores since 1964 without providing any services or benefits to the property owners whatsoever.
5. That “the Pacific Shores Subdivision has not prepared a Local Coastal Plan for the Pacific Shores subdivision.” Once again, Samples is blaming the PSSCWD for something the Board of Supervisors should have been doing and again illustrating how the Board of Supervisors’ failure to perform their duties is holding up development in the PSSCWD.
6. Amazing! One thing is correct. The PSSCWD has spent virtually all its funds over the years on legal fees, and environmental studies. But again she gets it wrong. Progress has been made and environmental issues are being resolved. These issues often do take a long time. The new privately funded Indian Casino development has had similar problems and delays.
7. Samples further claims “the County of Del Norte has received many dozens if not hundreds of complaints about Water District special taxes from Pacific Shores lot owners.” This is pretty ridicules considering that the lot owners implemented and approved those assessments themselves. We request from the Board of Supervisors a list of those lot owners who have complained so we might address their issues. There has never been a complaint from a lot owner forwarded to the PSSCWD from the Del Norte County Board of Supervisors.
8. That “literally hundreds of lots have gone into tax-default, causing the owners to lose their equity.” There is no evidence or anything else to suggest that any of the tax-defaults resulted from the Water District special tax rather then that the owners simply passed on intestate.
9. That “the draft LAFCO Municipal Services Review has been available for the Water District to comment upon or supplement since May 2005, and the district has not done so.” The person who was apparently contacted by LAFCO is no longer on the Board of Directors. We will investigate this matter.
C. The Exhibit B “Plan for Provision of Services within the Territory Currently Within the Boundaries of the Pacific Shores Subdivision Water District”
This plan provided by the Del Norte Board of Supervisors does not offer a better plan to the lot owners. The only thing it does, is to ensure that the property owners will never be able to build on their lots.
D. WITHHOLDING OF FUNDS
The Del Norte county Board of Supervisors have withheld entitlements that should have been distributed to the PSSCWD. They are holding the funds hostage asking LAFCO to determine the disposition of those funds.
The Board of Supervisors does not have the authority to withhold the entitlements and LAFCO does not have any jurisdiction over them.
We request a statement from LAFCO directing the Board of Supervisors to immediately transfer the funds to the PSSCWD.
Respectfully yours,
Bruce Smith, President
By
Antoinette B. Seydoux, Secretary
Pacific Shores Property Owners Association
16026 Wyandotte Street, Van Nuys, CA 91406
Phone: (818) 780-0200 Fax: (818) 997-1771
Thomas W. Resch, President
Del Norte Local Agency Formation Commission August 26, 2006
Attention: Darren McElfresh, EO
508 H Street, Suite 2
Crescent City, CA 95531
(707) 465-0836 telephone
(707) 464-1881 fax
Via Email: darren@charterinternet.com
Re: August 28, 2006 Agenda Items A,B,C,D and All issues regarding the Pacific Shores Subdivision California Water District (PSSCWD)
As a property owner and representative of the other property owners within the Pacific Shores Subdivision California Water District, I respectfully request that any reorganization, dissolution, proposed change in the Pacific Shores Subdivision California Water District (PSSCWD) or boundaries thereof be DENIED.
The Pacific Shores Subdivision was officially formed and zoned a “Planned Community” around 1964. Many of the present lot owners purchased their lots at that time for a considerable amount of money.
If fully developed, the Pacific Shores Subdivision would generate about $6,000,000.00 in annual property tax revenues for Del Norte County.
The Del Norte County Board of Supervisors (Board of Supervisors) continuously refused to do anything to assist the property owners in the development of their properties. It was because of this lack of action by the Board of Supervisors, that eventually the property owners themselves created the Pacific Shores Subdivision California Water District in order to pay for the costs of the required studies before any water or sewer system would be approved in the Pacific Shores Subdivision.
The Pacific shores Subdivision California Water District (PSSCWD) is the only agency that has made any efforts to assist the property owners in the development of their properties.
As for the prospect of the Del Norte Board of Supervisors controlling the development of the properties, it is interesting that the very people who have been creating roadblocks and withheld assessments and entitlements that should have been distributed to the PSSCWD would claim to be interested in providing utility services or the development of the district. Particularly when several of the originators are personally involved with groups pressuring property owners to sell their properties for a great deal less than the property would be worth without them creating those obstacles to the development of the properties. Through their activities they have persuaded many PSSCWD property owners to sell their lots at $50,000.00 to $150,000.00 less than they should have received for them. They are
described as Willing Sellers by the County and State Agencies.
I. FAILURE TO PROVIDE REQUIRED NOTICE
The Del Norte Board of Supervisors have failed to provide any of the notifications required by the California Government Code including, but not limited to:
1. The Executive Officer, at least 21 calendar days prior to the date set for hearing, gives notice by (56150-56157, 56300f, 56600, 56661):
A. Publication in a newspaper of general circulation;
B. Posting on the LAFCO Web Site and near the door of the hearing room (56300f, 56661); and
C. Mailing to each affected agency which contains territory or whose sphere of influence contains territory within the proposal, chief petitioner(s), persons requesting notice, each city within three miles, and the county in the case of incorporation or formation.
D. Mailing to the proponents, each person requesting special notice, the county clerk (for incorporations), and each affected local agency (by giving notice to each elected local official, each member of the governing body, and the executive officer of the agency) (56661a).
E. Mailing to the Director of Forestry (for annexations to or formation of a fire protection district in a state responsibility area), the Director of Conservation (for annexation of agricultural preserves to a city), and the Executive Officer and LAFCO members of adjoining counties (for changes of organization in more than 1 county) (56661f).
Mailing to all registered voters and property owners, as shown on the most recent assessment roll, within the affected area and 300 feet of the exterior boundary of the proposal.
56661. To the extent that the commission maintains an Internet Web site, notice of all public hearings shall be made available in electronic format on that site. The executive officer shall also give mailed notice of any hearing by the commission, as provided in Sections 56155 to 56157, inclusive, by mailing notice of the hearing or transmitting by electronic mail, if available to the recipient, to all of the following persons and entities:
(a)To each affected local agency by giving notice to the legislative body and the executive officer of the agency.
(d)If the proposal is for any annexation or detachment, or for a reorganization providing for the formation of a new district, to each city within three miles of the exterior boundaries of the territory proposed to be annexed, detached, or formed into a new district.
(g)If the proposal would result in the annexation to a city of land that is subject to a contract executed pursuant to the Williamson Act (Chapter 7 (commencing with Section 51200) of Division 1), to the Director of Conservation.
(h)To all landowners within the affected territory pursuant to the provisions of subdivision (d) of Section 56157.
(i)To all registered voters within the affected territory pursuant to the provisions of subdivision (f) of Section 56157.
56658. (a) Any petitioner or legislative body desiring to initiate proceedings shall submit an application to the executive officer of the principal county. (b) (1) Immediately after receiving an application and before issuing a certificate of filing, the executive officer shall give mailed notice that the application has been received to each interested agency and each subject agency, the county committee on school district organization, and each school superintendent whose school district overlies the subject area. The notice shall generally describe the proposal and the affected territory.
56628 (2) (e) The executive officer shall not accept an application for filing and issue a certificate of filing for at least 20 days after giving the mailed notice required by subdivision
56660. The executive officer shall give notice of any hearing by the commission by publication, as provided in Sections 56153 and 56154, and by posting, as provided in Sections 56158 and 56159.
II. LACK OF JURISDICTION
According to The California Association of LAFCOs, or CALAFCO:
“LAFCOs do not regulate boundaries for counties and the following local governments:
· Community facilities districts (Mello-Roos districts)
· Improvement districts
· Metropolitan water districts
Special assessment districts”
III. FAILURE TO PAY FEES
The Del Norte Board of Supervisors apparently failed to provide any funds in their resolution for the payment of fees. The proposal lacks processing deposit and cost reimbursement acknowledgment. Who paid the LAFCO processing fees?
IV. DEFECTS IN APPLICAT’S PLAN (EXHIBIT B)
An agency originating a reorganization is required to provide a plan as specified in the Government Code §56653 (attached).
A. The “Plan” proposed by the Del Norte Board of Supervisors as “Exhibit B” in Resolution 2006-061 (attached) is severely defective and fails to meet the requirements of GC §56063. The Plan states that the Board of Supervisors:
1. Does NOT have ANY “feasible plan for providing potable water and wastewater treatment services critical to the development of the individual lots in the Pacific Shores Subdivision.”
2. It fails to provide any detailed plans for construction or engineering or environmental reports necessary to construct a water system.
3. The Board of Supervisors have not provided any money or financing for implementing improvements within the PSSCWD.
4. Del Norte County lacks any experience providing or managing a water system. It was necessary for the Crescent City Municipal Water System to provide water service in the county to the Bertsch-Ocean View, Meadow Brook and Church Tree Districts of the county as well as the Pelican Bay State Prison, because the county lacked funds and the ability to do so.
5. Fails to provide the timely availability of an adequate water supply.
In other words, the Board of Supervisors plan is no plan at all, other than to dissolve the PSSCWD.
There are actually quite a few methods of providing water and waste disposal for the PSSCWD. However, the Board of Supervisors has never investigated them because their only interest is dissolving the PSSCWD so they can prevent property owners from using the new technology to develop their lots.
B. Regarding the Tax Default properties, I personally researched many of the tax-defaulted properties in the Pacific Shores Subdivision. The majority of them ended up defaulted because the owners died (without heirs) waiting for Del Norte County to provide the infrastructure necessary for them to develop their retirement homes. Many of those lots were defaulted prior to the creation of the PSSCWD. To make matters worse, Sarah Samples, as Tax Collector, held them hostage for five years and then refused to allow them to be sold at a tax auction at which there were many people from as far away as Los Angeles specifically to purchase those lots.
