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Opinion
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- Written by: Evan Robert Willig
The financial markets and banking system near collapse, the federal government faced the terrible choice of throwing money at the problem in hopes of stopping the collapse or taking a “hands off” government shouldn’t interfere position.
Then the early days of 2009 with an economy shrinking so rapidly that by January millions of people had lost their jobs. And again the government having the choice of spending money to halt the shrinkage of the economy or take a wait and see approach as the unemployment rate soared to levels not seen since the Great Depression.
We can never know how bad it may have gotten if the limited government, capitalism can do no wrong crowd had carried the day.
The banking system did not collapse and the economy starting growing, albeit oh so slowly again.
Disaster was averted and second guessing began with a fury. One can only imagine the criticism that the Obama Administration and Congress would be under if the nation’s largest banks had failed and unemployment was above 20 percent.
There is widespread and legitimate anger over government spending beyond it means and the slow pace of economic recovery. Americans are seeking new solutions and more openness and honesty from government.
Fair enough, but the policy ideas offered as solutions by many within the Tea Party movement need to be questioned.
Are we ready to tell the young people of America that while Social Security and Medicare is great for your grandparents and doable for your parents, our country is just to poor for your generation to have Social Security and Medicare when you retire?
Can we say to the people of the Gulf Coast that the reason for the reckless and negligent behavior of British Petroleum's offshore oil rig operation was because of too much government oversight?
Is government regulation – you know, things like workplace safety rules, food and medicine quality assurance, environmental protections and financial institution oversight – holding this country back?
Is the reason so many people can’t find work that they have grown fat and lazy due to unemployment insurance?
Do we want a women’s right to choose to disappear?
Is the concept of the separation of church and state one of the bedrock principals of our nation, or subject to change based the Tea Party followers' religious preferences?
We can do better than hanging all our troubles on a ‘the government is the problem” philosophy.
Government policy, rules, regulation, programs, spending, all of it, will always require the oversight and scrutiny of the people. There is nothing that has been made that can’t be improved, and much that could be eliminated.
But let’s not pine for a past when government was so unobtrusive in our daily lives that rivers caught on fire due to people’s freedom to dump crap wherever they wanted, a past when children’s lives were cut short by preventable diseases because there was no public health service.
And we certainly don’t want to return to a time when women, certain ethic groups, people of different religious affiliations and gay men and lesbian women were aggressively marginalized and discriminated against.
This November we should remember how far we’ve come and how much further we need to go so that liberty, equality and prosperity are shared by all Americans.
The Republicans have embraced the Tea Party, its voice has become their voice, we would do well to listen closely to what they are saying.
The Democrats remain the big tent – open to everyone from principled Progressives to conscientious center right Blue Dogs.
There are no quick and easy solutions, but there is a choice.
Evan Robert Willig lives in Cobb, Calif.
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- Written by: Anthony Farrington
While those of us directly involved with this issue are aware of Congressman Thompson’s personal efforts on our behalf, the general public is probably not aware of the extent to which he championed this cause.
Without Congressman’s Thompson’s intervention it is likely the royalty payments would not have been restored. He worked tirelessly to convince the leadership in Congress and the U.S. Senate to support returning these revenues to local government.
He met with key officials in the Obama Administration, including the Secretary of Interior, to explain the particular importance of this issue to Lake County. He kept in close contact with the Board of Supervisors and county administration throughout the lengthy legislative process and never gave up, even when others thought there was little or no chance of success.
Geothermal royalties are a very important revenue source for Lake County. These funds are used for programs and projects needed to mitigate the direct and indirect impacts of geothermal development in the communities of Anderson Springs, Middletown and Cobb. They are also used for purposes that benefit residents of all areas of Lake County.
In the current fiscal year geothermal royalties are being used to assist in financing improvements to the Anderson Springs community water system, engineering for a community sewer system, the construction of a new library and senior center in Middletown, new street lights in Middletown, countywide storm water management, financial support of the county planning division, county park maintenance and park development, matching funds for the local resource conservation districts, staff support for monitoring and coordinating future geothermal development, and other projects that are very important to Lake County residents.
Recently, geothermal royalties were used to purchase a major portion of Mt. Konocti, in order to provide public access to the top of the mountain and preserve the mountain for the enjoyment of future generations.
The Board of Supervisors has sent a letter to Congressman Thompson expressing our appreciation for the restoration of this funding. We sincerely appreciate his hard work and tremendous success on this very important issue.
Anthony W. Farrington is chairman of the Lake County Board of Supervisors.
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- Written by: Maria Giovanni
After some reading and talking with those responsible for the agency, I believe that the acquisition of this property is an ideal use of redevelopment agency funds and is consistent with the purposes for which the agency was created.
Redevelopment agencies are formed under specific California laws for the purpose of economic development and elimination of blight. Lake County’s agency was formed in 1999 and the plan for the Northshore Redevelopment Area was adopted in 2001.
Here are responses to my questions, which may be helpful to others in understanding this significant purchase.
Why? The Lake County Redevelopment Agency exists to eliminate blight and replace these areas with prosperous businesses and revitalized community areas to support economic development and job growth. Private business would not be willing to take on the risk of developing these areas.
Who? While the Lake County Board of Supervisors serves as the board of directors of the redevelopment agency, public involvement is critical to ensure that citizen needs and priorities are included.
How? The agency is not funded with the county budget or regular taxes. The agency (not the county) incurs debt to purchase and improve blighted properties. The debt is repaid with money that is generated from a portion of the resulting increase in property tax revenues within the project area. These monies are collected when a property is sold, constructed, or improved in the redevelopment area. Current properties are protected under Proposition 13. The redevelopment agency is committed to working with local contractors and encouraging public-private partnerships.
Where? The Northshore Project Area comprises much of the developed areas from Upper Lake in the northwest to Clearlake Oaks in the southeast. The money can only be used for properties and improvements within its boundaries (the map is posted in the county offices and on the Web site below).
Other benefits? The redevelopment agency considers infrastructure, affordable housing, safety and the environment in their plans.
For more information, visit www.co.lake.ca.us/Government/Directory/Redevelopment.htm.
Maria Giovanni lives in Nice, Calif.
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- Written by: Claire Grieve
He spoke of the military guard here today some still on duty and some retired and yet still serving their country by taking time to honor another veteran during his memorial service. The 21-gun salute, the folding of the flag, the playing of “Taps” – touched many of us.
As the guns were being shot, I thought of our military men and women who hear guns being shot everyday. And how the loud noise made by heart jump, and that these guns weren't aimed at me or anyone else; yet our military do have guns aimed at them. We need to be very thankful for our active military and also for our retired military.
Seeing the honor guard made me proud of them and also proud for them.
Claire Grieve lives in Lakeport, Calif.