C. The Board of Supervisors mistakenly refers to the puddles formed within the PSSCWD during the rainy season as “wetlands”. They do not meet the new definition of “Wetlands” Rapanos v. United States and Carabell v. U. S. Army Corps of Engineers, 126 S. Ct. 2208 (2006), which represents some of the most highly anticipated changes in the Clean Water Act. Obviously, the Board of Supervisors was not interested in legal decisions that might help develop these properties.
D. The Board goes on to suggest there are sensitive species and habitats within the district. They fail to provide any supporting documentation. They fail to mention that the Board of supervisors annihilated what little there may have been, by raising the breach level thereby flooding their habitat and killing them.
E. Developing a “consolidated area”. Yea, I heard this one before. They have promised for years to provide a land exchange, but never came up with a viable plan to do so. Show us the detailed approved plans first!
F. Campgrounds. Many of the current owners of lots within the PSSCWD have purchased them to be used as recreational sites until they can be developed. I see no reason why they would want to exchange their nearly one acre lots for a crowded, tiny time share facility they have no intentions of building.
G. The Board of Supervisors further want the owners of property within the PSSCWD to only “explore” the development of a campground. Again, the Board of Supervisors provides no studies or other data in support of this whimsical proposal. There are no studies or detailed plans EIRs or CEQA reports.
H. The Board of Supervisors and County of Del Norte have no experience in developing or operating a beachfront campground.
I. The Board of Supervisors claim that “Del Norte County has no other RV-friendly, beachfront campground.” Apparently they are ignorant of the Harbor RV Anchorage on Starfish Way, or the facility on Sunset Circle in Crescent City. Or perhaps they do not realize Crescent City is within the county of Del Norte.
J. It is pretty obvious from their proposal that the only plan the Board of Supervisors has is to destroy the only agency that is working toward the development of the PSSCWD properties so they can force the property owners to sell their land for practically nothing. Again they use the term Willing Sellers!
K. Maps of the proposed change of organization provided fails to meet the current requirements of the Del Norte LAFCO or the State Board of Equalization.
L. CEQA – There is none of the required CEQA information provided.
M. EIR – There is none of the required EIR information provided.
N. CCC – There is no approval by the California Coastal Commission for plan.
O. The Board of Supervisors fails to State whether the proposal is consistent with or within the spheres of influence for any affected city or district and include evidence which addresses the factors that LAFCO considers in reviewing changes of organization; and
P. The Board of Supervisors Ordinance 2006-061 and the included Plan “Exhibit B” propose two different and mutually exclusive objectives. One being the creation of a new development district and another that is only the elimination of the current water district. Which are they really proposing???
V. CONSIDERATIONS
DEL NORTE COUNTY LACKS THE ABILITY TO DEVELOP PSSCWD
Factors to be considered in the review of a proposal shall include, but not be limited to, all of the following: (GC§56668. attached).
1. The County of Del Norte has been having financial problems and has even been forced to close the County offices on Fridays because of lack of funds.
2. It should further be noted that the petitioner (Board of Supervisors of the County of Del Norte) have continuously failed to provide required county services to the properties in PSSCWD for over 60 years.
3. The Board of Supervisors has failed to maintain the public roads within the PSSCWD.
4. The County of Del Norte, under the direction of the Board of Supervisors has applied for and collected state funds for the maintenance of 27 miles of roads within the Pacific Shores Subdivision. The maintenance work was not done and the roads have been allowed to deteriorate to a nearly unusable condition.
5. The Board of Supervisors has failed to provide maintenance for the roadway drainage system within the PSSCWD causing flooding that endangered the lives of those living within the Pacific Shores Subdivision.
6. The Board of Supervisors has failed to provide tree and vegetation trimming along the roadways within the PSSCWD allowing trees and brush to grow onto the roadways making many of the public roads impassable.
7. The Board of Supervisors has failed to provide protection from flooding within the PSSCWD that they themselves created by raising the level of Lake Earl and Lake Talawa.
8. The Board of Supervisors has failed to take any action to prevent flooding in the Pacific Shores Subdivision Planned Community.
9. The Board of Supervisors has failed to comply with Government Code §65580-65581 by not working with the PSSCWD to promote development of the properties.
VI. HOUSING ASSESSMENT
There is no provision for creating accommodations for replacing the homes that would have been built in the Pacific Shores Subdivision. On the contrary, the proposed “Plan” (attached) of the Del Norte Board of Supervisors is solely to eliminate a 1,200 unit subdivision contrary to the purpose of developing housing.
The elimination of housing in one area only forces it into another. The long term effect of eliminating the Pacific Shores Subdivision will ultimately be the development of other agricultural or open space lands.
Government Code
56001. The Legislature finds and declares that it is the policy of the state to encourage orderly growth and development which are essential to the social, fiscal, and economic well-being of the state.
65580. The Legislature finds and declares as follows: (a) The availability of housing is of vital statewide importance, and the early attainment of decent housing and a suitable living environment for every Californian, including farmworkers, is a priority of the highest order.
65580. (d) Local and state governments have a responsibility to use the powers vested in them to facilitate the improvement and development of housing to make adequate provision for the housing needs of all economic segments of the community.
VII. CONFLICTS OF INTEREST
There is a significant conflict of interest when Sarah Samples, Leslie McNamer and Martha McClure (Alternate) County Members of the LAFCO Board and the Board of Supervisors, who are directly involved with those attempting to purchase the properties for substantially less than they would be worth without their interference.
A. Leslie McNamer – LAFCO County Member & Member of the Board of Supervisors should be recused because she is related by marriage to the petitioner Carolyn Tweed who is her sister-in-law. This also casts doubt on the validity of the proceedings of the Del Norte Board of Supervisors, on which she sat and voted for this matter in total disregard of the impropriety.
B. Sarah Samples – LAFCO County Member & Member of the Board of Supervisors, as Tax Collector, withheld properties within the PSSCWD from being offered for sale at public tax auction for more than the five year period permitted by law (R&T 3691). She also removed tax-defaulted properties within the PSSCWD from being offered for sale at a public tax auction that would have put them back on the tax rolls so that she could sell them to her friends in the Smith River Alliance. This also delayed collecting assessments and eventually eliminated the assessment revenues that should have been generated by those properties thereby diminishing the financial base for the development of the area and depriving the county of future tax revenues that would have been generated by the fully developed properties.
C. One person listed their Assessors Parcel Number on their petition. We are not sure if they own property in Pacific Shores or not. All names must be certified by the county’s assessors office before any action can be taken. None of the plaintiffs listed by the Board of Supervisors have been certified to be property owners as required by GC §56710. They should also be required to disclose their relationship to any of the proponents as in GC §56700.1.
D. All of the proponents, members of LAFCO or members of the Board of Supervisor should be required to disclose all expenditures for political purposes related to a change of organization or reorganization proposal that has been submitted to the commission, and contributions in support of or in opposition to those measures reported to the same extent and subject to the same requirements as provided for local initiative measures to be presented to the electorate. GC §56700.1.
Very truly yours,
Thomas W. Resch
Thomas W. Resch
President, PSPOA
TWR:jm
CC: PSSCWD
PLAN REQUIREMENTS
CALIFORNIA GOVERNMENT CODE
56653. (a) Whenever a local agency or school district submits a resolution of application for a change of organization or reorganization pursuant to this part, the local agency shall submit with the resolution of application a plan for providing services within the affected territory. (b) The plan for providing services shall include all of the following information and any additional information required by the commission or the executive officer:
(1) An enumeration and description of the services to be extended to the affected territory.
(2) The level and range of those services.
(3) An indication of when those services can feasibly be extended to the affected territory.
(4) An indication of any improvement or upgrading of structures, roads, sewer or water facilities, or other conditions the local agency would impose or require within the affected territory if the change of organization or reorganization is completed.
(5) Information with respect to how those services will be financed.
STANDARDS OF REVIEW
CALIFORNIA GOVERNMENT CODE
56668. Factors to be considered in the review of a proposal shall include, but not be limited to, all of the following:
(a) Population and population density; land area and land use; per capita assessed valuation; topography, natural boundaries, and drainage basins; proximity to other populated areas; the likelihood of significant growth in the area, and in adjacent incorporated and unincorporated areas, during the next 10 years.
(b) Need for organized community services; the present cost and adequacy of governmental services and controls in the area; probable future needs for those services and controls; probable effect of the proposed incorporation, formation, annexation, or exclusion and of alternative courses of action on the cost and adequacy of services and controls in the area and adjacent areas. "Services," as used in this subdivision, refers to governmental services whether or not the services are services which would be provided by local agencies subject to this division, and includes the public facilities necessary to provide those services.
(c) The effect of the proposed action and of alternative actions, on adjacent areas, on mutual social and economic interests, and on the local governmental structure of the county.
(d) The conformity of both the proposal and its anticipated effects with both the adopted commission policies on providing planned, orderly, efficient patterns of urban development, and the policies and priorities set forth in Section 56377.
(e) The effect of the proposal on maintaining the physical and economic integrity of agricultural lands, as defined by Section 56016.
(f) The definiteness and certainty of the boundaries of the territory, the nonconformance of proposed boundaries with lines of assessment or ownership, the creation of islands or corridors of unincorporated territory, and other similar matters affecting the proposed boundaries.
(g) Consistency with city or county general and specific plans.
(h) The sphere of influence of any local agency which may be applicable to the proposal being reviewed.
(I) The comments of any affected local agency.
(j) The ability of the newly formed or receiving entity to provide the services which are the subject of the application to the area, including the sufficiency of revenues for those services following the proposed boundary change.
(k)Timely availability of water supplies adequate for projected needs as specified in Section 65352.5 (as required by GC §56668S).
(l) The extent to which the proposal will affect a city or cities and the county in achieving their respective fair shares of the regional housing needs as determined by the appropriate council of governments consistent with Article 10.6 (commencing with Section 65580) of Chapter 3 of Division 1 of Title 7.
(m) Any information or comments from the landowner or owners.
(n) Any information relating to existing land use designations.
Del Norte Board of Supervisors - Exhibit B
PLAN FOR PROVISION OF SERVICES WITHIN THE TERRITORY CURRENTLY WITHIN THE BOUNDARIES OF THE PACIFIC SHORES SUBDIVISION CALIFORNIA WATER DISTRICT
This plan is attached to and made a part of the Board of Supervisors’ Resolution adopted pursuant to Government Code section 56654, applying to the Del Norte County Local Agency Formation Commission for a change of organization dissolving the Water District.
The Board of Supervisor accepts that there does not appear to be a feasible plan for providing potable water and wastewater treatment services critical to the development of the individual lots in the Pacific Shores Subdivision. As evidence for this, it appears that the Pacific Shores Subdivision California Water District has acquired and expended millions of dollars and initiated a variety of technical studies, none of which have ever reached a positive conclusion. Nor have these studies even been finalized. Hundreds of lot owners have lost their property due to tax-default and hundreds of others have elected to sell their lots to the State of California.
The Board aspires to a positive vision, tempered with realism, for the Pacific Shores Property. In addition to the infrastructure limitation described above, the subdivision is a mosaic of wetlands in the wet winter months and contains a number of sensitive species and habitats. However, we believe that it may be productive to explore the possibility of development concentrated in on consolidated area of the property. This development may be seasonal or year-round and might consist of a time-shared recreational vehicle park or dry season campground. Potable water may be brought to the site and sewage waste would likely have to be contained and hauled to proper disposal site.
Because National and State Park campgrounds are generally full during the summer, we anticipate that this venture could provide willing lot owners in Pacific Shores the opportunity to trade their lots for an interest in the facility. Additionally, the County would be in a position to seek the funding from outside sources to conduct necessary feasibility and technical studies.
This idea would need to be explored with all stakeholders and permitting agencies. The County would be willing to facilitate the exploration of this idea, which we see as the most positive and mutually beneficial alternative to the mirage of subdivision consisting of individually developed lots.
Friday, June 30, 2006
Defeatism - by Oliver North
As Published on SOLDIER OF FORTUNE's website
www.sofmag.com
Printable version
"DEFEATISM"
"Victory at all costs, victory in spite of all terror, victory however long and hard the road may be; for without victory, there is no survival." -- Winston S. Churchill
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Sir Winston delivered that line in the House of Commons on May 13 1940, in his first address as Prime Minister. As he was speaking, the French and British armies were reeling from Hitler's onslaught through neutral Belgium. It's a good thing Churchill didn't have "war heroes" like Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., and Rep. John Murtha, D-Pa., in Parliament. Otherwise Great Britain might have been compelled to surrender at Dunkirk.
Regrettably, Messer's Kerry and Murtha are but the most visible and strident members of an increasingly ambitious cult of catastrophe. Though they claim to "support the troops," this is no "loyal opposition." Instead, their party -- and a pliant press corps -- has pushed this dynamic duo to the fore in demanding that the United States abandon Iraq and forego any hope for success in the Global war on Terror. To them, and the broader capitulationist cabal to which they belong, there shall be no "good news" from the battlefield, every American casualty is regarded as a campaign issue, and only critics of the war have credibility.
It's apparent from last week's acrimonious debate in the House of Representatives and this week's raucous ranting in the Senate that their party's leadership believes that a steady drumbeat of dismal defeatism is the best way to return Democrats to power in the 2006 and 2008 elections. Whether that's true or not remains to be seen -- but the "surrender now crowd" has unquestionably emboldened our adversaries and disheartened our allies overseas. A few recent examples:
Tokyo, alarmed over North Korean willingness to flight test its multi-stage, nuclear-capable Taepo-dong II intercontinental missile has decided to withdraw its 600 troops from Iraq and bring them home in the event that an emboldened Pyongyang becomes more aggressive.
From Caracas, Venezuelan strong-man Hugo Chavez, awash in petro-dollars, is actively intervening in the upcoming Nicaraguan elections. With overt and covert help from self-described "Bolivarian Socialist" Chavez, Daniel Ortega and his Sandinistas are poised to reassert control over Nicaragua.
In Tehran, President Mahmoud Ahmadinijad, perceiving weakened American resolve, is slow-rolling a U.S.-European proposal offering incentives for Iran to abandon its nuclear enrichment program. Meanwhile, the Iranians continue their crash program to install and "spin-up" more centrifuge arrays -- essential to manufacturing weapons-grade nuclear material.
In Mogadishu, Somalia, a coalition of radical Islamic groups, calling itself the Islamic Courts Union, has proclaimed that it now administers the Somali capital under "religious law." Though U.S. and allied forces are in neighboring Djibouti, the clerics and Islamic radicals appear confident that political discord in Washington will prevent any interference with their plans for establishing a Taliban-like regime.
And to prove once again that "good news" in Iraq is "no news" back home, the leaders of the "Get Out Now" movement either ignored or derided the announcement this week by Sen. Rick Santorum, R-Pa., and Rep. Pete Hoekstra, R-Mich., the Chairman of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, that "more than 500 artillery rounds containing Sarin and Mustard gases have been found in Iraq." Rather than congratulating U.S. troops for locating and destroying these weapons that would be lethal in the hands of terrorists, the "Blame America First" crowd denounced the find as "nothing but old ammunition dating to before the first Gulf War."
Until now troops fighting the war have shrugged off the critiques. Because they understand the consequences better than most, they have largely ignored calls from the Kerry-Murtha Axis to set a "hard and fast deadline for withdrawing U.S. forces." To an extraordinary extent they have continued to re-enlist and volunteer for repeat tours of duty in the Iraq and Afghanistan war zones. And while all the soldiers, sailors, airmen, Guardsmen and Marines I have talked to in the last few weeks understand being held accountable for their actions -- they do not comprehend the politico-media fascination with negative news. Getting Abu Musab al-Zarqawi was a one-day story. American "atrocities" are news forever.
Earlier this week, shortly before the Pentagon announced that seven Marines and a U.S. Navy Corpsman would be court-martialed for crimes in Iraq, Sen. Richard "Dick" Durbin, D-Ill., stood in the well of the Senate to complain that we were fighting a war "that has gone on for more than three years -- with no end in sight." The next day a recently returned soldier I had covered in Iraq for FOX News called me up and said, "If we pull out now, the terrorists win." He then asked, "Where will we fight them next -- here?" It's a question the defeatists dare not answer.
To find out more about Oliver North, and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate web page at (www.creators.com)
COPYRIGHT 2005 CREATORS SYNDICATE INC
Oliver North is host of “War Stories” on the Fox News Channel. The opinions expressed above are his own and do not represent the views of Fox News and/or Soldier Of Fortune.
www.sofmag.com
Printable version
"DEFEATISM"
"Victory at all costs, victory in spite of all terror, victory however long and hard the road may be; for without victory, there is no survival." -- Winston S. Churchill
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Sir Winston delivered that line in the House of Commons on May 13 1940, in his first address as Prime Minister. As he was speaking, the French and British armies were reeling from Hitler's onslaught through neutral Belgium. It's a good thing Churchill didn't have "war heroes" like Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., and Rep. John Murtha, D-Pa., in Parliament. Otherwise Great Britain might have been compelled to surrender at Dunkirk.
Regrettably, Messer's Kerry and Murtha are but the most visible and strident members of an increasingly ambitious cult of catastrophe. Though they claim to "support the troops," this is no "loyal opposition." Instead, their party -- and a pliant press corps -- has pushed this dynamic duo to the fore in demanding that the United States abandon Iraq and forego any hope for success in the Global war on Terror. To them, and the broader capitulationist cabal to which they belong, there shall be no "good news" from the battlefield, every American casualty is regarded as a campaign issue, and only critics of the war have credibility.
It's apparent from last week's acrimonious debate in the House of Representatives and this week's raucous ranting in the Senate that their party's leadership believes that a steady drumbeat of dismal defeatism is the best way to return Democrats to power in the 2006 and 2008 elections. Whether that's true or not remains to be seen -- but the "surrender now crowd" has unquestionably emboldened our adversaries and disheartened our allies overseas. A few recent examples:
Tokyo, alarmed over North Korean willingness to flight test its multi-stage, nuclear-capable Taepo-dong II intercontinental missile has decided to withdraw its 600 troops from Iraq and bring them home in the event that an emboldened Pyongyang becomes more aggressive.
From Caracas, Venezuelan strong-man Hugo Chavez, awash in petro-dollars, is actively intervening in the upcoming Nicaraguan elections. With overt and covert help from self-described "Bolivarian Socialist" Chavez, Daniel Ortega and his Sandinistas are poised to reassert control over Nicaragua.
In Tehran, President Mahmoud Ahmadinijad, perceiving weakened American resolve, is slow-rolling a U.S.-European proposal offering incentives for Iran to abandon its nuclear enrichment program. Meanwhile, the Iranians continue their crash program to install and "spin-up" more centrifuge arrays -- essential to manufacturing weapons-grade nuclear material.
In Mogadishu, Somalia, a coalition of radical Islamic groups, calling itself the Islamic Courts Union, has proclaimed that it now administers the Somali capital under "religious law." Though U.S. and allied forces are in neighboring Djibouti, the clerics and Islamic radicals appear confident that political discord in Washington will prevent any interference with their plans for establishing a Taliban-like regime.
And to prove once again that "good news" in Iraq is "no news" back home, the leaders of the "Get Out Now" movement either ignored or derided the announcement this week by Sen. Rick Santorum, R-Pa., and Rep. Pete Hoekstra, R-Mich., the Chairman of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, that "more than 500 artillery rounds containing Sarin and Mustard gases have been found in Iraq." Rather than congratulating U.S. troops for locating and destroying these weapons that would be lethal in the hands of terrorists, the "Blame America First" crowd denounced the find as "nothing but old ammunition dating to before the first Gulf War."
Until now troops fighting the war have shrugged off the critiques. Because they understand the consequences better than most, they have largely ignored calls from the Kerry-Murtha Axis to set a "hard and fast deadline for withdrawing U.S. forces." To an extraordinary extent they have continued to re-enlist and volunteer for repeat tours of duty in the Iraq and Afghanistan war zones. And while all the soldiers, sailors, airmen, Guardsmen and Marines I have talked to in the last few weeks understand being held accountable for their actions -- they do not comprehend the politico-media fascination with negative news. Getting Abu Musab al-Zarqawi was a one-day story. American "atrocities" are news forever.
Earlier this week, shortly before the Pentagon announced that seven Marines and a U.S. Navy Corpsman would be court-martialed for crimes in Iraq, Sen. Richard "Dick" Durbin, D-Ill., stood in the well of the Senate to complain that we were fighting a war "that has gone on for more than three years -- with no end in sight." The next day a recently returned soldier I had covered in Iraq for FOX News called me up and said, "If we pull out now, the terrorists win." He then asked, "Where will we fight them next -- here?" It's a question the defeatists dare not answer.
To find out more about Oliver North, and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate web page at (www.creators.com)
COPYRIGHT 2005 CREATORS SYNDICATE INC
Oliver North is host of “War Stories” on the Fox News Channel. The opinions expressed above are his own and do not represent the views of Fox News and/or Soldier Of Fortune.
Thursday, June 22, 2006
Weapons of Mass Destruction in Iraq - Unreported
On Wednesday, Sen. Rick Santorum (R-PA), quoting from a Pentagon report, announced that since 2003, over 500 weapons of mass destruction have been found in Iraq. According to Santorum, these sarin- and mustard-filled projectiles prove that “weapons of mass destruction are, in fact, in Iraq.” With news this important, one would expect wide-spread coverage, right? Wrong. The so-called main stream media is silent on this discovery, instead painting their own view of Iraq.
At the press conference, Santorum along with Rep. Pete Hoekstra (R-MI) said, “It is essential for the American people to understand that these weapons are in Iraq. I will continue to advocate for the complete declassification of this report so we can more fully understand the complete WMD picture inside Iraq.”
Santorum noted that the six key findings from the Pentagon report are as follows:
Since 2003 Coalition forces have recovered approximately 500 weapons munitions which contain degraded mustard or sarin nerve agent.
Despite many efforts to locate and destroy Iraq’s pre-Gulf War chemical munitions, filled and unfilled pre-Gulf War chemical munitions are assessed to still exist.
Pre-Gulf War Iraqi chemical weapons could be sold on the black market. Use of these weapons by terrorists or insurgent groups would have implications for Coalition forces in Iraq. The possibility of use outside Iraq cannot be ruled out.
The most likely munitions remaining are sarin and mustard-filled projectiles.
The purity of the agent inside the munitions depends on many factors, including the manufacturing process, potential additives, and environmental storage conditions. While agents degrade over time, chemical warfare agents remain hazardous and potentially lethal.
It has been reported in open press that insurgents and Iraqi groups desire to acquire and use chemical weapons.
It’s quite interesting and disappointing to see how this news has been bypassed by almost all of the major media outlets. This morning, there was not a single mention of the story on the CNN web site. Instead, the main headlines listed under “Latest News” (in addition to prime space for coverage of Western wildfires) where:
4 U.S. soldiers die in Afghan battle
Al Qaeda’s No. 2 releases new video
Attacks kill 5 U.S. service members in Iraq
Debate over Iraq heats up in Senate
Marines, corpsman face murder charges
On the ABC News web site, the lead story is “Seven Marines and One Sailor Charged With Murder.” Also listed on the main page under “Headlines” are the following stories:
U.S. Troops Killed: 4 in Iraq | 4 in Afghanistan
Ariz. Wildfires Dangerously Close to Homes, Park
Calif. May Soon Face ‘Big One’
Japan Ships to Monitor N. Korea’s Missile Tests
The CBS News web site focuses on the wildfires as the lead story. Other main headlines include:
Duke Mom Wants Son ‘To Have Life Back’
Al Qaeda Tape Urges Afghans To Rise Up
Updated: 5 U.S. Troops Killed In Iraq
Times Have Changed In Germany
Dark Days For Bureau Of Indian Affairs
This morning, the FOX News web site had the WMD story on their main page, and it is now found in their political section. The main page of the New York Times’ web site makes no mention of the WMD story, but rather runs as their lead: “G.O.P. Decides to Embrace War as Issue.”
With all the one-sided reporting, is it any wonder that public support for action in Iraq will go down over time? So much was made of Abu Ghraib, yet where is the wide-spread reporting and outrage over what was done to two of America’s soldiers who were captured by Iraqi insurgents?
There is progress being made in Iraq, and the American people deserve honest, fair reporting on both the good and the bad. Their selective coverage does nothing to build a full story of what is happening in Iraq, but instead, is used to promote a left-wing agenda. That is not the role of the media, and hopefully, more and more Americans will see through their attempts to twist the news.
At the press conference, Santorum along with Rep. Pete Hoekstra (R-MI) said, “It is essential for the American people to understand that these weapons are in Iraq. I will continue to advocate for the complete declassification of this report so we can more fully understand the complete WMD picture inside Iraq.”
Santorum noted that the six key findings from the Pentagon report are as follows:
Since 2003 Coalition forces have recovered approximately 500 weapons munitions which contain degraded mustard or sarin nerve agent.
Despite many efforts to locate and destroy Iraq’s pre-Gulf War chemical munitions, filled and unfilled pre-Gulf War chemical munitions are assessed to still exist.
Pre-Gulf War Iraqi chemical weapons could be sold on the black market. Use of these weapons by terrorists or insurgent groups would have implications for Coalition forces in Iraq. The possibility of use outside Iraq cannot be ruled out.
The most likely munitions remaining are sarin and mustard-filled projectiles.
The purity of the agent inside the munitions depends on many factors, including the manufacturing process, potential additives, and environmental storage conditions. While agents degrade over time, chemical warfare agents remain hazardous and potentially lethal.
It has been reported in open press that insurgents and Iraqi groups desire to acquire and use chemical weapons.
It’s quite interesting and disappointing to see how this news has been bypassed by almost all of the major media outlets. This morning, there was not a single mention of the story on the CNN web site. Instead, the main headlines listed under “Latest News” (in addition to prime space for coverage of Western wildfires) where:
4 U.S. soldiers die in Afghan battle
Al Qaeda’s No. 2 releases new video
Attacks kill 5 U.S. service members in Iraq
Debate over Iraq heats up in Senate
Marines, corpsman face murder charges
On the ABC News web site, the lead story is “Seven Marines and One Sailor Charged With Murder.” Also listed on the main page under “Headlines” are the following stories:
U.S. Troops Killed: 4 in Iraq | 4 in Afghanistan
Ariz. Wildfires Dangerously Close to Homes, Park
Calif. May Soon Face ‘Big One’
Japan Ships to Monitor N. Korea’s Missile Tests
The CBS News web site focuses on the wildfires as the lead story. Other main headlines include:
Duke Mom Wants Son ‘To Have Life Back’
Al Qaeda Tape Urges Afghans To Rise Up
Updated: 5 U.S. Troops Killed In Iraq
Times Have Changed In Germany
Dark Days For Bureau Of Indian Affairs
This morning, the FOX News web site had the WMD story on their main page, and it is now found in their political section. The main page of the New York Times’ web site makes no mention of the WMD story, but rather runs as their lead: “G.O.P. Decides to Embrace War as Issue.”
With all the one-sided reporting, is it any wonder that public support for action in Iraq will go down over time? So much was made of Abu Ghraib, yet where is the wide-spread reporting and outrage over what was done to two of America’s soldiers who were captured by Iraqi insurgents?
There is progress being made in Iraq, and the American people deserve honest, fair reporting on both the good and the bad. Their selective coverage does nothing to build a full story of what is happening in Iraq, but instead, is used to promote a left-wing agenda. That is not the role of the media, and hopefully, more and more Americans will see through their attempts to twist the news.
Thursday, June 08, 2006
DNN- 4992 Votes for Dean Wilson
Dean presents lifetime achievement award.Sheriff-Coroner
Dean D. Wilson
4992 Votes 100.00%
The fact that so many Del Norte Voters made the effort to say yes to sheriff Dean Wilson's re-election bid speaks well for his performance.
Voters who are unhappy with an elected officials performance some times signal that fact by not voting at all for that person.
All of the unoppossed candidates did well, but Dean took top honors and DNN would like to wish him four more great years leading Del Norte County's law enforcement community.
All of the incumbants who faced challenges were re-elected by wide margins with the exception of Supervisor Sarah Samples who was widely recognized as vulnerable because of her disregard for her districts embattled residents.
DNN- Fenswick has a Howard Dean Meltdown
The e-mail published above is Jennifer Fenswick raging about the victories enjoyed by her opponent Vicki Frazier, and Supervisors elect Gerry Hemmingsen and Mike Sullivan.
Most of Del Norte County felt that this was the fairest and most representitive election in a number of years.
Ms. Fenswick imigrated to Del Norte County to be a hired gun for Martha McClure in her nasty and devisive race in 2004. Is it fair to speculate if JF will be joining the rapidly growing number of agents working for the socalistic grant writing organizations who have sold out and left Del Norte County in the last month?
Tuesday, June 06, 2006
DNN - Congratulations!
Congratulations are in order to all of last nights successful candidates.
Across the board voters in Del Norte County cast their votes for the candidates who were widely seen as pro-people and motivated by their desire to help the community they represented. They ran their campaigns on the issues, and responded to negative ads with firmness, tact, and originality.
DNN wishes all of you good luck as you go about the business of representing the people.
Monday, June 05, 2006
DNN -Global Warming and Al Gore
http://www.tcsdaily.com/article.aspx?id=052506C
Questions for Al Gore
By Dr. Roy Spencer : BIO|
25 May 2006
Dear Mr. Gore:
I have just seen your new movie, "An Inconvenient Truth," about the threat
that global warming presents to humanity. I think you did a very good job of
explaining globalwarming theory, and your presentation was effective.
Please convey my compliments to your good friend, Laurie David, for a job
well done.
As a climate scientist myself -- you might remember me...I'm the one you
mistook for your "good friend," UK scientist Phil Jones during my
congressional testimony some years back -- I have a few questions that
occurred to me while watching the movie.
1) Why did you make it look like hurricanes, tornadoes, wildfires, floods,
droughts, and ice calving off of glaciers and falling into the ocean, are
only recent phenomena associated with global warming? You surely know that
hurricane experts have been warning congress for many years that the natural
cycle in hurricanes would return some day, and that our built-up coastlines
were ripe for a disaster (like Katrina, which you highlighted in the movie).
And as long as snow continues to fall on glaciers, they will continue to
flow downhill toward the sea. Yet you made it look like these things
wouldn't happen if it weren't for global warming. Also, since there are
virtuallyno measures of severe weather showing a recent increase, I assume
those graphs you showed actually represented damage increases, which are
well known to be simply due to greater population and wealth. Is that right?
2) Why did you make it sound like all scientists agree that climate change
is manmade and not natural? You mentioned a recent literature review study
that supposedly found no peer - reviewed articles that attributed climate
change to natural causes (a non -repeatable study which has since been
refuted....I have a number of such articles in my office!) You also
mentioned how important it is to listen to scientists when they warn us, yet
surely you know that almost all past scientific predictions of gloom and
doom have been wrong. How can we trust scientists' predictions now?
3) I know you still must feel bad about the last presidential election being
stolen from you, but why did you have to make fun of Republican presidents
(Reagan; both Bushes) for their views on global warming? The points you made
in the movie might have had wider appeal if you did not alienate so many
moviegoers in this manner.
4) Your presentation showing the past 650,000 years of atmospheric
temperature and carbon dioxide reconstructions from ice cores was very
effective. But I assume you know that some scientists view the CO2 increases
as the result of, rather than the cause of, past temperature increases. It
seems unlikely that CO2 variations have been the dominant cause of climate
change for hundreds of thousands of years.
And now that there is a new source of carbon dioxide emissions (people),
those old relationships are probably not valid anymore. Why did you give no
hint of these alternative views?
5) When you recounted your 6-year-old son's tragic accident that nearly
killed him, I thought that you were going to make the point that, if you had
lived in a poor country like China or India, your son would have probably
died. But then you later held up these countries as model examples for their
low greenhouse gas emissions, without mentioning that the only reason their
emissions were so low was because people in those countries are so poor. I'm
confused...do you really want us to live like the poor people in India and
China?
6) There seems to be a lot of recent concern that more polar bears are
drowning these days because of disappearing sea ice. I assume you know that
polar bears have always migrated to land in late summer when sea ice
naturally melts back, and then return to the ice when it re-freezes. Also,
if this was really happening, why did the movie have to use a computer
generated animation of the poor polar bear swimming around looking for ice?
Haven't there been any actual observations of this happening? Also,
temperature measurements in the arctic suggest that it was just as warm
there in the 1930's...before most greenhouse gas emissions. Don't you ever
wonder whether sea ice concentrations back then were low, too?
7) Why did you make it sound like simply signing on to the Kyoto Protocol to
reduce our greenhouse gas emissions would be such a big step forward, when
we already know it will have no measurable effect on global temperatures
anyway? And even though it represents such a small emission reduction, the
economic pain Kyoto causes means that almost no developed country will be
meeting its emission reductions commitments under that treaty, as we are now
witnessing in Europe.
8) At the end of the movie, you made it sound like we can mostly fix the
global warming problem by conserving energy... you even claimed we can
reduce our carbon emissions to zero. But I'm sure you know that this will
only be possible with major technological advancements, including a probable
return to nuclear power as an energy source. Why did you not mention this
need for technological advancement and nuclear power? It is because that
would support the current (Republican) Administration's view?
Mr. Gore, I think we can both agree that if it was relatively easy for
mankind to stop emitting so much carbon dioxide, that we should do so. You
are a very smart person, so I can't understand why you left so many
important points unmentioned, and you made it sound so easy.
I wish you well in these efforts, and I hope that humanity will make the
right choices based upon all of the information we have on the subject of
global warming. I agree with you that global warming is indeed a "moral
issue," and if we are to avoid doing more harm than good with misguided
governmental policies, we will need more politicians to be educated on the
issue.
Your "Good Friend,"
Dr. Roy W. Spencer (aka 'Phil Jones')
Sunday, June 04, 2006
DNN - Last minute Spam/Smear Attack by Politico Troubles Del Norters
Editorial Comment
Sunday night voters were subjected to a Spam attack by a supporter of Alexander for District Attorney.
The Spam attack started around 9:45 and continued for over fifteen minutes.
The e-mails did not open properly and no intelligible message was contained in them despite many of them being almost 16K in size.
The Spam attack claimed in its headings to shed truth on incumbent DA Mike Reise’s sale of a firearm possessed by his department. Of course DA’s have broad powers to keep and transfer firearms. They are not subject to the National Firearms Act of 1934 which regulates many weapons. Alexander does not seem to grasp this important power of the office he is trying to gain.
Alexander has tried in the closing days of this election to smear DA Reise by portraying the sale as “gun trafficking across state lines.” His campaign is in deep trouble since he admitted his addiction to methamphetamine caused him to cheat clients, and creditors.
The use of Spam is a new development in Del Norte politics.
A deeply troubling aspect of the Spam attack was Alexander’s inclusion of many e-mail addresses owned by the Del Norte County Unified School District. After the problems of e-mail of a political nature being sent and received on government owned computers in the 2004 elections, it would seem to be an obvious ethical breech to Spam attack the school district.
Rick McNamara
Sunday night voters were subjected to a Spam attack by a supporter of Alexander for District Attorney.
The Spam attack started around 9:45 and continued for over fifteen minutes.
The e-mails did not open properly and no intelligible message was contained in them despite many of them being almost 16K in size.
The Spam attack claimed in its headings to shed truth on incumbent DA Mike Reise’s sale of a firearm possessed by his department. Of course DA’s have broad powers to keep and transfer firearms. They are not subject to the National Firearms Act of 1934 which regulates many weapons. Alexander does not seem to grasp this important power of the office he is trying to gain.
Alexander has tried in the closing days of this election to smear DA Reise by portraying the sale as “gun trafficking across state lines.” His campaign is in deep trouble since he admitted his addiction to methamphetamine caused him to cheat clients, and creditors.
The use of Spam is a new development in Del Norte politics.
A deeply troubling aspect of the Spam attack was Alexander’s inclusion of many e-mail addresses owned by the Del Norte County Unified School District. After the problems of e-mail of a political nature being sent and received on government owned computers in the 2004 elections, it would seem to be an obvious ethical breech to Spam attack the school district.
Rick McNamara
Saturday, June 03, 2006
Editorial Comment from ALT
Hey gang,
I understand that e-mails carry with them the sense of urgency and the following does negate some of that with its length. However, when it comes to talking about the characterizing traits of Ms. Incumbent and Mr. Retread it is very hard to keep it short! So please bare with me and keep thinking the central theme of this commentary - So who in their right mind would want another four more years of what we had?
Well friends here we are on the eve of an election - apart from the new voting machines (thanks Vicki) operationally this one is no different than previous ones. However, if we scope in to look at the character and physiological make-up (beneath the skin) of the various candidates, there is a very big difference that could result in a substantial shift in our county government from a "do nothing" majority 'tude to a "CAN DO" majority attitude.
Who in their right mind would want another four more years of this?
But does it stop there, OH NO! Let's turn briefly to cooperation, team spirit, creativity, projection, planning, timing, crisis management and other organizational skill sets needed to think outside the already tried, failed and discarded incumbent & retread mind set. Skills disparately needed to heal divisions and redirect our community. Skills needed to tap and use it's enormous potential. By this I don't mean trees, mountains and water (they WILL always be there). I refer to the energy, synergy, ingenuity, independence and downright desire to help within us Del Nortians (and we may NOT always be there).
In this regard, three incumbent & retread efforts, or lack there of, jump to mind:
1) Contempt for a public shouting out for team effort to a dysfunctional government entity. Lack of restraint by the incumbent in the exercise of a Machiavellian bureaucratic back stabbing, concept sandbagging, wanton waste of team time, petty retribution, political grandstanding, wholesale sellout, violation of policy, irresponsibility toward constituency, backroom / backdoor deals with total disregard for their area of representation. Mind you these are just a few of the infantile actions we can easily document. The incumbent and Retread never consults only insults their constituencies.
2) The other was the sellout of a great visionary project of six community service organizations to provide medical service to the community, train medical staff, technicians, badly needed nurses and provide A1 facilities to local physicians. Toward these community needs a great deal of time, effort and monies were spent. The original concept was good, but in a classic example of a "day late and a dollar short" - the project implementation, planning, scheduling and coordination slipped worse than the deadline. Under the incompetent guidance of retread thinking the original six dropped to one woefully under staffed clinic in a prefab building on valuable tax property on a very busy street corner. So for 1/6 the service, none of the envisioned added capabilities, we gave up critically needed tax dollars and traffic taxed an already congested intersection. Oh, and did I mention we don't even have the doctors to properly staff this facility (not sure about the nurses - we may be hurting in that area too).
3) Approximately two years ago I had three doctors and two nurses. Today I have none and if my situation became life threatening I'd have to travel 220 miles to another state to get help. In a classic "too little too late" within two short years our doctor shortage grew by 10+ while incumbent & retread did next to nothing. Incumbent was too involved protecting discretionary money for "happy hour attitude adjustment" and retread's plate was too full to respond to this serious and going medical threat. Retirement and death have been cited as excuses but these only highlight the shortsightedness of the incumbent & retread. No thanks to these two office aspirants, two doctors did recently join our community; but the bets are running 2 to 1, in the Physician-B- Gone pool, they'll leave in less than two years.
So who in their right mind would want another four more years of this?
One would think this is enough to sink any potential incumbent & retread candidacy, but it doesn't stop there!
Our community desperately needs a vibrant harbor to serve our diversified needs and an economically viable airport to make us a key player in this area. The incumbent & retread has made one into a political football and the other into a potential bureaucratic boondoggle. A harbor that is stuck in first and crawling forward at a snail's pace and an airport terminal that may be converted some day to an expensive B&B with a landing zone for ultra lights and hang gliders (or maybe another "environmental interpretive center").
These two projects are Del Norte's version of the army ad; "be all you can be"! Here the incumbent & retread are long on promise and way short on the delivery.
Did you realize that, sailing wise we are approximately halfway between Puget Sound and San Francisco? Our harbor should be a Mecca for both fishermen and yachters; a summer two weeks lay over attraction for vacationing getaway family boaters. But instead we're mired in the usual California red tape. Here is where experienced supervisor direction could best help in cutting through this with hard economic talk and effective business savvy. Not costing valued team time and wasted prep in a "glad handing" political stunt for an election "puff piece" and photo op in the "local opinion rag". Ask the Commissioners - why few participated.
Speaking of ports - in a classic example of the old saw " you can chew gum and walk too?" Our window of opportunity for an airport upgrade is very very small. We have to be there with longer runways and acceptable safety requirements when the airlines want us. Do it piecemeal and we'll most likely miss the window. Extending the runway (an est. 5 to 10 years) afterward may push the timeline window, perhaps irrevocably, beyond the airline's acceptable time limit. Building a new terminal first will only make this miss far more costly and add insult to injury. We all know the present terminal is an outmoded facility that needs to be replaced. We also know it needs to be moved - not for runway extension but for taxiway line of sight. So why can't we do both in tandem. I know the new candidates to the Board of Supervisors can easily "walk and chew gum" at the same time.
How about our port to the ocean, trees and mountains? Close off Tallowa Dunes to open, free and equal access for historic multi use but stuff down / shove up the coast to crest insult as another gate from nowhere to nowhere opening to nothing. Yet another Retread arrogant "in your face" assault on public needs and private property - for WHAT? Instead of humbling constructive efforts to solve the problems he left behind!
So who in their right mind would want another four more years of what we had?
Enough is enough it's time for a change!
Del Norte's future begins on the sixth and its soul is a "CAN DO" spirit!
Now as we all understand, "Can Do" doesn't automatically mean we'll attain every thing we espouse. Nor does it mean that Del Norte will become a paradise of riches and harmony. What it does mean, is that in the future we won't lie down and have it done to us. We will take charge.
The new candidates we elect on the sixth will help us to do it, not do it to us, as so often has been the case in the past! Please get out on the sixth, bring your friends and neighbors, VOTE - for our dignity, our future and our respect in our area of our state. Let’s take back our county!
I believe, when first used, it was a baseball term but it undoubtedly applies here !
"TROW DAH BUMS OOOUUUUT!!!!"
ALT
I understand that e-mails carry with them the sense of urgency and the following does negate some of that with its length. However, when it comes to talking about the characterizing traits of Ms. Incumbent and Mr. Retread it is very hard to keep it short! So please bare with me and keep thinking the central theme of this commentary - So who in their right mind would want another four more years of what we had?
Well friends here we are on the eve of an election - apart from the new voting machines (thanks Vicki) operationally this one is no different than previous ones. However, if we scope in to look at the character and physiological make-up (beneath the skin) of the various candidates, there is a very big difference that could result in a substantial shift in our county government from a "do nothing" majority 'tude to a "CAN DO" majority attitude.
Who in their right mind would want another four more years of this?
But does it stop there, OH NO! Let's turn briefly to cooperation, team spirit, creativity, projection, planning, timing, crisis management and other organizational skill sets needed to think outside the already tried, failed and discarded incumbent & retread mind set. Skills disparately needed to heal divisions and redirect our community. Skills needed to tap and use it's enormous potential. By this I don't mean trees, mountains and water (they WILL always be there). I refer to the energy, synergy, ingenuity, independence and downright desire to help within us Del Nortians (and we may NOT always be there).
In this regard, three incumbent & retread efforts, or lack there of, jump to mind:
1) Contempt for a public shouting out for team effort to a dysfunctional government entity. Lack of restraint by the incumbent in the exercise of a Machiavellian bureaucratic back stabbing, concept sandbagging, wanton waste of team time, petty retribution, political grandstanding, wholesale sellout, violation of policy, irresponsibility toward constituency, backroom / backdoor deals with total disregard for their area of representation. Mind you these are just a few of the infantile actions we can easily document. The incumbent and Retread never consults only insults their constituencies.
2) The other was the sellout of a great visionary project of six community service organizations to provide medical service to the community, train medical staff, technicians, badly needed nurses and provide A1 facilities to local physicians. Toward these community needs a great deal of time, effort and monies were spent. The original concept was good, but in a classic example of a "day late and a dollar short" - the project implementation, planning, scheduling and coordination slipped worse than the deadline. Under the incompetent guidance of retread thinking the original six dropped to one woefully under staffed clinic in a prefab building on valuable tax property on a very busy street corner. So for 1/6 the service, none of the envisioned added capabilities, we gave up critically needed tax dollars and traffic taxed an already congested intersection. Oh, and did I mention we don't even have the doctors to properly staff this facility (not sure about the nurses - we may be hurting in that area too).
3) Approximately two years ago I had three doctors and two nurses. Today I have none and if my situation became life threatening I'd have to travel 220 miles to another state to get help. In a classic "too little too late" within two short years our doctor shortage grew by 10+ while incumbent & retread did next to nothing. Incumbent was too involved protecting discretionary money for "happy hour attitude adjustment" and retread's plate was too full to respond to this serious and going medical threat. Retirement and death have been cited as excuses but these only highlight the shortsightedness of the incumbent & retread. No thanks to these two office aspirants, two doctors did recently join our community; but the bets are running 2 to 1, in the Physician-B- Gone pool, they'll leave in less than two years.
So who in their right mind would want another four more years of this?
One would think this is enough to sink any potential incumbent & retread candidacy, but it doesn't stop there!
Our community desperately needs a vibrant harbor to serve our diversified needs and an economically viable airport to make us a key player in this area. The incumbent & retread has made one into a political football and the other into a potential bureaucratic boondoggle. A harbor that is stuck in first and crawling forward at a snail's pace and an airport terminal that may be converted some day to an expensive B&B with a landing zone for ultra lights and hang gliders (or maybe another "environmental interpretive center").
These two projects are Del Norte's version of the army ad; "be all you can be"! Here the incumbent & retread are long on promise and way short on the delivery.
Did you realize that, sailing wise we are approximately halfway between Puget Sound and San Francisco? Our harbor should be a Mecca for both fishermen and yachters; a summer two weeks lay over attraction for vacationing getaway family boaters. But instead we're mired in the usual California red tape. Here is where experienced supervisor direction could best help in cutting through this with hard economic talk and effective business savvy. Not costing valued team time and wasted prep in a "glad handing" political stunt for an election "puff piece" and photo op in the "local opinion rag". Ask the Commissioners - why few participated.
Speaking of ports - in a classic example of the old saw " you can chew gum and walk too?" Our window of opportunity for an airport upgrade is very very small. We have to be there with longer runways and acceptable safety requirements when the airlines want us. Do it piecemeal and we'll most likely miss the window. Extending the runway (an est. 5 to 10 years) afterward may push the timeline window, perhaps irrevocably, beyond the airline's acceptable time limit. Building a new terminal first will only make this miss far more costly and add insult to injury. We all know the present terminal is an outmoded facility that needs to be replaced. We also know it needs to be moved - not for runway extension but for taxiway line of sight. So why can't we do both in tandem. I know the new candidates to the Board of Supervisors can easily "walk and chew gum" at the same time.
How about our port to the ocean, trees and mountains? Close off Tallowa Dunes to open, free and equal access for historic multi use but stuff down / shove up the coast to crest insult as another gate from nowhere to nowhere opening to nothing. Yet another Retread arrogant "in your face" assault on public needs and private property - for WHAT? Instead of humbling constructive efforts to solve the problems he left behind!
So who in their right mind would want another four more years of what we had?
Enough is enough it's time for a change!
Del Norte's future begins on the sixth and its soul is a "CAN DO" spirit!
Now as we all understand, "Can Do" doesn't automatically mean we'll attain every thing we espouse. Nor does it mean that Del Norte will become a paradise of riches and harmony. What it does mean, is that in the future we won't lie down and have it done to us. We will take charge.
The new candidates we elect on the sixth will help us to do it, not do it to us, as so often has been the case in the past! Please get out on the sixth, bring your friends and neighbors, VOTE - for our dignity, our future and our respect in our area of our state. Let’s take back our county!
I believe, when first used, it was a baseball term but it undoubtedly applies here !
"TROW DAH BUMS OOOUUUUT!!!!"
ALT
Wednesday, May 24, 2006
DNN -Stop finger-pointing on the Klamath Basin
IN MY OPINION - THE COASTAL FISHERY CRISIS
Stop finger-pointing on the Klamath Basin
Tuesday, May 16, 2006
Greg Addington and Dan Keppen
George Gibbs, traveling through Northern California in 1851, was struck by
conditions at the confluence of the Klamath and Trinity rivers.
The Trinity, wrote Gibbs, "is in size about half that of the Klamath, and
its waters, likewise rapid, are of transcendent purity; contrasting with
those of the latter stream which never lost the taint of their origin."
The origin of the Klamath River is warm, shallow Upper Klamath Lake, which
feeds the federal Klamath Irrigation Project. More than 150 years after
Gibbs' visit, the Klamath River and the irrigation project are now in the
sights of the national media and environmental activists. Every week, we
read claims that the river and the coastal salmon fishery are being
destroyed by the project, a convenient source of blame for all that is
apparently tainted in the Klamath ecosystem.
What we don't see in the papers is the fact that, over the past four years,
between 40,000 and 100,000 acre-feet of water originally developed for
agriculture has instead been bought by the federal government and dedicated
annually to an environmental water bank to "protect" fish. In 2005, nearly
30 percent of the water traditionally used in an average water year by the
Klamath Project and wildlife refuges was reallocated in this manner.
Further, even though the Klamath Project is one of the most water-use
efficient reclamation operations in the country, more than 800 growers have
applied for 2002 Farm Bill funding to implement cost-share projects that
conserve water.
These actions are laudable. However, one has to remember that there is only
so much water that can be squeezed from an area that is just 2 percent of
the watershed and uses only 3 percent to 4 percent of Klamath River flows in
an average year.
Despite these efforts, irrigators are now being blamed in the media by
environmental activists for a looming crisis on the coast. This spring,
commercial salmon fishing has been closed along 700 miles of Pacific
shoreline, which federal regulators believe will prevent "take" of Klamath
River salmon. This very complicated issue is deftly and simply portrayed by
faraway activists as " fishermen vs. farmers."
Once again, they've got it wrong.
Recently, a group of irrigator representatives traveled to Coos Bay and met
with more than 50 coastal fishermen and political leaders. It was somewhat
of a revelation that not a single fisherman at the meeting pointed to the
Klamath Project as the cause for the fishery closure. Instead, they offered
up other explanations, including:
Insufficient hatchery production and failure to count hatchery fish.
Disjointed stock management by state and federal agencies.
Sea lion predation.
Unfavorable ocean conditions and several years of drought.
The meeting ended in mutual pledges by the irrigators and the fishermen to
work together. As a first step, the Klamath Relief Fund -- created to assist
distressed farmers in 2001 -- has been re-activated by the Klamath farming
community. This time, the money raised will be used to help fishermen and
their families.
We're tired of the Klamath finger-pointing. Instead, we want to extend a
helping hand.
Greg Addington is executive director of the Klamath Water Users Association.
Dan Keppen is former executive director of the association and is now
executive director of the Family Farm Alliance. They both live near Klamath
Falls. You can donate to the Klamath Relief Fund for Commercial Fishermen at
P.O. Box 5252, Klamath Falls, OR 97601.
This information and much more that you need to know about the ESA, the Klamath Basin, and private property rights can be found at The Klamath Bucket Brigade's website - HYPERLINK
"http://www.klamathbucketbrigade.org/"http://www.klamathbucketbrigade.org/
Tuesday, May 16, 2006 9:05 AM
The Klamath farmers and ranchers have reactivated the Klamath Bucket
Brigade's Relief Fund to help support the coastal fishermen. They supported us in 2001 and now they're facing financial ruin. If you have a spare dollar or two, please donate to this worthy cause. The address to send donations to is in the last paragraph and remember, your donations are tax deductible.
HYPERLINK
"http://www.oregonlive.com/commentary/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/editorial/1147724709218350.xml&coll=7
-- please visit today.
DNN: Comment and Response
An anonymous source made the following comment:
"While I am supporting Mike Sullivan in the third district supervisor race, I shy away from anything Ron Plechety says. If it wasn't for his "goose in the toilet" fiasco, McNamara would have defeated McClure in the last election. I always wonder if Ron apologizes each and every time he sees Rick for costing him the election."
Rick McNamara's response:
I want to thank Siskiyous and DNN for letting me respond to this comment.
Ron and I agreed to disagree on the goose in the toilet. One of the most frustrating things for a candidate is the fact that your supporters are tougher on you than your detractors. Ron and others felt I could not be tough enough to beat McClure. They thought they could beat her up and I would benefit from it.
Even as we disagreed on what he was doing, Ron and I worked on the reconstruction of Lake Earl Grange, and on comments on various issues like the Critical Habitat designation of the Snowy Plover, and the misuse of green sticker funds at the Miller Rellim site. A misuse that was going to put more taxpayer dollars into the "Friends" personal bank accounts.
If Ron says there is a problem with RAC funds then I am certain he did his home work and can document it.
Always remember the McNamara vs. McClure race woke many people up in this community. It is entirely possible that many of those people would have stopped paying attention and working for change if I had won.
Rick McNamara
"While I am supporting Mike Sullivan in the third district supervisor race, I shy away from anything Ron Plechety says. If it wasn't for his "goose in the toilet" fiasco, McNamara would have defeated McClure in the last election. I always wonder if Ron apologizes each and every time he sees Rick for costing him the election."
Rick McNamara's response:
I want to thank Siskiyous and DNN for letting me respond to this comment.
Ron and I agreed to disagree on the goose in the toilet. One of the most frustrating things for a candidate is the fact that your supporters are tougher on you than your detractors. Ron and others felt I could not be tough enough to beat McClure. They thought they could beat her up and I would benefit from it.
Even as we disagreed on what he was doing, Ron and I worked on the reconstruction of Lake Earl Grange, and on comments on various issues like the Critical Habitat designation of the Snowy Plover, and the misuse of green sticker funds at the Miller Rellim site. A misuse that was going to put more taxpayer dollars into the "Friends" personal bank accounts.
If Ron says there is a problem with RAC funds then I am certain he did his home work and can document it.
Always remember the McNamara vs. McClure race woke many people up in this community. It is entirely possible that many of those people would have stopped paying attention and working for change if I had won.
Rick McNamara
DNN: Fenswick Tax Lien
Jenifer Fewswick's $58,000 tax lien is yet another reason not to elect the DCC's hired gun as our Elections officer.Fenswick was unavailable to comment on this issue.
Monday, May 22, 2006
DNN - CORRUPTION: Guest Editorial by Ron Plechety
Hey gang,
In a classic "heard it on the grapevine":
Our good fellow and shy retiring all too often repressed Ron Plechaty sent the following observation to our "local opinion rag" as a "lett to the ed". It'll be interesting to see it they print it. Yeah right! Mmmmm - could happen! - ALT
Wake up District 3 !!!
Clark Moore who is running for a District 3 Supervisor has a serious ethics problem that needs to be made public. Moore and McClure are on the RAC Committee (AKA Resource Advisory Council) and are able to vote for projects and recommend to the Board of Supervisors where and how to spend money on projects within this county. Pay attention to this:
The Redwood Economic Development Institute who also has McClure as CEO, also employs Moore as a project manager.
While on the Board of Supervisors McClure voted for money to be spent to benefit her company (REDI) who also employs Moore.
Moore actually presented the Coast to Caves Trail project to the Board.
If McClure in her capacity as a member of the Board of Supervisors voted to support funding her corporation. This is a clear conflict of interest. If this occurred anywhere else the local paper would be running a headline on the front page “McClure votes to fund REDI to Hire Moore who is also running for District 3 Supervisor.”
The worse thing about this is we need to find out how many times McClure and her political friends have done this over the years? This is wrong plain and simple.
I have repeatedly tried to alert this community of the cozy relationship McClure has with the environmentalists and the negative influence they have had in this county. When will people listen?
Good government demands that neither one of these people vote on the RAC because it benefits them monetarily. Clark Moore should have never proposed this to the Board of Supervisors as he has a stake in this project. McClure should have never been allowed to vote to spend money that goes to REDI the company she controls. When will the taxpayers and voters wake up???. Voters in District 3 please wake up!!!!.
In my opinion, Moore will do the same thing as a Supervisor as evidenced by the above.
RP
DNN - OLD News that should be re read.
The following Sierra Times report references Sarah Sample's decission on Bloody Valentines day February 14th 2003, to flood her constituents out of their homes.
CA: Lake Earl Flooding Leads to Mysterious Lake Breach
By J.J. Johnson - Sierra Times
Crescent City, CA continues to be embroiled in controversy. Lake Earl was mysteriously breached after the Del Norte County Board of Supervisors were called to an emergency meeting by Del Norte County Sheriff Dean Wilson on March 25th. Wilson declared a health and safety emergency at Lake Earl.
At issue is the ongoing saga of allowing the lake to virtually flood the town for environmental reasons.One of Wilson's motivations is the old Fort Dick dump, just off of Kellogg road. The dump, on School District Land, has a clay cap but no liner. The County claimed it was used for “household trash”, but everyone knows that automobiles and agricultural chemical barrels are buried there. The dump is inundated with water when the Lake reaches between five and six feet. Additionally, septic systems began to fail and and wells were in danger.
The Daily Triplicate reported that one woman had to be rescued from her home in Pacific Shores by Del Norte Search and Rescue. Rescuers reported traveling a mile in their boats over County Roads to reach her.Sheriff Wilson reportedly gave the County Supervisors two letters. One with the option of getting the myriad of permits demanded by various agencies, and one insisting the breach should be undertaken even if the agencies balk.
The Supervisors, who voted February 14th to leave the Lake un-breached, voted 4-0 to open the Lake. County Planning Director Ernie Perry told Dan Honeywell that the County would open the Lake even thought the Army Corps of Engineers would probably not issue a permit.
Lake Earl Grange conducted an informational protest of the politics, and bad policy, surrounding the Lake at this weekend’s Aleutian Goose Festival. In February, supporters of the festival asked the Board of Supervisors to leave the Lake un-breached because it is better kayaking when the Lake is at flood levels.
The Grange also put up signs along access roads. Slogans included, “If you love geese, hug a farmer.” A “Burma Shave” series says; “Honk for Geese”, “Honk for Ranchers”, “Honk for Four Feet”. The Ranchers lose $250,000.00 per year in pasture to the geese, who have been forced out of State pasture land by the flooding. Four Feet is the historic management level of Lake Earl. These signs were vandalized.
One of the most controversial signs, which was described by Goose Festival organizer Sandra Jerabeck as, “cute” read, “Goose Politics, Goose People, it’s Foul.” On Thursday Wildlife Conservation Board representatives met with interested parties at the Lake Earl Grange. The County was expected to open the Lake on Thursday. But apparently some one beat them to it last Friday.
Copyright 2003 The Sierra Times
Saturday, May 20, 2006
DNN: More Samples of Really Trippy Tricks
Although Sarah Samples never showed up at the public meetings over forest service road plans, and the forest service never made mention at those meetings of a plan for an OHV park north of Gasquet, now a few moments before election time Sarah Samples and the trippy people claim she has worked for years to help OHV users.
This is typical election moment propaganda by the trippy people. It is obviously meant to decieve the people interested in OHV's into believing Sarah cares about their issue.
Anyone who knows the OHV issue in Del Norte County should realize instantly that Sarah will leave you high and dry. This is in contrast to her constituants living near Lake Earl whom she enjoys flooding out of their homes and ranches.
This is typical election moment propaganda by the trippy people. It is obviously meant to decieve the people interested in OHV's into believing Sarah cares about their issue.
Anyone who knows the OHV issue in Del Norte County should realize instantly that Sarah will leave you high and dry. This is in contrast to her constituants living near Lake Earl whom she enjoys flooding out of their homes and ranches.
Tuesday, May 16, 2006
DNN - Trippy Tricks: a prediction
The Del Norte newspaper The Daily Triplicate actively promotes political candidates supporting the expansion of government power and control over ordinary people.
On Tuesday May 16 the front page demonstrated their bias.
The first lesson news journalist students are taught is that only about 10 percent of all readers will read the part of a front page story that is not on the front page.
So in the story on Supervisor candidates Hemmingson and Samples they focus on Samples on the front page.
They also place Hemmingson's photo below Samples. To be fair photos should be published side by side.
In the story itself Samples is described with active verbs, and sentences about her are not passive. Hemmingson is described as a long time businessman. The description alone nearly puts a reader to sleep.
Del Norte News predicts the upcoming story on Sullivan, Dunham, and Moore will show these same journalistic tricks heavily weighted to favor the candidate who supports government over people, Clark Moore.
The failures of the agencies he oversees will be ignored in favor of a rosy future scenario. Sullivan and Dunham will be dammed with faint praise.
On Tuesday May 16 the front page demonstrated their bias.
The first lesson news journalist students are taught is that only about 10 percent of all readers will read the part of a front page story that is not on the front page.
So in the story on Supervisor candidates Hemmingson and Samples they focus on Samples on the front page.
They also place Hemmingson's photo below Samples. To be fair photos should be published side by side.
In the story itself Samples is described with active verbs, and sentences about her are not passive. Hemmingson is described as a long time businessman. The description alone nearly puts a reader to sleep.
Del Norte News predicts the upcoming story on Sullivan, Dunham, and Moore will show these same journalistic tricks heavily weighted to favor the candidate who supports government over people, Clark Moore.
The failures of the agencies he oversees will be ignored in favor of a rosy future scenario. Sullivan and Dunham will be dammed with faint praise.
Saturday, May 06, 2006
Del Norte News: Archie
The family and friends of Archie Gargaetas extend thanks to the women and men of Del Norte County’s volunteer fire departments. They turned out in strength at Archie’s funeral to say farewell, bells ringing and sirens wailing, to a man they obviously loved.
Archie embodied everything we hold dear about opportunity, liberty, and individuality. Archie’s devotion to the Greek Orthodox Church, his commitment to fire fighting, his passion for sports and his generosity made him a man recognized by the entire community.
He was a successful businessman, operating Archie’s Chevron station at 6th and H Street, and then working as a landlord and apartment housing developer.
He proudly displayed the American flag and the Marine Corps flags on his pickup.
Archie received wounds while fighting on Iwo Jima in the Corps. The sounds of taps and an eight gun salute over his gravesite, delivered by his brother marines, lead to his wife Dottie and his daughter Sophia requesting that we recite Archie’s favorite prayer: The Pledge of Allegiance.
If, on Heaven’s scene, we truly will find the streets guarded by United States Marines, it will be a true pleasure for each of us to enjoy once again the joyful company of Archie.
Archie Gargaetas was 80 years young.
Wednesday, May 03, 2006
Del Norte News: More is Less
The Coast to Crest Trail is another assault on private property and business in Del Norte County.
On French Hill the trail crosses a private holding that contains the largest rock quarry in Del Norte County that is not on a river bar.
The owners of the property are under attack from the Friends of Del Norte and the other trail advocates. Clark Moore is a leader in pushing for yet another piece of private land to become park.
When highway 199 was being repaved the rock was quarried on French Hill. The “Friends” stopped the location of a temporary asphalt plant there because trucks would use the road. One of the loudest opponents is the daughter of a high ranking county “economic development” bureaucrat.
The asphalt plant was then placed right next to the highway and the river for all the tourists to see. Plus, all the trucks had to make extra trips so the cost to Del Norte County taxpayers and world energy supplies went up.
Del Norte County has great hiking with little to no crowding on our trails. There are alternative routes to the Crest, but God forbid someone might have to sleep over night in the sacred Redwood National Park. The current route was chosen to focus energy on converting the French Hill gravel mine to public land.
The owners of the French Hill property are fighting to keep their land private and productive. The way to help them is to look at the big picture and just say, “NO MORE”!
Sunday, April 30, 2006
Del Norte News: Grants and Graft - by Siskiyous
The scandals over grant funding programs acting as the vehicle politicians use to enrich themselves comes as no surprise to local observers. The scandals we read about focus on shady real estate deals reminiscent of the White Water scandal. Our local politicians use a widespread and more sophisticated approach.
It is impossible to accurately value spending within a grant program on services like those of that of a graphic artist's work, a publisher's contribution, the time spent on creating and maintaining databases, or the effort put into studies.
Public money flowing into grant programs is redirected to private hands. Much of it finds its way back to the politicians introducing the legislation funding specific types of programs. The legislation is tailor made to make certain it reaches the right hands.
The members of commissions that dole the money out, like Resource Conservation Committee’s and the California Coastal Conservancy, are chosen carefully. The non-profit groups receiving these funds are difficult to join, and have overlapping Boards of Directors. Compare the Friends of Del Norte with the Smith River Alliance. Those directors often attend political fundraising events.
Many directors donate their own art work, often nothing more than large format photographs mounted on matte paper, to these events. The art work shows up in silent and live auctions where it sells for values that many professional artists never see.
Our own Congressman, Mike Thompson, introduced legislation altering the way donated art is valued. (109th CONGRESS: 1st Session; H. R. 2786) At least one of our supervisors boosted her last campaign at the final minute by hosting an auction event where local doctors, and school officials, provided donated art.
Sarah Samples appearances at the California Coastal Conservancy asking for money to help organizations working to convert private land to public control are common.
The Smith River Alliance once received tens of thousands of dollars from the California Coastal Conservancy to create a database of Pacific Shores property owners that could be purchased from the county for under on hundred dollars. Sarah went to Berkeley to ask the Commission to support this request. Clark Moore supports these organizations.
The Blue Ribbon Coalition (http://www.sharetrails.org/) exposed the misuse of California green sticker funds. This brought a halt to the destruction of the road system in the former Miller Rellim property. State Parks is moving rapidly to destroy roads before creating a management plan.
Investigations into the misuse of grant money flowing through The California State Parks was suspended when the current Governor realized how widespread the corruption really is. Real estate records are too permanent for sophisticated politicians. A few posters and some volunteer field trips and you have a grant worthy event that gooses the taxpayer.
Saturday, April 29, 2006
Del Norte News is Your Voice - by Siskiyous
Del Norte News is your voice. Del Norte News is your source of truth. Del Norte News is dedicated to promoting Liberty.
No regional news service understands the issues you are facing. They never cover political candidates objectively. They don’t like Del Norte County’s culture, traditions, or customs. They work against you.
Del Norte News is here to help you share your feelings, your experiences, and your lifestyle. And, DNN is here to keep your way of life from disappearing.
Check back here soon.
No regional news service understands the issues you are facing. They never cover political candidates objectively. They don’t like Del Norte County’s culture, traditions, or customs. They work against you.
Del Norte News is here to help you share your feelings, your experiences, and your lifestyle. And, DNN is here to keep your way of life from disappearing.
Check back here soon.
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